Short introduction to the use of sewing machines/Sewing labs/USB Carrier

In this laboratory we will make a USB carrier, the use of this carriers is to prevent the loss of USB memory drives and to have them in a defined place, they can be added to other tools such as bags, backpacks or just carry them in your pocket. Carriers can hold one or more usb drive, in this case we are going to make a carrier that can hold 4 usb memory drives. Materials and tools needed 0.5 Yards Cotton fabric (18 inches long): The fabric to buy will have at least 4 inches long and 12 inches wide. Since the holder will have 2 sides, that requires a fabric of 8x12 inches wide. We will add 2 inches more for the cover (4 + 2 inches = 6 inches long), the fabric that will use 10 inches long, 12 inches wide, this measures may change according the size of your usb drive or according your own design. 0.5 yards fabric will be more than enough (18 inches by 12 inches). Measuring tape or ruler. Scissors. Sewing machine. Chalk to draw the lines in the fabric for cutting and sewing guide. Measuring one USB memory stick When measuring your drive you will need a measuring tape or ruler, and will get the following measures: Length of the USB drive: Example: 3 inches Wide of your USB drive: Example: 1 inch USB carrier template or pattern thumb|Real size measures of a a USB holder for 4 usb drives. Open and print the upper image or sheet it include real size measures as reference to draw with chalk for the lines for the dividers as is explained below, then sew both fabrics or sides of the squares together. Drawing the Cutting the 2 fabric parts We are going to use 2 squares, they will be the back of the carrier and one the frontal part of the carrier, for this we will calculate their measures. Dimensions for the rear fabric section The back of the carrier will be bigger since it will have the cover section that will prevent the flash drive to go out of the carrier, since the length of the carrier is 3 inches we are going to add one more inch to the length of this fabric section. Length: 5 inches. The wide of the carrier will be 1 inch for each USB drive space, since these spaces are going to be sew, we are going to add one more inch to prevent having a narrow carrier space. Wide: 5 inches. Draw with chalk this measures over the fabric and cut the rear square. Dimensions for the frontal fabric section The frontal part of the carrier will have the same dimensions than the previous one, but it will be only 3 inches long, this is the height of the usb drives. Length: 3 inches. Wide: 5 inches. Draw with chalk this measures over the fabric and cut this frontal fabric square. Laser cutting the fabric (optional) Short guide to the use of laser cutting machines/Laboratory/Laser cutting fabric parts for a USB holder Note: If in your setting do not have a laser cutter, please skip this step, cut will scissors or with rotary cutter instead. The measuring and hand cutting step can be bypassed when using laser cutting machines, such ULS or Glowforge.For this, download the image (it is an svg file), and follow the steps of the guide to cut ULS or Glowforge. To prevent waste of materials, do a initial testing on paper, to ensure a proper cutting (laser cutting) and proper line making (engraving. once a proper cut and marking is made in paper, proceed to cut over a piece of fabric. Once the fabric is cut and marked correctly, proced to laser cutting all the 16 pieces (or more) for 8 USB holders (or more)... The advantage is the saving of time and effort in measuring, cutting and marking, this will be done automatically by the laser cuter using, in around 3 minutes. The time in which the laser cutter cuts the material, could be used to have all the sewing machine ready, getting the proper thread, proper foot, the proper needle, selecting the stitch (according to the presser foot used), threading the machine, etc. Preparation of both pieces of fabric Trace the USB drive dividing lines with chalk. The image above can be printed as reference sheet, it can serve as a guide to draw with chalk for the lines for the dividers. Place both fabrics one over the other. In case of using bright colors, these colors should be outside, and the darker colors (if any inside, touching each other. Use sewing pins to hold them together. Cut frontal fabric (where the usb are going to be inserted) before sewing, this will give enough space to insert and cover the height of the flash drives, but not so tall that it becomes difficult to take the flash drives out. The rear fabric will be taller since the upper area will be folded to cover the upper part of the frontal panel. Sew both pieces of fabric 1.- Sew the lateral and bottom sides of the rear and frontal squares, this can be done in a single sew: a.- Start sewing from one of the upper corners, when in the inferior corner, lift the foot, rotate, and put down the foot. b.- Continue sewing toward the opposite corner, lift the foot. This will be a L shape. It is done in this way to ensure each pocket will be wide enough to hold usb flash drives, and no space is narrower than necessary. 2.- Start sewing along the first dividing line. Since all the lines are marked with chalk, start sewing over the line side closer to the L. But give enough space, more than the necessary. This is done to ensure the usb flash drive will fit in its space, and if the pocket is to wide, can be fixed adding a second divisor line to reduce this space. 3.- Start sewing along the second dividing line, also give extra space. This will form the pocket for a second usb flash drive. 4.- Start sewing along the second dividing line, also give extra space. This will form the pocket for a third usb flash drive. Note: Repeat if you want to make a 5 usb flash drive holder. 5.- Complete the sewing frome the other corner from bottome to top, until the end of where both fabrics are located. End with a reverse sew of 4 stitches. Since the carrier will carry 4 usb drives, and since thread is used to separate the spaces, the wide for the usb drive sewing it will have 4 inches long and 5 inches wide. The 3 lines in the middle to separate the spaces and create a 4 usb drive the holder. A bottom or velcro can be used to close the holder or can be left just as it is. Notes: This file was updated with measures that correspond to a real size usb drive 3 inches long, 1 inch wide, the size of your usb drive may be different. The objects were selected, and resized selecting either a corner or dot and using the ruler on the sides and top as reference. The final file o was added to wikimedia as svg file: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USB_Holder.svg, and then added to this wikibook. A 2 usb drives carrier would be 4 inches long and 3 inches wide, instead of 4 inches long 5 inches wide. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_(sewing)