YooHoo! Back again already -- Cell Phone carrier for my backpack

I searched high and low for a cell phone carrier that would attach to the front of my backpack for easy access.  The only thing I found (on Amazon) was a very heavy-duty bulky one that looks more like hunting and military use.  When it arrived, it was heavy, stiff, and I was not especially enamored with it's method of attachment.  So I decided to design my own.

I had some extremely lightweight (30 denier) silicone-coated nylon-type fabric.  I also had the heavier mesh like I use to make the mesh bags (pictured elsewhere in the blog, click on label "bag").

I hoped the carrier would be water repellent, lightweight, comfortable, easy to access, and easy to attach to my backpack.  I studied the heavy one and incorporated some of it's features, adapting it to my own desires.

I apologize, I did not take photos of the process (next time!).

I used the heavy one for a pattern and made it just a tad bigger because I wanted it to slide in and out very easily.

Both the inside and outside are made from the same fabric.  I put a strip of the mesh inside to give it a little strength and shape while retaining the water repellency.  I made the mesh smaller than the actual finished size of the carrier as I did not want the amount of bulk it would have created in any seams.

I had the D-ring on hand.  The 5/8-inch webbing came from Amazon, as did the buckle (and now I have enough buckles to make stuff for the rest of my days--still cheaper than getting what I needed elsewhere!)

1. The case is like a "sleeve" (pillowcase) with one end closed.
1. One long strip of fabric, folded in half and sewn down each side.  
2. Turn it right side out and insert the mesh.  
1. Put a basting thread on the closed end to hold the webbing in place.  
1. The mesh is about 1/2-inch narrower than the finished size, so it was loose.
2. Putting holes in the fabric will reduce water-repellency so use of pins was also very minimal.
3. The fabric is very slippery.
3. First determine where the buckle should be.  
1. Hold it in place with webbing, adding enough length to allow for tightening.
1. Before stitching all webbing to the fabric seal the end by holding it over a flame briefly to melt/mold it together.
2. Stitch a fold on the open end of the webbing that stays loose after going through the buckle.  
1. The open ended webbing is to make it possible to tighten the webbing once the cell phone is in place.
2. The fold on the end of the webbing is to keep the webbing from sliding out once inserted.
3. Feed the webbing through the buckle and back again, making certain to put the folded end of the adjustment strap end on the outside so you can pull it.
4. Sew the buckle in place leaving the final length of the webbing to be determined later.  
4. With the buckle attached, determine how much webbing is necessary to attach the D-ring on the TOP of the carrier.
1. Seal the lose end.
2. Use the newly sealed end to attach the D-ring, looping the webbing back over itself after stitching as close to the D-ring as possible.
3. Stitch the webbing down--making a rectangle of stitches near the end for strength
5. Determine the place for final finished end and trim the mesh.  
1. Close the open end of the "sleeve" by folding the unfinished ends to the inside.
2. Stitch close to the end, across the open end.
6. Mark where the other end of the buckle goes, insert webbing, sew webbing down firmly.  
7. With the D-ring in place, decide where to put the small "sleeve" for sliding the waist strap through.  
1. This one begins about 1 inch below the D-ring.
8. Cut the small "sleeve" and mesh for the waist strap.  
1. This one is a finished size of about 3-1/2 inches wide (narrower than the carrier) and around 4 inches long (generous to allow for easy strap insertion).
2. It is made the same as the rest--inside and outside are the fabric with a piece of mesh inside for strength.  
1. Stitched and turned right side out, then mesh inserted.
2. In this case, the mesh goes to the seams, but NOT into the seams.
3. Fold the open end, trim mesh to fit (a little narrower so as not to stitch through it.
4. Stitch across open end.
5. Attach it to the main section, placing it about an inch below the D-ring with open sides to each side of the carrier.
6. Put a slide gap in from top to bottom (instead of laying it down very flat) to allow a bit of space for inserting the backpack strap's buckle.
7. Stitch across the TOP and BOTTOM, making certain to leave the SIDES open to allow insertion of the backpack waist strap.
9. With the carrier wrong-side out, sew a VERY narrow seam down the sides to form the holder.  
10. Turn right side out. 
11. Fold the loose fabric (beyond the mesh) of the "lid" inwards and stitch down around the three open sides (so it doesn't flop around).
12. It's done!

I had planned to sew across the end of each side on the inside of the finished carrier to create a "box" effect, but there was not enough space to do so.  As it turned out, it wasn't necessary.

I am rather relatively happy with my first attempt!

Finished Cell Phone holder:
(In these photos, I had not yet done step No. 11 above.)


Back side, showing the "sleeve" to slide the backpack waist strap through--see the slight gap:


The idea of adding the D-ring came from the purchased one.  It gives an addition way of attaching the carrier to the backpack, etc.

Here I slipped a strip of fabric through the "sleeve" to demonstrate how it works:


Cell phone cover slipped inside:



Backside view when carrier is slipped onto the backpack waist strap:


Front view -- waist strap buckled with holder in place:


I will use it for a while and see what I might wish to add or change before making a second one.  Also, it was my intent to make it just a little bit large for my current phone because they keep making the phones larger.  This carrier came out fitting easily and perfectly--it really isn't quite as big as I intended for the future.