Scaling projects

[elnedro]

Long time lurker, time to get involved.

Still new to this, so I'm still trying to figure out how certain aspects work. I just recently finished a cell phone case based on one of George Hursts patterns.  I made it, and then realized it was too small.  I made a bigger one based on the size of my phone, which sort of fit, but still not quite.

My question is this.  What is everyone's method for adapting/scaling patterns for things that aren't uniform size?.  I;ve read plenty about how to do this with gun holsters, but that a whole different ballpark (in that there are SO many guns, it would be impossible to have a pattern that worked for them all).  Cell phones are generally all rectangles, but are a little different.

Beyond  the dimensions of an item (phone in this case, but I've had the same issue with knives) how do you know the amount of excess leather you need to allow for the thickness of a project?

[Gezzer]

I cut 1/4 inch strip from the leather I am going to use and wrap around the thickest part of the object , 2 pen marks , lay out flat and add whatever for stitch lines . Th is will be my total width .

Edited August 8, 2023 by Gezzer

[elnedro]

7 hours ago, Gezzer said:

I cut 1/4 inch strip from the leather I am going to use and wrap around the thickest part of the object , 2 pen marks , lay out flat and add whatever for stitch lines . Th is will be my total width .

This makes so much sense.  Thank you

[bladegrinder]

Here's what I learned here on this forum and it works for me, I measure 1/2 the thickness of whatever your encasing, in this case a phone so 1/2 on both sides and add that to your width.

The phone pictured here has an Otter case which makes it pretty thick and easier to measure. excuse the carvings on front, I'm still learning that end. after it's stitched up I dipped it in water for a few seconds and slid in a piece of wood that was the same dimensions as the phone, let it sit in there for about 15 min. pulled it out, let it dry and the phone fits nice and snug.