Okay, so I finally got around to making that leather cover for my iPhone SE. Been meaning to do this for ages!
First things first, I grabbed some scrap leather I had lying around. Nothing fancy, just some decent quality stuff I’d used for a smaller project a while back. Measured my phone super carefully. Like, twice, maybe even three times, just to be sure. You don’t want to end up with a cover that’s too tight or too loose, trust me, I’ve been there.
Then, I cut out the leather. Left a little extra around the edges for stitching and folding. This is where it got a bit tricky. I used a craft knife – nice and sharp – to get clean lines. Pro-tip: use a metal ruler to guide the knife. Saves your fingers and gives you a much straighter cut.
Next up was folding and gluing. I used contact cement for this. Applied a thin layer to both the leather and the inside of the cover where I was folding it over. Let it dry for a minute or two until it was tacky, then carefully pressed the edges together. You gotta be precise here, because once that cement grabs, it’s not letting go! I used a bone folder to really get the edges nice and crisp.
Stitching was next. I marked out my stitch lines with a stitching groover – makes a nice channel for the thread to sit in. Then, I used an awl to punch the holes. This takes some elbow grease, but it’s worth it for a clean, professional look. I used a saddle stitch, which is super strong and looks great. Two needles, one thread, passing through each hole from opposite sides. Tedious, but satisfying.
After the stitching was done, I trimmed the edges a bit closer and burnished them with some beeswax and a wooden slicker. This gives the edges a smooth, polished finish. It’s amazing how much of a difference this makes to the overall look.
Finally, I added a little snap closure to keep the cover closed. Just a simple press stud, attached with a setting tool. This was probably the easiest part of the whole project!
All in all, it took me a few hours, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely better than anything I could buy in a store. Plus, it’s got that handmade charm that you just can’t replicate.
So, there you have it! My DIY leather cover for my iPhone SE. A fun little project that’s both practical and looks pretty cool, if I do say so myself.