I recently added a shoulder pad to the strap of one of my bigger bags for more convenience so I thought I’d share this in a tutorial. It is not very difficult but keep in mind to add the shoulder pad to your strap before you sew the strap onto your bag! Happy sewing!

--- This tutorial is free but for your convenience I decided to offer the complete tutorial as a PDF for download for only $2, if you prefer to have everything in one structured document ---

Download the pattern pieces from the pdf-file above, print them and cut them out. You should have two pattern pieces (#1 “bottom part” and #2 “top part”). When printing make sure your printer settings are set to "actual size" and NOT to "fit" so the pattern pieces will be the right size.

Hint: if you use oilcloth or laminated cotton like I did, sewing clips instead of pins are recommended, since pins will leave holes in your fabric.

You need:

Fabric: a few scraps will do
Bias tape 0.5” wide: approx. 50 cm (20”)
Fusible fleece, e.g. Pellon 987F  
Fusible interfacing, e.g. Pellon 931 TD

Cut:

-    from pattern piece #1 (bottom part): 2 pieces of fabric, 1 piece of fusible fleece
-    from pattern piece #2 (top part): 2 pieces of fabric, 2 pieces of fusible interfacing

All seam allowances are 1 cm (3/8”) unless otherwise stated.

1) Transfer the markings for the placement lines onto the fabric pieces #1.

2) Interface the two fabric pieces #2 (top part) with the fusible interfacing. Then put them right sides together, the short edges and the long edges should be aligned. Sew along the short edges, trim the seam allowance and turn right side out.

3) Interface one of the fabric pieces #1 (bottom part) with fusible fleece. Set aside.

4) Place the other fabric piece #1 right side up. Place the top part you have assembled in the step 2 onto the bottom part, matching the placement lines on the bottom part. Baste in place along the long edges of the top part.

5) Place this assembled piece onto the other bottom part (the one that you interfaced with fusible fleece). Put the two pieces WRONG sides together. You may baste along the curves or the long edges before you proceed to the next step.

6) Fold one of the short edges of your piece of bias tape down by 3/8” (1 cm). Put it onto the assembled shoulder pad as shown in the pictures below (I suggest you start at the center of one of the long edges). Pin it down and put it all around the shoulder pad. Due to the rounded shape you may have to create a few pleats while going around the whole piece.
When you reach the beginning of the bias tape again, put the end of the bias tape on top of the beginning so that they are overlapping by approx. 1,5 cm (0.5”).

7) Sew the bias tape down onto the shoulder pad, approx. 0,5 cm (3/16) “ from the outer edge.

8) Fold the bias tape over the outer edge of the shoulder pad and fold it down towards the other side. Try to make a neat binding, see also on the next pictures below.

9) Stitch all along the inner edge of the bias binding with a 0,3 cm (1.8") seam allowance.

Congrats! Your shoulder pad is finished!
If you like this tutorial or if you have any suggestions on how to improve it, I would be happy about a comment :)

I've been a member of a choir for the last three years but still haven't managed to get a decent folder for my sheet music. Usually I would just cover it up with black paper which isn't really professional and also, I kind of got annoyed by having to buy new paper for every piece of music...
I finally made myself a book cover for my music which is just plain black and makes it perfect for concerts. The pattern is super easy.

--- This tutorial is free but for your convenience I decided to offer the complete tutorial as a PDF for download for only $2, if you prefer to have everything in one structured document ---

First measure the length and width of your music. They come in different sizes but I used the biggest one I have, which measures 10.5 x 15" (26,5 x 38 cm) and has a depth of 1.75" (4,5 cm)…and now imagine holding this thing for 1.5 hours! Pretty exhausting :) Add a lot of seam allowance on all four sides and then cut your rectangular piece of fabric according to these measurements. With a seam allowance of 0.5" on each side, mine ended up being 11.5 x 16". Cut two of these.

Now you will need sleeves to put your book in.
Therefore open the cover of the book and measure in from the edge for a little bit more than half the width of the page, in my case it is about 4.5". Again add two lots of seam allowance and for the length use the same measurements as for the main body parts (including seam allowance). This would make it 11.5 x 5.5". Cut four of them.

Interface the four sleeve parts with fusible interfacing.


Put two of them right sides together and sew along on of the long edges. Turn right side out, press and topstitch along this edge. Repeat with the remaining two sleeve parts:

Take one of the main body parts and put it right side up. This will be the interior body part. Take one of the sleeve parts and put it onto the left hand side of the body part, with the finished edge facing to the inside of the body part. The raw edges of sleeve part and main body part should be aligned. Pin in place and baste all along the raw edges to secure them in place.
Repeat with the other sleeve part on the right hand side of the main body part:

Take the other main body part (which will be the exterior body part) and interface it with heavy stabilizer to add more strength. The heavy stabilizer should not lie on the seam allowances, so before ironing it down cut off 0.5" (1,25 cm) on either side.

Place the interfaced main body part right side up and put the interior body part with the sleeves on top of it, right sides together. Make sure all the edges are aligned. Pin in place and stitch all aroung the edges, but leave an opening of about 4" (10 cm) at the bottom center.
Trim down the seam allowance to reduce bulk and clip the corners.

Turn the book cover right side out through the opening. Make sure to poke out the corners and then iron is to make it nice and flat.
At the opening fold the seam allowances down to the inside and topstitch it close.

Put your sheet music into the cover and you're ready for your next concert!