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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

laptop cover

My awesome husband let me get a laptop last week, so of course I needed to make it a cover so I didn't scratch it up whenever I take it somewhere. I wanted something unique and hopefully simple enough for me to make myself. (since stores charge so much for ugly, plain ones!) Soon, I found this cover and knew it was perfect for me! I also ended up making my husband one for his laptop - with different fabric, of course.

As a warning to all of the fabulous sewers out there - I probably won't use the right vocabulary and most likely will do things the hard way, but I am kind of teaching myself so please don't judge. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, let's get on with my version of a tutorial for a laptop cover:


 Here's what I used:
- 1 yard cotton fabric (for outside)
- 1 yard flannel (for inside)
- Sew-On velcro
- and the obvious:
   sewing machine, scissors, pins, etc

You will have extra material, I just wanted to be safe and got more than I would need.


 Step One:
Measure all the way around the laptop. Write the number down if you'll forget.
Measure the screen height. Add this to the number you just wrote down, and add about two inches for seams. The total number will be your length.
Measure the width of the laptop and add an inch on each side for seams.
Step two:
Cut your fabric! I really need to get myself a rotary cutter... :)
Step three:
Time to make the tab! Cut a small strip of the fabrics (it can be any size you choose). I ended up cutting mine about 1 1/2"x4". It just kind of depends on how much of a tab you want to have. I also cut an extra piece of the cotton fabric because I liked the look of the fabric being the same all the way around and added the flannel in between for some padding. You can also just use the two fabrics & place the flannel on the bottom side.
Cut a piece of velcro to fit your tab. Pin it in place where you'd like it to be.
Sew it on, either on the one layer of outside fabric or with the flannel layer as well.
Put the layers together, outside fabric right sides together and flannel on the outside. Pin in place.
Sew around 3 sides of the tab, leaving the edge opposite the velcro open.
Cut the top two corners, being careful not to cut your seam.
Turn it right-side out and iron to flatten your seams.
Step four:
Put your fabrics right sides together and center your tab in between, lined up with the top edges of the fabric. I took this picture before I realized I had the tab flipped the wrong way - make sure your velcro is face down on the flannel! I had to un-pick later, so learn from my mistake :)
Pin all the way around.
Step five:
Sew all the way around the edges, leaving the side opposite the tab open.
Step six:
Turn the cover right side out and iron. Place your laptop on the cover, tab on the bottom and flannel side touching the computer. Flip the fabric up & over the screen. I somehow cut my material about 2 inches too long, so I just pinned it where I wanted the edge to be and trimmed it.
Fold the laptop down, making sure it's fitting right.
Once closed, pull the tab up and mark where the opposite piece of velcro should go.
**This can come later, but I also pinned where the cover folded over the top of the laptop screen at the same time.**
Step seven:
Fold the bottom edge under and tuck inside. I just liked doing it this way so the edges would look cleaner. Iron if needed to stop them from coming unfolded and pin in place. Sew along the edge.
This is also the time to sew your piece of velcro in place. It's okay for you to sew through both fabrics because the stitching won't show after the next step.
Step eight:
If you didn't pin the fold earlier, now is when you would do it. Pin where the fabric folds over the screen and iron to crease it and make sure it's laying straight. Also pin down both sides of the screen.
Then sew down both sides so you have a giant pocket when you're done.

TA-DA!!
You're finished! Slide the pocket over your screen, fold it down and bring the tab up to close!
The flannel protects your laptop while the tab and pocket keep it in place!

Would you like to comment?

  1. OOooohhh, I really need one of these! Love it!

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  2. wow! how stinkin cute and creative is this! Great job. I found you through a linky party! Come and say hi, enter my giveaway and vote for my picture. Thank you.

    A mommy's life...with a touch of YELLOW
    tyandwhitneyulrich.blogspot.com

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  3. Look at you go!!! Just too cute! Thank you for linking up!!

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  4. Super snazzy! :-) Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday! :-)
    Vanessa

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  5. Great idea. I love the fabric you chose.

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  6. Lovely tutorial and love your laptop cover! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. So stylish and a fun way to protect your laptop! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Such an awesome project! I found you via Be Different, Act Normal and am now following.

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  9. What a nice little tutorial... well done! Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Nice!! I am a new follower!!

    Michele aka MikiHope
    www.mikishope.com

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  11. That is awesome! So crafty. :)

    Stopping by from the hop. Follow back?

    Janice
    Celebrating Family

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  12. Wow, that's really neat! The fabric is just gorgeous, too!

    Popping over from the Sunday Blog Hop to follow you!

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  13. I love it! I did the same thing when my daughter told me she bought me a Nook. I went on line and got the measurements and sewed an inside cover with a crochet cover for the outside so it would always be safe.
    I'm hopping over here from the Sunday Hop over at Planet Weidknecht

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  14. Love it! Your newest follower from the hop =)
    Lyndsey http://lyndseynp.blogspot.com

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  15. If you wanna make me one, I won't complain =] I absolutely love this, but am no where near talented enough...I'm a new follower!

    http://sweetteaserendipity.blogspot.com

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  16. Such a sweet little laptop cover- love it! Thanks for sharing at FNF :)

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  17. Very nice! Love the fabric too and the sleek design. Well done!

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  18. Lovely laptop cover - and great tutorial! I think your sewing skills are fabulous! That's how I sew - working it out as I go along - and I do believe anyone can do it if they're willing to try!

    I might steal this idea and make myself a laptop cover too!:)

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a great week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  19. That is awesome! Maybe when I get my new laptop I'll try this out!

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  20. wow, this is awesome!! thanks for the great tutorial. LOVE that fabric!

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  21. Great job on this! I haven't yet attacked the project, but an iPad cover is on my list of things to make.

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  22. Well I DO sew and I think you did an amazing job!! This is just perfect -- I just got a laptop from my hubby for my birthday/mother's day and I bought a cheapo cover from Big Lots but yours is WAY better and WAY cuter! thanks for sharing it!

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  23. Thank you so much for posting this. I so need one...now I know how to make one. :) I'm a very beginner sewer so your tutorial is great. :) I'm following you from Fingerprints on the Fridge. Would love to have you link this up at my {wow me} wednesday link up party going on over on my blog right now. :)

    Ginger
    gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

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  24. I can't sew to save my life but I am bookmarking this so I can forward to my friends who do. I love this laptop cover.

    Mila from http://hereundertherainbow.blogspot.com

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  25. So cute! I don't know why reading sewing tutorials are so confusing to me! I think I'm going to try to tackle this one though.

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  26. Awesome idea! You should make these and sell them!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  27. Thank you for sharing and linking up! My husband just bought himself a new I-Pad2 last week and as soon as the newness where's off, I'm taking it over. I've already been thinking about a cover for it.

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  28. This turned out so cute! :)
    Thank you so much for linking this up to {nifty thrifty sunday} last week!
    xoxo,
    Vanessa

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  29. I love that it covers the screen too!

    Thanks for sharing over at Calling all Crafters!

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  30. Great job!! I'm glad I could be of inspiration to you :o) Love your blog, by the way!

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