Camera Cozy D.I.Y.

Today, my pal Kyla Roma is going to share a really fun (and useful!) do-it-yourself camera cozy! Enjoy... One of my favorite things to blog about are every day moments I capture with my husband and friends- but I don't like leaving my cameras rattling loose in my bag, and having a heavy duty camera bag taking over my life is not in my plans! A camera cozy is a quick to make, cute accessory that keeps everything you need close at hand and can swap easily from bag to bag.

Supplies Needed: fabric, pencil, scissors, needle, thread & a sewing machine

1. Choose a fabric for your project. The best type of fabric to choose is something strong and soft, but that won't "shed" and get into your camera. I found a really cute dress at a thrift store that was perfect (because it didn't fit me, and I wasn't going to let someone else snap it up!). If you choose fabric from a vintage or thrifted item, cut out the largest section of flat fabric to work from and iron it before you start working. For this dress, I cut out the skirt and made sure I had enough fabric to easily wrap around my camera twice.

2. If you use more than one camera, use the largest one as your guide. Fold the fabric in half, place your camera on top of it (lens facing the fold) and cut around the camera in a semi circle. Make sure you don't cut all the way around- leaving the pieces joined makes sure your cozy is super strong and durable. Make sure to leave extra room on either side of your camera- I cut the fabric into a baguette shape to leave room for extra lenses, but if you cut yours into more of a "V" shape it will work more like a traditional camera case.

3. Turn your fabric inside out so the "good" sides of the fabric are facing each other. Fold the top edges over and sew a straight edge along it so you have a neat seam. Then sew down along the side of the bag, one at a time (see above, left) joining up the sides of the camera cozy. Once you've sewed these up, you have the basic structure of your bag!

4. If you want to add an extra detail, pin each corner of the bag in two places - one about an inch in from the top corner and one about an inch down from the top corner of the bag. Sew a straight line between these two pins (see above, right) to create a fancier corner.

5. Sew on a long, thin piece of fabric as a strap. You can judge the length that's right for you by trying on the bags that you wear the most and seeing where you're comfortable with the cozy hanging in each- make a quick pencil mark at that point and sew across it, or fold the edges inward and sew them into a point. You can add button holes by sewing rectangles and cutting a straight line in the center of them. To line the buttons up to the holes, I placed the strap where I wanted it to line up on the front of the bag, pinned the strap there and sewed my first stitch for each button through the hole to anchor them in the right position. Then you can finish them up normally without worrying.

Slip your camera inside and button the cozy around the strap of your bag to try it out...

(It's a perfect fit!)

With your camera cozy in tow you'll be prepared for cute, candid moments whenever they happen. Organizational fashion accessories just make my geeky heart skip a beat!

Thanks, Kyla, for this adorable project! I can't wait to make one for my new camera. XO. elsie

Comments

[Janna Lynn]

This is so perfect! I have a tragic burgundy velvet dress that has been waiting for a DIY like this! :) I also have a goal of using my nice big camera more in 2012 for blogging! Sooooo perfect! Thanks Kyla and Elsie! Hearts, janna lynn

[nina of chickything]

Wow,thats dress carnage.Too pretty to repurpose,I think.It wouldve been better if it was an old blanket or towel in my opinion.Nevertheless,great idea.

[Ashlee]

Perfection! Such a simple and awesome DIY! eep! <3

[dragon fruit]

fantastic! what a great idea. thanks for sharing!

www.dragonnfruit.com

[Stephanie May*]

Great idea!! I just got a new Nikon dslr for Christmas, and this is perfect!

Love,
Stephanie May*

http://www.maydae.com

[Seriously Sassy Mama]

That is genius. I love it.

[Rae Veda]

What a great way to reuse a dress. I love this. xo, rv

http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/

[Rachel Celeste]

VERY adorable.

[Terri]

I did love the dress but it already served double duty so I get snipping it up for the camera cozy. Cute idea!

[Natalie]

Either way, I think I'm going to need a bigger purse. My current one has lots of great pockets, but it's longer and slimmer and tends to eat things. It is a black hole unto itself. Have any good purse organization solutions? I've always been stumped on that one.

[Norma Diaz]

this is such a cute inexpensive d.y.i, definitely going to try it!

http://rainbowandtrees.blogspot.com/

[Ana]

Bloggable moment! Nice! :)

http://thisisexactlywhatitlookslike.blogspot.com

[Kyla Roma]

Thanks for featuring my tutorial, Elsie!

I loved the dress as it was too, but it was incredibly tiny and cheaply made to the point that it was coming apart at the seams in a number of places that would have made it difficult to repair and pass along to a friend.

Instead I made something beautiful that I could keep with me. That's one of the fun things about thrifting! You get to get out there and save the pretty dresses from both people who'll love them less than you and girls with scissors like me ;)

[gemma]

love this idea! so nice for keeping your camera safe- just one thing, i kind of love that yellow dress. kind of wish i would have thrifted it myself :)

i WILL be making this, thanks kyla!!

http://www.seacreaturess.blogspot.com

[Skinny Moonstick]

This is so lovely and creative! I love the refashioning idea! Elsie, my hubby got me one of your Red Velvet clutches and I love it to pieces!!! Thank you so much for your creativity and sweet talent! :)
Good luck!

skinnymoonstick.blogspot.com

[DNA (designers+artists)]

Great DIY gift option for my photog friends!

http://www.designers-artists.com

[Emily]

I like that it's called a camera cozy :-)

[Jordan]

This is bag-a-rific! Loaf it!

http://jordanstypewriter.blogspot.com

[elsie]

Kyla, Your comment cracked me up. Love this D.I.Y. to pieces! You're so talented... and practical too! :D

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone!

[Chloe]

This is so perfect! I will need to make one! I am now a "carry my camera everywhere" person, but it still makes me nervous! having its own little pouch is great!