Make a Camera Cozy

snug

closed up This camera cozy protects your LCD and keeps your lens cap on when you toss your camera in your bag or are just carrying it around. It also provides storage for a spare set of batteries as well as a location for the dead ones you're taking out.

It was designed for the Canon S2IS and S3IS, but the pattern can be adapted for other similarly shaped cameras. Download the pattern here (160 kB PDF file).

It was inspired by a knit crocheted camera bag by Leethal. (If you like it, she has a similar one for sale right now sold!) However, the darling lens pouch seemed rather excessive for my non-SLR, and I don't knit (or crochet!), so this design was born.

pieces cut out

This is a perfect project for scrap material. I used denim from a pair of jeans that were made into cutoffs for the outer surface and leftover cotton batik from a summer dress for the liner and pockets.
camera bag - 03.jpg

The liner is sewn to the denim first along the seam that will be the lip of the bag.
camera bag - 05.jpg

I sewed up seams 1, 2 and 3 (see pattern) of the liner, and then realized I should have added the pockets first.
Pinning the pockets

The pockets for batteries start by folding over 1/4" of the top and one side edge. A row of stitches across the top helps to prevent fraying. Align the folded side to where the side of the bag will fold and stitch down.
multiple pockets

Next, stitch the pocket divider seams, evenly spaced along the side of the bag. It takes about 1 1/4" of fabric for each AA battery.
pleated

Form a little pleat at the bottom of each pocket and stitch the bottom edge down.
pocket flaps

The pocket flaps are just rectangles of denim that have had the edges stitched under. The pockets are labeled for the spare and dead batteries so there will be no mixing them up. Zigzag stitches work just fine for simple embroidery like this.
pocket flap

The pocket flap is placed about halfway between the top of the pocket and the edge of the bag. I put a snap on one corner, which gives just enough resistance to keep any of the batteries from falling out when it is turned upside down.
shaping the outer layer

It's now time to put the body of the bag together. For both the liner and the outer material, stitch seams 1, 2 and 3, starting with seam 1.
lid

Next, stitch the liner to the lid, but only along the sides. Leave the front edge open so you can turn it right-side out.
right-side-out

Once right-side out, there will be one seam left to do.
last lid seam

Fold the seam allowances in and stitch along the front lip of the lid to close it up.
topstitching

A row of topstitching along the rim of the bag helps to to maintain its shape.
buttonhole & button

A buttonhole and a button for the lid are the final details.
Camera bag
My S2IS fits snugly in its new cozy!




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14 comments

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, July 18 2007 @ 10:22 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Great looking bag! - Bre
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 20 2007 @ 05:13 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Very nice - exactly what I need for my S3! What do you do with the bag when you're using the camera?
Authored by: Lenore on Sunday, July 22 2007 @ 03:15 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
I am usually carrying a larger bag, so it gets thrown in there. Alternately, it scrunches up small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. You could also add a loop to clip onto the strap to let the bag dangle.
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 27 2007 @ 07:59 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Sweet!! I always admire people who can sew. To turn something flat, like fabric, into something 3-D is amazing and when one knows the subtelties of linings and stitches to add form, and all that -- well, my hat's off to you?

Um, the lining on my hat came loose here at the front -- would you mind...?
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, July 27 2007 @ 09:02 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
This is great. But I was really disappointed by the Etsy 'knit a camera bag' - it's not knitting, it's crochet! Anyone know a knitted pattern?

MM of www.margaret-marks.com/Transblawg
Authored by: Lenore on Friday, July 27 2007 @ 09:41 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Whoops! I guess I should have read the item description. I couldn't take my eyes away from the picture (not a good excuse) and while I can make chains of slipknots, I have never knitted or crocheted, so my ignorance is showing. I've corrected the text up top - but the question is still open: Does anyone know of a knitting pattern for a camera bag?
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, July 28 2007 @ 10:59 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
I can custom crochet bags of all kinds for cameras, cell phones, ipods, and bags that will hold all three plus extra batteries. I've been selling them for some time. rhiannon@chorusofchaos.com
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, September 02 2007 @ 03:43 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Not very good looking this bag, to be absolutely honest... but better than having to pay for an ugly looking black or grey one..
Still looking for the perfect stylish camera bag.
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, September 12 2007 @ 05:14 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
There's a lot of potential here for creativity. There are so many embellishments that could be added to make it designer like. I think it would be awesome to add crazy quilt patches & stitches, including beads, buttons, and embroidery to it.
Thanks for posting this pattern & idea.
jtd
Authored by: Lenore on Wednesday, September 12 2007 @ 06:03 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Thanks jtd! We'd love to see pics if you do make one.
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, September 24 2007 @ 09:41 AM PDT camera case for small cameras
I love this post! If I had an SLR, I would be so into making a case like that - something really unique.

I have a compact Canon and found this case, which I love because it is slim (most cases are so bulky these days) and it's made in the USA. I love the fabric too. It comes with a mountaineering carabiner so I can justs clip it onto the outside of my bag rather than digging for it each time I want to take a picture.

Link SFBags.com camera case

If I had a pattern for something like this, I would make several!

~Janet
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, March 16 2009 @ 02:59 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
This is awesome!! I'm definately making one tomorrow! Thank you for the pattern.
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, August 26 2010 @ 07:59 AM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
Not that I don't love this, but how do you make it bigger so you can hold other things like a flash or a bigger camera?
Authored by: Lenore on Thursday, August 26 2010 @ 01:44 PM PDT Make a Camera Cozy
If you are still working with a roughly rectangular object, you can scale up any of the dimensions you like, but this bag isn't really designed to hold accessories (other than batteries) in addition to the camera.
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