Tutorial Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

The tutorial I have to share with you today is a colorful way to keep track of your glasses or sunglasses. It's still sunny summer in Arizona and I keep losing my sunglasses. I had to buy a leash for my sunglasses... or an eyeglass holder, as the pharmacist said, when I asked if they sold any at the drugstore. Of course the leash was boring, so I added felt charms and embroidery to a different chain, and attached it to the rubber part that fits on my sunglasses. Here is the tutorial for you, in case you lose your glasses like I do and need a leash/chain to keep them around your neck and out of the lost and found.

In order to make a new eyeglass chain/sunglasses leash, you will need:

- Felt (in various colors)

- Embroidery floss

- chain (found this at the craft store for a little over $2.00)

- A little fiber fill

- Scissors

- Pliers

- Pinking Shears

- Eyeglass chain ( I found this at the drugstore for $1.99)

Step 1: Cut the eyeglass chain off the rubber loops that will fit on your glasses. Make sure not to cut the rubber at all.  I didn't throw the rope/string away, but I haven't figured out what to do with it yet, so set it aside for now.

Step 2: Measure 28-inches of chain. Use your pliers to open each end and attach to the rubber loops.

Step 3: Use a small circle, about 1-inch in diameter, to sketch out the area that you will stitch for the felt charms. I used a quarter. If you would like my sketch, you can access it here.

Step 4: Transfer the pattern to the felt. Now, I freehanded my stitches, but if you need to follow a pattern, I recommend using freezer paper or wax paper. If you need those sorts of directions, there are good ones here. Once your pattern is transferred, you will need to stitch two of each image onto each piece of felt.

Step 5: Cut each image out of the felt, leaving 1/4 of an inch border around each image. Cut a second piece of felt for each piece that you will use as the backing. You should have 6 circles of felt with stitching and 6 without.Use pinking sheers to finish the edges.

Step 6: In order to attach the backing to each stitched piece of felt, first bring your embroidery floss through the top piece of felt, then place the backing against the front, and stitch through both layers so your knot is encased in the body of the felt.

Step 7: Before you close up your stitches, add a little fiber fill between the layers of felt to give it some fluffiness.

Step 8: Close up your stitches, making sure to knot the end of your floss between the two pieces of felt, keeping the knot hidden.

Step 9: Repeat steps 6 through 8 for each felt charm.

Step 10: Attach your felt charms to the chain. I placed the first charm 11 chain links down from the rubber loop and completely detached the chain there. I looped the open chain link through the stitch at the top of the felt charm. Then added the chain to the bottom stitch of the felt charm. I spaced the second and third charms 6 chain links away from each other.

Step 11: Place the rubber loops on your sunglasses, and you are good to go!

Hope you enjoy this tutorial. Happy Tuesday!