free pattern friday: elph cozy

Everything shiny needs a case. I love felted cases for gadgets because they're durable, thick and cushiony. Felted cases provide a bit of shock-proofing for gadgets that rattle around in my daybag bumping up against keys and whatnot.

This is a case for my tiny new camera, so it's likewise tiny and takes only an evening and a some leftover stash yarn to make. It is sized to fit an itty-bitty Canon Elph, but you can adjust it to suit whatever sized gadget you have.

materials
less than 1 skein worsted-weight 100% wool. shown in Lamb's Pride Worsted, color #M-06, deep charcoal.
size 8 (US) needles, any style
size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
one large button (around 1.25 in)
sewing needle & thread
tapestry needle

gauge: (before felting): 16 st and 24 r / 4 in

size: one size

finished measurements (post-felting)
circumference, width-wise: 5.75 in
circumference, length-wise: 8.25 in

knitted measurements (pre-felting)
width: 3.5 in
length: 12 in, with a 1.75 in tapered flap

re-sizing to suit your gadget
Felting shrinks a piece of knitted fabric more length-wise than it does width-wise. Every yarn is different, but my rule of thumb is that after two ten-minute washer cycles, the width shrinks by about 20%, while the length shrinks by about 35%. Use this rule of thumb to help you resize the pouch to fit your gadget's exact measurements.

For instance, if the circumference of your gadget (length-wise) is 8.25 in, multiply by 1.35 = 11.14 in. Then round up to 12 in to leave a little extra room for the fold-over flap. If the circumference (width-wise) is 5.75 inches, multiply 5.75 x 1.2 = 6.9 in (I just round up to 7 inches). Divide the width in half, since you'll be folding it over and sewing it up, so the two sides are knit separately. The width will be 3.5 in. So you'll knit a long strip that is 3.5 in wide and 12 in long, plus the tapered flap.

knitting the pouch
CO 15 st
Knit flat in st st until piece measures 12 in.
Next RS row: K2 tog, K to last 2 st, SSK
WS: Purl
Continue dec on every RS in this manner until 4 st rem.
WS: Bind off, leaving the final loop. Do not cut tail.
To begin chain, insert crochet hook into the loop that represents the final st in the final row. Ch 14 st sc, finish, leaving a long tail. Sew the chain down to the first st of the last row, creating a loop.

Fold over the pouch, WS together, so that the pouch is 5.5 inches long with a large, tapered flap. Sew up sides.



felting
Place the pouch into a pillowcase (or garment bag) and tie the end. Felt as usual - I usually use two ten-minute washer cycles, but check it after the first cycle to see whether it has shrunk enough to suit your gadget. One easy way to check is to stick your gadget into a small plastic bag (to protect it from moisture) and stick it into the pouch. You want a nice, snug fit. Continue felting until the pouch fits the gadget snugly.

Shape the pouch by sticking the plastic-protected gadget inside and allowing it to dry. (Alternatively, you can use a deck of cards or other object of a similar size).

finishing
Once the pouch is dry, place your gadget inside and fold over the flap, marking it for button placement with chalk or a stitch marker. Sew on button. You're done!

important notice: This is a free pattern and you are welcome to use it for all the non-commercial purposes you like. However, you may not reproduce this pattern to sell, and you may not sell what you make with it. You may donate what you make with it to charity, and you may use it for charity fundraisers only if 100% of the proceeds are donated to the charity (and by charity I don't mean your kid's college fund). Thanks for understanding!