How to Make a Leather Eyeglass Case

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When it comes to protecting your glasses or sunglasses, store-bought cases don’t always get the job done. A generic case may not fit your glasses well, or it may just be low quality and fall apart after mere months of use. Even if your glasses came with a case tailored to them, it still may not stand up to everyday use. Don't leave your valuable investment vulnerable to damage any longer. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a glasses case from leather to truly protect your spectacles.
Materials List:
  • SoftSide Dark Olive Chrome Tanned Leather 2 to 3 oz. Side & Panels (#126420)
  • Natural Vegetable Tanned Leather Panels 2 to 3 oz. (#124866)
  • Magnetic Snap Fastener 14mm (#122260)
  • S-18 All-Purpose Adhesive 4 oz. (#124192)
  • Fiebing’s 4 Way Care Leather Conditioner 8 oz. (#123768)
  • Fiebing’s Pure Neatsfoot Oil 16 oz. (#123802)
  • Fiebing’s Leather Edge Kote® Dark Brown 4 oz. (#123778)
  • Fiebing’s Gum Tragacanth 4 oz. (#123820)
  • Tex 70 (V-69) Black Bonded Nylon Thread 4 oz. (1,500 yds.) (#124948)
  • Groz-Beckert® #16 Leather Sewing Machine Needles 135x16 Twist Point (10 pack) (#123829)
  • Double-Cap Rivets 3/8" Nickel Plated (100 pack) (#124220)
  • Paper Pattern, Masking Tape, Cardboard 
Tools List:
  • Gingher® 8" Leather Scissors Right Handed (#123749)
  • Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter 60mm (#965511)
  • Barry King #0 Grooved Edger (#122993)
  • Sailrite® Multi-Size Leather Slicker (#123330)
  • Sailrite® Leather Press Roller (#123301)
  • Sailrite® Silicone Glue Spreaders Set (2 pack) (#123320)
  • Sailrite® Stainless Steel Leather Roughing Tool (#123300)
  • Sailrite® Adjustable Leather Wing Divider (#124919)
  • Sailrite® Flat Head Leather Utility Knife (#122558)
  • Double-Cap Rivet Installation Tool (#124202)
  • Sailrite® Round Maul 1# (#123969)
  • Sailrite® Hole Cutter 1/8" (#125478)
  • Sailrite® Professional Rotary Hole Punch (#123274)
  • Large Fabric/Leather Grip Clips (#126365)
  • Suisei Magnetic Sewing Guide (#102983)
  • Sailrite® Rubber Poundo Board 12" x 12" (#123962)
  • Sailrite® Leather Burnishing Machine (#123327)
  • Sailrite® Self Healing Double-Sided Cutting Mat 24" x 36" (#123113)
  • Sailrite® Leatherwork® Sewing Machine Package (110V) (#300800)
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler Square 9-1/2" x 9-1/2" (#123091)
  • Sailrite® Silicone Glue Mat 11" x 15" (#123319)
  • Sailrite® Scratch Awl (#123270)
  • Sailrite® Leather Edge Dye Pen & Container Set (#123316)
  • Sailrite® Stainless Steel Thread NIppers (#125831)
  • Sailrite® Battery Operated Thread Burner (#122432)
  • Smooth Left Foot Set for Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LS & Leatherwork® Sewing Machine (#123307)
  • Ruler/Straightedge, Rag
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We made our case from both chrome tan and veg tan leather for a few reasons. First, the shape retention of veg tan combined with the flexibility of chrome tan resulted in a stable and soft leather glasses case. Second, the two leathers have different textures, giving the case an eye-catching look and satisfying feel. Finally, the large range of chrome tan colors available and veg tan’s affinity for dyes meant we could make a case with exactly the colors we wanted. You’ll have a blast browsing these two leather types to find the perfect pairing for your case! 

Our case includes a center support piece on the inside — a feature that most store-bought glasses cases don’t have. It’s optional, but we highly recommend this support strap because it: 

  • Helps shape the case and provides plenty of space for the glasses.
  • Gives the glasses something to rest on, preventing them from shifting side to side.
  • Absorbs the force of opening and closing the fastener to keep pressure off the glasses. 

This simple center support takes just a strip of veg tan leather and a couple of rivets to make, and it will pay dividends in keeping your glasses or sunglasses safe and in place.

Don’t take a chance with a flimsy, generic glasses case — make a high-end leather case to prevent damage to your eyeglasses. You’ll save yourself money on repeatedly replacing a failed case, or worse, having to replace expensive glasses or sunglasses. Download the FREE pattern linked below, then follow along with our DIY glasses case video to learn how to make this simple leather project.

Download the Pattern

BONUS: Order Our Leather Glasses Case Kit!

If you want to take the guesswork out of picking leather and materials, order our Leather Glasses Case Kit (#126815)! The kit includes a panel of veg tan leather and all the materials you need to make up to three glasses cases. Choose from five colors of gorgeous veg tan leather.

Order the Kit

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