Sunday, July 24, 2011

Laptop Sleeve: a tutorial





I am loving this spicy mustard color. I've been pinning pretty mustard yellow things like crazy.



Source Unknown via Kristy on Pinterest





So when I decided to make a leather laptop sleeve, I knew the perfect complimentary color.

Back to school will be my reality in just a few short weeks. Since I bring my laptop with me everyday to class, I needed a good sturdy case to protect it from scratches and bumps. I documented my process in case you're needing one as well. 



Materials:


  • Four 8" x 10" sheets of felt
  • 1/2 yd. Leather (which I'm assuming is faux)
  • Button
  • 2 + Embroidery floss
  • Embroidery Needle
  • Spray Adhesive (Not pictured above)

All of my supplies were purchased at Joann. You can find the leather by the yard in the upholstery section. 1/2 yard left me with plenty of extra material (although it needed to be this wide to be large enough for my sleeve). 

You certainly don't have to have a mac to use this tutorial. You could likely make a sleeve like this for virtually any laptop.  This tutorial could also be used to make a sleeve for your Ipad, Kindle, Nook, Ipod, Phone, etc. 

Let's get started!

Tutorial:





Cut a piece of leather large enough to accommodate your laptop



Along the long side, cut so that there is about a 1" overhang of material on each side.




Use the extra material for the strap.  My strap was about 19" x 1/4".





Use spray adhesive to adhere the felt to the backside of the leather.








Blanket stitch the edges (what will be the long side of the sleeve).








I referenced this video on how to blanket stitch:




Sew down one side of the sleeve (short side) with wrong sides together
I went with an exposed stitch because of the bulkiness of the fabric.





Now insert your laptop into the partially constructed sleeve and determine where your next stitch should be.





I used scotch tape to help with this step. Masking tape would really have been better though..





Stitch down the predetermined line. Insert laptop to be sure it's a snug fit and cut off the extra material.






Sew on your button


Cut a small triangle (base is about 1.5") from your extra leather material





Sew on the strap as shown below. Be sure that the strap fits around the button and off again with the laptop inside before making your stitches.





Cut off the extra strap material hanging from the bottom. 






That's it!  Pretty simple right? Even the blanket stitch was really easy and kind of fun. 












I may have to try my hand at more embroidery in the future. It adds such a lovely touch.







I'll be clutching this lovely on campus come August (:







...
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85 comments

Barbara said...

This is so cute! The embroidery really does make it (:

Amber Marie said...

I have been loving that color too! It's so pretty! It gives you a warm and bright feeling...not dying heat like the summer but more like a fire flame...ha okay I'm done. You're laptop cover is UH-mazing! Great job!

Tanya said...

That turned out great! Your tutorial looks really easy to follow too. Thanks.

The Shabby Blue Ribbon said...

Gorgeous! I was just looking for inspiration for an ipad cover, you may have just done the trick! Great job!

Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims said...

this looks so great!!! very fancy looking!!!

I have to go back to school in august too :( booo. i want a longer summer!!

Originally Yours said...

Wow, I love this idea! Thank you for sharing!

Kelsey said...

This is great! And it looks fantastic too :) Thanks for sharing!

Aimee @ SmallAnchors.com said...

you are SO creative... love this idea! this would be so much more beautiful & easier to hold than my current laptop case! thank you!!

Yolanda @ Miss Refashionista said...

My jaw still ajar. I want. To make this rightttt now!!

You are super fab, glad to be following you!!!

Amy @ dwell in the season said...

This is SO adorable, I love it! I already have a laptop sleeve, but I just may have to make one of these! I'm your newest follower! :)

Shanea said...

Looks great! This would make a great gift for some guys in my life. Thanks!!

Karen said...

great idea! i can't wait to try it out and carry one across campus myself!

Allie said...

you. are. so. good. I'm so glad you're blogging. I love this idea. pinning immediately. :)

Kelli said...

And now I know what I'm making my brother for Christmas. THANK YOU! I had to bookmark this till I could check it at home!!

Mary said...

Sweet! Thanks for sharing--my hubs just bought a macbook too so my masculine black case will go to him and I need to make a new one. Perfect! Thanks!

Tori said...

Okay! So I've been wanting to do some leather (faux or not) lately, but I can't seem to find it anywhere! Where did you purchase your's?
Thanks so much-- definitely love your blog!

XOXO
-Tori

torigjohnson@gmail.com
torigjohnson.blogspot.com

Katy said...

Tori-

I found it at Joann. It's in the upholstery section on the big, long rolls. Thanks so much! Good luck (:

Mary said...

I featured this tutorial in my blog last week for an iPad case for my boyfriend! He loved it! Linking it up!

http://lilyamongthorns22.blogspot.com/2011/09/weekend-projects-giveaway.html

Refugee Crafter said...

