I recently started running in the mornings. However, it's annoying when it's 6 am and my mp3 player lands in a pool of goo. This instructable is my solution. My design is based on the Puuko friction sheath. The iPod slides in, but it doesn't go out.
step 1Materials and MethodsMaterials: (1) piece of scrap leather (1) armband (1 yard) proper cordage [dental floss (Free, since I'm a dentist.)] Tools: leather hole punch heavy scissors (optional) needle pencil
step 2Layout1. First, try laying out the leather around your iPod (or other mp3 player). Make sure it fits right. Leather is skin. Just like plastic surgery, each piece of leather has different tension lines. Try folding your leather in different ways to find what works best for your configurati…
step 3Cut slot1. Punch holes at the ends of the planned strap slot. This results in a cleaner, less prone to tearing slot. 2. Cut the slot between the holes. I used my scissors for this, but you can just as easily use a scalpel or an x-acto knife. 3. (Optional) Smooth out the s…
step 4Punch holesPunch holes along the seam that you marked earlier. Helpful details: 1. Having about 5 mm between each hole allows for a clean looking stitch, enough material to hold the seam, and close enough stitches to control the tension of the joint. 2. Allow enough space from the bottom stitch to…
step 5Stitch upStitch up the holes that you've made. You can use any cordage that you want to. Personally, I used dental floss. I'm a dentist, so that it's available. It's also cheap, tough (it's nylon), and waterproof. I like to start the seam with a surgeon's knot. Be sure to have equal tension with each st…
step 6EnjoyFinally, thread in the strap and enjoy! The ipod should easily slide in, but will be tricky to slide out. The leather shapes itself as the ipod enters. Those ancient Scandanavians really knew what they were doing.
