How to Make a Soft-Side Guitar Case
You need to have access to a heavy duty sewing machine for this project. You’ll need a large needle and very sturdy thread for this project as well. The needle and thread should be industrial quality types. Cardboard pieces for this project are optional.
The fabric needed for the case is a vinyl-type, thick fabric, often called Naugahyde. It comes in many colors and patterns, and can be ordered from most any upholstery shop. The fabric can cost between $15 and $100 a yard, but thankfully, you’ll need only a couple of yards.
If you don’t feel comfortable enough to sew the guitar case, or you just don’t have access to the proper machine, cut the pieces out and ask an upholstery or drapery shop to do the sewing for you. This is much less expensive than asking them to make the entire case.
To make the guitar case, lay the guitar onto the wrong side of the fabric. Draw around the guitar shape, staying about four inches away from the guitar. It’s important that the same distance from the guitar be kept, all the way around the perimeter. When it comes to doing the neck outline, draw up the neck of the guitar then use a circle or rectangular drawing to encase the very end of the guitar, and draw back down the other side of the neck. Since guitars have keys to adjust the strings, and drawing around each one of them will make it difficult to sew, it’s easier to choose a general shape that will allow room for that part of the instrument, keys and all.
After you’ve drawn and cut one guitar shape, use it as a pattern to cut a second. You’ll have to flip the original shape over, so that its wrong side is showing, before placing it on the new fabric.
Cut as closely to the first piece as possible, so that each piece is exactly the same size. While the two pieces are still perfectly aligned, mark several places around the shape: mark the bottom, a couple of places on each side, and mark the top as well, on both pieces of fabric. This will help you align the pieces perfectly later.
Now take a paper tape measure and measure around the perimeter of the guitar. Add about five inches onto this measurement. You will cut a strip of Naugahyde the length of this final measurement. Then measure the depth of the guitar from it’s highest point, usually the bridge. Allow an additional two inches to this measurement, and cut the Naugahyde to that width.
Start with one of the Naugahyde shapes and begin sewing the band onto it. To do this, go to the bottom of the guitar case shape and start stitching the band around the perimeter of the guitar shape, with right sides together. Naugahyde can be stretched somewhat, to allow for going around curves and such, but if you stretch it too much, it’ll leave wrinkles on the finished product. Ease the band onto the outline of the fabric, using large, straight stitches. A ‘walking foot’ on the machine will help tremendously.
When you get back to where you started, trim off excess fabric on the band, but leave a couple of extra inches more than you need. As you approach the area where you started place the end of the band upon where the band began, and sew on to where you started. Backstitch to secure.
Place the piece with the band, right-side up, causing the band to stand upwards, all the way around. Begin pinning the second guitar shape onto the band, aligning the points you drew on the guitar shapes. Start at the bottom area, slightly past where the bands overlap each other. Stitch from that bottom area, around and up the neck, over the top, and down, past the keys, then stop and backstitch.
Measure the area that is open, from just below the keys to the bottom of the guitar case. Purchase a zipper that is a couple of inches longer than this measurement. Insert the zipper by first placing the end of the zipper (the end without the pull) into the slit at the bottom. Fold the fabric back a quarter-inch, then stitch across the fabric and zipper, which will hold the bottom of the zipper in place.
Fold fabric under a quarter of an inch and stitch the zipper just under the fold. After completing one side, backstitch and trim threads. Now go back down to the bottom of the zipper and stitch up the opposite side, folding the edge under a quarter-inch while stitching upwards to finish the zipper. Unzip the zipper and turn the case right side out. Hold the top zipper ends together and position under the presser foot. Stitch a line across the two zipper ends. This will keep the zipper from coming off track when you zip it.
Cut and fold a rectangle of Naugahyde to form the handle. This can be done by simply cutting a wide piece of fabric, then folding each end into the center, overlapping them somewhat. Purchase a brad set to secure the handle to the guitar case. For a stronger guitar case, line with cardboard cut to the shape of the guitar case. Alternative fabrics include corduroy, denim, or even faux fur.
Make the case a lined case by cutting everything twice, then stitching matching pieces together, before assembling as instructed.
