Creating a Pattern and a Ukulele Case

I hand made this custom ukulele case for my wife as a gift for Christmas 2019 for her Ukulele. I designed the case using the Ukulele to create my pattern by laying the Ukulele on a large piece of cardboard, drawing around the belly of the Ukulele and then a straight line to the machine head. Around the head and back down the other side to the belly line. I then added 3/4" all around the outline in order to provide for the lacing stitches. This piece provided for the top and the bottom of the case. Using some of my engineering math I was able to calculate how long and wide the leather I needed for the side of the case. I wanted to make sure that the Ukulele was not only going to be secure in the case but that the case lid would provide plenty of room for the strings.

With this pattern in hand, I cut the parts from Rose Gold finished leather that my wife picked out, I stiffened the sides with 6 oz cowhide. It is all hand laced and hand stitched including the zipper. I put a pouch in the case for her tuner, extra strings, etc. and the handle is my own design, nice and firm.

I have found that I prefer to make my own patterns so that I can be sure that any custom product that I make will fit properly and can be adjusted if it is intended to fit a larger or smaller item.

The Ukulele case turned out nicely and my wife has been getting a lot of good use out of it. I have found that patterns for leather products are not hard to make, you just need to design with pencil and paper until you achieve the result you are looking for. The pattern can also serve as a prototype that you can mock assemble to make sure that it is going to work for the intended item.

Until next time, All the best.
Frank, the Leather Guy