How to Make No-Sew Camera Sleeves with Recycled Socks

comments (3) January 31st, 2009     

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I think recycled socks can be a great, unexpected craft material, with their wide range of textures and colors, interesting patterns, and varying thickness. I never throw away worn socks, since the feet parts can be chopped off, leaving very usable ankle parts that are usually still in good shape. For this project you'll need the whole things, but a hole or two shouldn't be a problem. 

All of these sleeves are for thin digital cameras—your camera can be a little larger than the one pictured but not much. If you have a bigger point-and-shoot camera, you could still try playing with the sock sleeve concept and probably figure out a way to make it work.

Version #1: Velcro Tab Closure

You'll need:

• Either one very thick sock, or two or three socks, depending on thickness, with heels (no tube socks)
• Set of sticky Velcro dots

For this one I used one thin sock (the striped one) and a thicker one to layer together. You could use both socks in a pair, or three thin socks; you just want your case to be decently thick so it protects your camera. One of my socks had a hole in the heel, which is okay, but you wouldn't want all the socks you're laying to have holes in the same spot.

For all these camera sleeves, the wrist strap will be used when the camera is in its sleeve, so make sure yours is attached.

To layer the socks, turn whichever one you want on the inside (not showing) inside out and put it on your hand, then put the other one over it (right side out). If you're layering more than two, just repeat, making sure whichever is the last one is the one you want showing.

When layering the socks, make sure you line up the heels.

Take the socks off your hand and kind of stretch them so that they are fitting evenly together. Now put the layered sock back on your hand—if you're using one thick sock, you'll start with this step. Grab the tip of the sock toe from the inside and pull it in.

Use your other hand to help pull the toe into the sock.

posted in: recycle, no-sew, case, camera, sock