DIY: Make a SLR Camera Cozy

We've all seen those extremely adorable camera bags that we wished we could have...until we saw the price tag. As I thought about the trips I'm going to be taking this summer, I was especially wishing for something small that would protect my camera without the bulk. After browsing the web and trying a few things and just not getting what I wanted, I decided that I really wanted something like the popular(and totally cute!!) Camera Coats. After some measuring and so forth, I came up with my own pattern for something pretty similar. You can find it here and use it to make your own camera cozy or to inspire your own pattern! I made this for my Canon T21 Rebel, so you may need to make it smaller or larger as the case may be. The pattern has the measurements on it that I designed it for.  I'll show you here how to make it! Keep in mind that I just grabbed some scrap fabric and threw this together, and I didn't stop to make sure my seams were exactly straight and all that, so the finished product isn't quite as polished as I'd like it to look. I bought some more fabric for two more cozies, so when I finally get around to making them I'll post pictures. That said, I greatly encourage you to make this with scrap fabric first! Just do it please! It doesn't take long and it will save you so much trouble!  Also, if the directions don't make complete sense, I'm sorry! Written directions trump the pictures! =) Don't be afraid to just do it and figure out what works. I used directions for another type of bag to figure out how to do this and even though they sounded confusing once I started doing it it fell together really easily....so I'm hoping this will be the same way, although I'll try to avoid the confusing part as much as possible! =)With all that said, let's begin!
Materials:
fabric
Lining, such as flannel or fleece
Velcro or button
 Embellishments

1. Tape the flap pattern piece to the body piece and place on the fold of your fabric.  The front piece does not need a flap, so you can cut that off of the front and leave it only on the back. It should look like this:

Do the same with your lining. (The picture above is my scrap fabric:)

2.Sew the top of the front body piece to the same of the lining, wrong sides together. (Yes, this picture shows the lining already sewed together; I forgot to take a picture of the cozy before doing that step.)

3. Next, sew around the pieces, as you can see in the picture above.The lining and outside fabric will only be attached by that middle seam; you will have two different "pockets", like you can see in the next two pictures.

 The piece that I'm holding in this picture is the sewn-together outside pocket.

4. Lay your fabric like the picture above and below, and sew the flaps of the lining and the outer fabric together, except for the top seam, which you will close later.

5. Pull the body pieces out through the top of the flap. It's pretty easy to see how they fit together.

You should put your camera in at this point and see if there is anything you want to modify. If there is, just push it back through the flap neck and then pull it out again when you're finished. When you're satisfied, fold in enough of the flap for a seam allowance and handstitch or top stitch closed. Add a button and buttonhole or a large piece of velcro to close, and embellish as you like!

I  modified the flap on this, but I really wish I hadn't. It just doesn't fit my camera as well. The next one I make I'm going to stick to my pattern....mostly. =) 

And...the finished product! I'm very happy with it! It keeps my camera protected, without the need to carry a big camera bag around all the time. (Since I can't afford an amazing Jo Tote! =) It's very nice for just tossing in my purse or the children's wagon or wherever!

I'd like to add a pocket on the inside of my next one for my phone and some cash, as well as some kind of strap so that I can just hang it on my wrist or my neck or something while I use the camera. If you'd like to add a pocket, I'd recommend doing it before step 3. I'll let ya'll know how that goes! =)

I hope this is helpful! If you have any questions or if you make one successfully(or unsuccessfully!=) do let me know!