How to Build a Hammered Dulcimer Case

Measure Your Dulcimer

• 1). Place the dulcimer on a table top or similar surface. Measure each side of the dulcimer. Hammered dulcimers are trapezoidal. The top of the dulcimer will be a different measurement than the bottom. The sides will be equal.
  
  
• 2). Measure the depth of your dulcimer, from where the base meets the table to the top of the bridge. The bridges are the pieces of wood that run the length of the dulcimer and support the strings.
  
  
• 3). Use these measurements to determine the amount of fabric and foam you will need and the length of your custom-made zipper.
  
  

Cut the Fabric

• 1). Lay the fabric out on a flat surface, right side down. Lay the lining fabric on top of it.
  
  
• 2). Use the measurements from your dulcimer, adding two inches to each measurement. Draw the trapezoid shape of the dulcimer on the fabric, with the long width at the bottom. Cut on the lines. Place this piece on the remainder of the fabric, with the short width at the bottom. Trace around this piece. Cut on the lines. These will be the front and back outsides of your dulcimer case.
  
  
• 3). Use the measurement for the top (smallest side) of the dulcimer. Add one inch. Use the depth measurement of your dulcimer. Add one inch. Draw a shorter, skinny rectangle using these two measurements. Cut on the lines.
  
  
• 4). Remove the lining fabric from the main fabric.
  
  
• 5). Add the measurements for the longest and equal sides. This will be the length of the outside walls of your dulcimer case. Use the depth measurement of your dulcimer for the width of the outside walls. Add one inch. Draw a long skinny rectangle using these two measurements. Cut on the lines.
  
  
• 6). Repeat Step 5, using the lining fabric instead of the main fabric, but make the width of the fabric three inches wider than the depth measurement, as opposed to one inch.
  
  

Cut the Foam

• 1). Lay the foam out on a flat surface. Lay the dulcimer on top of the foam, long width at the bottom. Trace around the dulcimer.
  
  
• 2). Turn the dulcimer around so the short width is now at the bottom. Lay the dulcimer on the foam approximately one-half inch away from the area you just marked. Trace around the dulcimer. Cut on the lines.
  
  
• 3). Using the measurement for the top (smallest side) and the depth measurement of the dulcimer, draw a shorter, skinny rectangle. Cut on the lines. Repeat, using the measurements for the other three sides, added together.
  
  

Build the Dulcimer Case

• 1). Add a handle. Fold the long piece of outside fabric in half and mark the center point. Cut 10 inches of webbing. Pin the webbing to the long piece, equidistant from the center mark, leaving an arch of webbing to use as a handle. Top-stitch the handle using a square, then an X pattern.
  
  
• 2). Assemble the long side. Lay the long rectangle of lining fabric, right side down, on a flat surface. Lay the long rectangle of main fabric, right side up, on top. Lay one-half of the custom zipper, teeth pointed down, on one lengthwise side of the main fabric. Pin the zipper to the fabric, leaving one-half inch extra zipper on either end. Stitch the zipper at one-half-inch seam allowance.
  
  Press the zipper up so the teeth aim away from the fabric. Top-stitch the seam allowance to the fabric. Slide the foam in between the main and lining fabrics. Push the foam all the way up so the top is even with the zipper. This will protect the dulcimer from the zipper.
  
  
• 3). Assemble the case. For the remaining pieces, layer heavy-duty nylon, foam and lining fabric on top of one another. Pin layers together. Stitch the long narrow piece to three sides of one trapezoidal piece, zipper side up. Stitch the short narrow piece to the remaining side of the trapezoidal piece. Stitch the two narrow pieces together.
  
  
• 4). Pin the zipper in the same manner as before to the remaining trapezoidal piece. Stitch at one-half-inch seam allowance.
  
  
• 5). Stitch the short side of the trapezoidal piece to the short side of the main case body.
  
  
• 6). Attach the lid. Stitch the short end of the narrow piece to the short end of the trapezoid. Thread the zipper teeth together and zip the case two-thirds shut. Pin zipper ends down through the unzipped portion of the lid. Unzip the lid. Secure zipper ends to the case.