Awesome tutorial. I just made an iPad sleeve for my husband using it. Thank you so much!

http://www.refugeecrafter.com/2011/10/ipad-case-for-dado.html

Laura said...

I just discovered your website on www.stumbleupon.com and I LOVE Your ideas!! SO CUTE!! and seem fairly easy!

I'll be sure to pass it on!

Gwen Holt said...

I LOVE THIS!
You're blog is just my life-saver for this christmas!
This is a brilliant idea, and so easy to follow step-by-step.
I do have a question though, if I can't find, or afford faux leather, what material should I use?
e-mail me, gwenniholt@gmail.com
Thanks! :)

AttemptingAloha said...

Amazing! I pinned this and am linking it up to my "gifts for men" in my Christmas series! Thanks for the tutorial. :)

Aloha,
Charlie

Ra said...

Sooo nice! Congratulations!
I couldn't find leather to do one for me.. I got the felt only.. lets see if I will find it in a different place or end-up creating a new format!
I ll post the link here, if I manage it!
Thanks!
Raquel
costurandocriatividade.blogspot.com

lucky said...

Great design!I think it's a very sweetlaptopsheeve!

Claudia said...

This is awesome. Thanks.

Michelle said...

this is so great! awesome tutorial! I'm almost finished making mine right now. It's exactly what i've been wanting to make for my husband for fathers day. thank you so much :)

ABI said...

I love it!!! And following you now :)xxx

Amelia said...

This is awesome! I definitely want to make one before school starts in the fall!

Pocha Leather said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rosalind Grace said...

This is exactly what I have been looking for, thank you! Do you have any advice to alternate to an envelope style?

Helen @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog said...

This is lovely!!

Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog

manoj singh said...

I am searching a best site for laptop sleeves and I found this incredible blog who made me fan of it, all sites on blog I salute your effort and now I my search is completed.

xoCIGARS.com said...

Wow, nice one. Your post really encourage me to make this amazing cover for my notebook. I have recently collect Louis Vuitton agenda PM notebook cover for me but now I also want to make this one. Its very cute.
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nomzam said...

Thanks for the best tutorial I have ever seen on internet about making of laptop bags. Thank you so much. This is so helpful.

PaníUlrichová said...

Hi,I have a question. I want to make this for my dad's laptop but I only have the measurements, so I am nervous about making it since I won't be able to test the size before I sew and cut everything! What are the dimensions of your Mac? That way I can compare them to the dimensions of my dad's computer and hopefully make the best decision about the measurements of the felt/leather! thanks.

Unknown said...

have been looking for some time that kind of tutorial its easy, simple and outcome is fabulous. Thank you so much!!! Inna

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely cuuuuuuute! Can you make one for this laptop (acer aspire v5-572g-6679) and post it on etsy or something similar?

I would definitely buy this bag.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I made a version as an ipad case for my Dad as a fathers day gift. It turned out well and I think he is going to not even believe I made it! This was easy to follow and I really appreciated tips about where you got materials. Thank you : )

Julie said...

Thx for showing this! You would not believe that I just went to a local leather shop TODAY, and got a 12x18 inch peice of mustard yellow leather to use as a new cover (the actual leather cover) of a Bible I inherited from my Grandma! I also used this same spray adhesive to adhere the leather to the paper inside. I will be doing a post about it on my blog at www.asucculentlife.blogspot.com , as soon as I can. Hopefully by June 23. This is my fav color and I am looking for a perfect purse in mustard as well.
Take care!
Julie P.S. I hope you will do more embroidery in the future! For inspiration, google search FREE HAND EMBROIDERY PATTERNS, and there is so much fun out there!!!!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Brilliant work really awesome hand made covers. We use laptops everyday but hardly care for cleaning the dirt on it. Laptop skins do not let darts stick on the laptop surface. These are easy to be cleaned. There are many laptops with a smooth surface which may cause the laptop slipping out of hand during mobility. The easy-grip of the laptop skins does not let the laptops slip out. Moreover, you can change the skins with the changing trends whenever you wish.

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stylerug said...

nice designs ! laptop bag!

Unknown said...

That turned out great! Your tutorial looks really easy to follow too. Thanks Giftipedia

Gulshan Aggarwal said...

Wow, nice one. Your post really encourage me to make this amazing back cover for my notebook.I have been loving that color too! It's so pretty! It gives you a warm and bright feeling. Thanks for the inspiration!

Terrance McDaniel said...

Really you blog have very interesting and very valuable information about the laptop bags keep posting
vandra

Printingdukaan said...

Great post realy helping
laptop sleeves

Abhijit said...

have been looking for some time that kind of tutorial its easy, simple and outcome is fabulous. Thank you so much!!! Inna

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Printingdukaan said...


this is so great! awesome tutorial! I'm almost finished making mine right now. It's exactly what i've been wanting to make for my husband for fathers day. thank you so much Printingdukaan

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