Make yourself a DIY phone cover from stretch fabric. Recently I purchased a shiny new phone so I could enter some posts for you while sitting at my daughter's karate class each afternoon. I purchased a durable case that said I could drop the phone up to 3 meters (9 feet) and thought fantastic - my new investment is all safe from my clumsiness. But after throwing the phone in my bag with keys and lots of other rubbish that I really should remove, I realized that the screen and camera lens at the back was unprotected as my case has a cut out for the camera. So I got to thinking about making a DIY phone cover from a soft stretchy fabric to slip the phone into and protect the glass from scratching.

Guess which sample I'm using? The pink one of course!
DIY Phone Cover: Supplies
- Stretchy fabric - you can use some of your leftover scraps from your sewing projects or upcycle an old t-shirt. The best thing about upcycling old shirts is that you can put some of the logos on your phone case. Woven fabric won't work as it isn't flexible enough to stretch over your phone and get on and off easily.
- Tape measure or ruler.
- Stretch needles - These will prevent you getting skipped stitches in your fabric.
DIY Phone Cover: The Video
Got just a few minutes spare? Watch my DIY phone cover YouTube video. Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly sewing and craft videos.
DIY Phone Cover: Instructions
Step 1: Make The Pattern
First, you will need to make a pattern so your phone cover fits like a glove. Don't worry it is easy.
Grab a tape measure and measure the circumference across and down your phone. Make sure you measure all the way around and not just across as we need to account for the depth of the phone. Measure over any cover you have on it. I made the pattern from paper first and then cut my pieces of fabric from that.
For the body - cut a piece of paper:
- Width - ½ width circumference +¼" (6mm) (A below)
- Length - ½ length circumference +1 inch (2.5cm) (B below)
For the pocket - cut a piece of paper the exact dimensions of the body. Then fold it in half to mark the middle and draw a line from the middle up one inch (2.5cm) to create a slant.
Step 2: Cut your Fabric
Now that you have made your paper pattern, cut 2 pieces of fabric for the body and 1 piece for the pocket.
Step 3: Hem the Pocket
On the WRONG side of the pocket, turn the top slanted edge over by ⅜ inch (1cm) and zig-zag across catching in the raw edge.
Using a zig-zag stitch will keep the edge of the pocket nice and stretchy so you can put your headphones or cord in easily. Don't forget to put a stretch needle in your machine to prevent skipped stitches.
Step 4: Side Seams
Place the pocket right side up on the right side of one of the body pieces. And then place the second body piece right side down. You will effectively be sandwiching the pocket between the 2 body pieces.
Stitch along the side with a small straight stitch or zig-zag(¼ inch (6mm seam allowance), gently stretching out the fabric as you sew. Some sewing machines have a special stitch function to sew stretch fabric. If you need any extra tips for sewing stretch fabric make sure you read how to sew stretch fabric.
Step 5: Top Hem
Open up the cover and place it with the WRONG side up. Press over the top edge (without the pocket) by ½ inch (12mm). Zig-zag across the hem catching in the raw edge.
Step 6: Side and Bottom
Fold the cover back up with RIGHT sides together and stitch down the side and across the bottom. (¼ inch (6mm seam allowance)
Step 7: Clip and Turn
Clip the bottom corner, turn the cover the right way out and you are all set to put your phone and headphones in. Safe, sound and protected.
Treasurie
I hadn't thought to use the sleeves. That is a great idea.
Treasurie
Hi Red, I think you have the length and width reversed. it is 1/4 to the width and 1" to the length. Thanks so much for reading.
Lori M.
Great.........and I mean fantastic idea. The video was very well done and easy to follow...I am off to recycle all the sleeves I have cut off tee shirts that I have....
Red.
I don’t understand the reason for adding 1 inch to the side to side measurement as there are only two seams of presumably 1/4 inch each. Similarly, the 1/4 inch addition for the top to bottom measurement does not allow for the 1/2 hem at the top! Could you clarify what these measurement allow for? Thanks