My Ultra Slim Light Box
While enjoying my Craftsy Course (“Design It, Stitch It: Hand Embroidery” with Jessica Marquez) I was introduced to the idea of using a light box to trace and transfer embroidery designs. So I went online and found the Mini Sun Ultra Slim A4 LED Light Box. It had great reviews and I must say I am very pleased with it. I decided for my own peace of mind I needed to make it a storage bag to protect it’s sleek glassiness! I remember reading something in Erin’s blog and went to her site www.dogundermydesk.com and found her pattern for the “Gadget Guard”.
As I enjoyed making her “Zip and Go” bag so much I made two, I was confident this would be a well thought-out pattern with very clear instructions. So I bought, downloaded and printed it off. What Erin has done is come up with a formula to make a snug fitting padded sleeve for whatever gadget you need to guard, be it a laptop, tablet, phone, or as in my case, light box.
To start with I had to take some measurements, only slightly complicated by the short cable that flops about ready to connect to the adapter. In the end I lay it on the table with the cable trapped underneath, and took the thickness as the measurement at the raised end.
Next I needed fabric. Rummaging through my drawers I came across the rest of the ‘First Class’ curtain fabric (www.textilefabrics.co.uk) I used for the backpack I made back in March.
I also had some cream flannel left over from re-lining my faux leopard-skin coat which will make a nice lining. I even had a zip the right length and colour, as they sent me a 20″ one by mistake when I ordered a 22″ one for the backpack. Fate! That just left a trip to my local patchwork shop to buy a pack of ByAnnies ‘Soft & Stable‘ and I was good to go.
It didn’t take me too long either! I opted to make the version without pockets and I would have been finished sooner but I mucked up sewing the zipper tab. I unpicked the mess I made and did it again the next morning, this time remembering to hold the thread tails when I started sewing! No it’s not perfectly centered, but it’s neat and tidy. Erin mentioned using a quarter inch seam foot as it had a notch for an eighth inch which she used to top-stitch exactly. So I have bought one to try, I will just have to make room in my feet box!
So it’s ready, and I’m really pleased with the result, a good snug fit as promised. I actually got the measurements right! The Soft & Stable gives a really nice smooth finish and makes good firm padding.
The cream flannel lining is lovely and soft and doubles as a duster and polisher as you slide the light box in. Erin has put the zipper off the end of the case so it opens up completely for ease of access as you can see. The zipper tab makes a good substantial end.
Now the catch with my lovely slim light box is that it comes with this great lump of an adaptor plug. Erin gives the option of a divided slip pocket on the Gadget Guard, but does point out is is “not suitable for a large charging brick” which is one of the reasons I left it off.
NOT a square box
Instead I whipped up a little lined drawstring bag, using the Stamp fabric for the lining and outer. I modelled it on the box the adaptor came in, which it turns out was not squared but sloped and slanted, so my bag bottom is too!
I started by adding four eyelets, but the pull strings went across the opening and got in the way of the plug. I added another four eyelets and it worked perfectly, leaving the opening clear.
However, it didn’t stand up very well. Having a sloping bottom probably didn’t help! So I made a little bag bottom with a piece of the Correx I bought from my local patchwork shop. It helps it stand up, keep in shape and gives a little impact protection (although I am hoping I won’t drop the brick on the light box).
I love handy gadgets! I used my Prym Vario Pliers to set the eyelets. Then my loop turner (by Hemline) to pull the cords through all the eyelets.
Finally I added some silver cord ends to hide the knots. They are metal and the weight holds the string taut. A good finishing touch.
So here is my Gadget Guard and Plug Sack!
