Flex Frame DIY Glasses Case Sewing Tutorial

Keep your sunglasses close—and scratch free—with this quilted glasses case featuring an easy pinch opening. Use this tutorial to sew your own DIY glasses case, complete with a flex frame that pops open with a simple squeeze.

This DIY glasses case is a great project for showcasing a small piece of fabric. The main fabric only needs a piece 9 ½” wide by 8 ½” tall, perfect for those favorite fabrics you want to highlight but don’t have much of—or just don’t want to use up all at once.

I used a piece of vintage fabric on this one for exactly that reason, and still have plenty left for another project.

A quilted glasses case makes wonderful teacher gifts, especially with a cute pair of sunglasses tucked inside. The flex frame hardware is inexpensive, so you can make several without spending much, which is important when you’re giving multiple gifts.

There are so many fabric possibilities for this project! Try cute florals, sweet vintage prints, bold geometrics, or even solids—color blocking would look amazing. Patchwork designs would be a fun way to make each one unique.

I’ve been loving the texture and look of quilted fabric lately (like in the quilted zipper pouch I made last month) and couldn’t resist bringing it back for this project. This sunglasses case uses two layers of fusible fleece, giving it structure and dimension while keeping your layers from shifting during quilting.

If you’ve never used a flex frame before, don’t worry. This was my first time using flex frame hardware and I’m hooked. It’s easy to install and creates such a satisfying pinch opening—secure, but simple to open and close. Just pinch the ends together and your case pops right open.

Finished dimensions are approximately 3 ¾” wide by 7 ½” tall.

Supplies

Outer fabric – 1 piece, 9 ½” wide x 8 ½” tall from quilting cotton

Interfacing – 2 pieces, 9 ½” wide x 8 ½” tall AND 2 pieces, 3 ½” wide x 1 ½” tall from fusible fleece

Lining – 2 pieces, 4 ¼” wide x 7 ½” tall from quilting cotton

Casing – 4 pieces, 4” wide x 2” tall from quilting cotton (I used the same fabric as the lining.)

100 mm flex frame

All seam allowances ¼” unless otherwise stated. RST = Right Sides Together

Quilt the Outer Fabric

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse 2 layers of fusible fleece to the back of the Outer fabric piece.

Place the Outer fabric piece right side up. Use a temporary fabric marking pen to mark your lines for quilting.

I generally prefer either simple vertical lines or cross-hatching diagonal squares. The best pattern for you to use will depend on your fabric print and the style you’re going for.

Sew along those lines to create a quilted fabric panel.

From that quilted panel, cut 2 pieces 4 ¼” wide x 7 ½” tall. These are your Outer pieces.

Sew the Casings

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse a 3 ½” x 1 ½” piece of interfacing to the backs of two of the Casing pieces.

Place the interfaced Casing pieces RST with the non-interfaced Casing pieces.

Sew along short sides with ¼” seam allowance.

Turn right side out, then top stitch along sewn edges with 1/8” seam allowance.

Go ahead and baste along the top and bottom (unsewn) edges with 1/8” seam allowance. You don’t need to baste the entire length of the sides. You just need about 2” or so, enough to keep the layers from shifting.

Assemble the Sunglasses Case

Fold the Casing pieces in half lengthwise. Press.

Place the Casing pieces across the top of the Outer pieces, centered horizontally and RST. Baste in place with 1/8” seam allowance.

Place the Lining pieces on top. Sew along the top edge with a ¼” seam allowance.

Press seam open. Then press Casing toward the Lining side and the seam allowance toward the Outer side.

That seam allowance is pretty thick so you’ll need to put a little muscle into it.

Top stitch close to the seam line to secure that seam allowance.

Place the Sunglasses Case pieces RST, matching seams and Outer with Outer and Lining with Lining.

Sew around long sides and Outer bottom, leaving the Lining bottom open.

Clip corners, then turn right side out. Press.

I found it’s easiest to start turning with the thick side, pressing the end of the Outer up into the Lining (rather than trying to force the Lining over the outside of the Outer.) You may need to use a ruler or dowel to press out the corners and sides.

Press the raw edges at the end of the Lining ¼” to the inside.

Sew across the end of the Lining with a 1/8” seam allowance.

Tuck the Lining down into the Outer. Your DIY glasses case is almost finished! All that’s left is installing the Flex Frame.

Install the Flex Frame

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to install the Flex Frame. If, like mine, your frame did not include instructions here’s how I installed mine:

The Flex Frame is hinged at one end. Open the Flex Frame and slide it through the casings.

You’ll need to thread both sides (front and back) through the casing at the same time.

Push the open ends of the Flex Frame together. They should fit together like a hinge. Take the pin that came with the Flex Frame and slide it into that hinge, then press that bit of metal at the top of the hinge down so it keeps the pin in place.

Your Flex Frame is installed and your Flex Frame DIY Sunglasses Case is finished!