here we go folks, a mini tutorial for those of you sewists who have hunting type men in your lives.

You’ll need:
1 1/2 yards canvas (usually comes 60″ wide)
1/2 yard cotton batting
2 yards lining
2 packages double fold bias tape
2 buttons
freezer paper (if you want to do a freezer paper stencil)
vintage gun sleeve pattern

The materials listed above should make two gun sleeves.

Cut 1 of the following from the pattern: canvas, batting, lining.  On the one rounded end (there will be two bumps, you’ll be cutting off ONE) , cut all layers straight across, see diagram below for a visual on what this will look like.

Make a quilt sandwich, lining on bottom, batting, canvas on top.  Pin baste.  I did a random zig zag quilt line down each of the sides of the case.

Attach bias tape.  Please refer to the below diagram.  Here’s Angry Chicken’s video tutorial if you need help with how to attach the tape.

Sew your button hole, and attach a manly button.  Add a freezer paper stencil of his favorite gun brand.  Here’s a PDF of the file I used, just print, lay freezer paper on top the the sheet and cut with your exacto knife.

Hope that helps, and let me know if you have any questions.

Anyone out there with husbands/fathers/brothers who hunt? If not, this is possibly the least favorite project you’ll see on my site.  That said, I’m really excited I finished these two custom gun sleeves for my dad. 

My dad is a huge pheasant hunter, and hunter in general.   He grew up on a farm just outside Lake City, Minnesota.  I hear lots of crazy stories about his family life and growing up on the farm.  As well as a lot of old hunting stories.  Really, you wouldn’t believe some of the stories, they’re amazing and funny, and I don’t ever get sick of hearing them.

He gave me a few pictures and measurments of a vintage gun sleeve that he really liked.  I told him I’d give it a shot and it ended up pretty great.  I made my own pattern and it’s basically just a mini quilt.  I used a canvas for the exterior with a homespun cotton for the lining and cotton batting in the middle.  Finished it off with some store bought binding and a couple wooden buttons.

The Winchester logo is a freezer paper stencil.  Glad I had read Elsie Marley’s post about her freezer paper skirt (which by the way is such a beautiful skirt).  I reused the freezer paper and ironed it on a second time for the other gun sleeve, nice time saver, thanks Meg. 

Now he’ll be the envy of the gun club.