What a cold, damp rainy day it is around here!
The type of day where you have not much else to do except do chores or read a book. I had a project in the waiting for quite some time and decided there's no better time to get crafty
(I did try and sucker someone into sewing them for me... they obviously saw me coming... I did get that "don't you try" look... petrifying!)
If you're like me, you have some nice large format lenses mounted on lensboards and no lens caps to protect the precious optics. I had seen a similar idea in an old catalog and decided to do something about it and put together some nice drawstring microfiber pouches.
A few weeks ago, I had bought some microfiber cloths at the dollar store. These are the kind used for cleaning eyeglasses. They are 8 inches x 8 inches and were available in 3
ugly colors. OK, I must admit that baby blue, baby yellow and baby green are not my favorites (I'll keep the green one for the lens that needs a new shutter
).
Here is a small set of instructions on how to put the bags together easily. You'll need a sewing machine, thread, scissors and one shoelace for each bag.
First, you fold 2 cm from the top to make the closure (it's approximate, just make sure you use the same measurement on both sides). Sew the tunnel up so there's enough space to run the shoelace inside. I used a straight stitch and locked the stitch at both ends (by running the sewing machine forward and backwards over a short distance). Make sure you don't close the tunnels you're making!
Second, with the hems on the outside, align both panels and sew on 3 sides. Lock your treads like for the tunnels.
Turn the pouch over and start feeding the shoelace through the tunnels. The little plastic things on them makes things easier. Once you're done, you have many choices. You can do a simple overhand knot. Or you can cut the plastic things and sew the laces together using a zig-zag stitch. I chose the later and overlapped the laces so I could hide the stitching by sliding it in one of the tunnels. I used the zig-zag because the edges tend to fray. You sew them with the needle going one side in the laces, the other in mid air so the tread wraps around everything.
And there you have it, a nice soft place to put your lenses.
And a word of warning: these lens tissues are never perfectly square so perfection is not possible unless you waste a bit of space all around. Also, like me, you'll soon find out you're not meant to move to
Savile Row any time soon
[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
