My Handy Dandy Touchpad Case

I happened to find some old curtains and was wondering of a nifty way to re-purpose them.  Sooo…..

I am going to show you how I made a case to carry my HP Touchpad (scored during the HP Fire sale... can you say 32 GB for $150?!?!).  This case can be used for a laptop, Netbook, iPad, etc.

Let's get started.

                                                                                                                     
Materials

• 4 pieces measuring 11.5 " x  9.5" (2 pieces for outside panels and 2 pieces for lining fabric. You can use two different fabrics if you'd like.)

• 2 pieces each measuring 11.5" x 9.5"

             fusible interfacing
             batting

• 2 pieces measuring 5" x 14"

• 1 piece each measuring 5" x 5"

             fabric
             fusible interfacing

• small piece of Velcro (or some other type of closure)

• 10 inch zipper

• about 8 strips of freezer paper that are 1" x 12"

(SN: be sure to measure your device to determine how big your pouch should be.  I measured my Touchpad and added an inch to both the length and the width, I wanted a snug fit.  Also, adjust the strap lengths to fit your needs.)

Directions

1- Measure your device and to get the dimensions for your fabric, interfacing and batting.

2- Cut pieces according to the measurements.

3- Take your straps (5" x 14") and fold in half with WRONG sides touching. Press using the steam setting on your iron.

4- Take each half and fold it so that it barely touches the center fold, made in step 3.  Press again.

5 - Fold the short end under, toward the wrong side (to hide the raw edge) about 1/4". Press.

6- Stitch along each side using a straight stitch. Set aside.

7- Iron the interfacing onto the front panels and pocket according to the directions that came with your product.

8- Pin batting to the outside panel pieces.

9- With the iron, press freezer paper in 1"increments (I didn't measure, just eyeballed it) onto panels.

10- Stitch on either side of the freezer paper. Be careful not to stitch through the paper.

11- Repeat on each outside panel piece.  Set aside.

12- Take your pocket piece (5" x 5") and fold it each edge toward the inside about 1/4". Press.

9- Fold down the top of your pocket about 1" and press.

10- Take one side of Velcro and sew it onto the 1" portion of your pocket. I stitched a square around the perimeter.

11- Sew close to the edge of the 1" fold to secure it.

12- Center the corresponding Velcro piece on of the panels and sew into place. Again, I sewed a square around the perimeter.

13- Take your pocket and attach the two Velcro pieces together to make sure they match. Sew around the sides and bottom of your pocket, stay close to the edge.  Make sure you don't sew the pocket closed and that the folded edges stay tucked.

14- Pin straps in place making sure they are not twisted. To attach the straps, sew a square close to the bottom of the strap on each outside panel piece...we don't want them to fall off! Be sure they match up on both outside panel pieces.

 

 15- To attach the zipper, lay a piece of lining face-up. Place the zipper on top of the lining. Keep the edges even. Take an outside panel and lay it face-down. Make sure all edges are even. Sew together with a zipper foot.

16- Open fabric so that right sides are facing out.  Press.

17- Take the second lining piece, lay it face-up. Place the zipper (with lining facing down) and line the zipper edge with the top of the fabric. Place the remaining panel face-down. Make sure all edges are even and stitch together.

 18- Open fabric so that one piece of lining and one panel are on either side of the zipper.  Press into place and sew close to the zipper on both sides.

---This is an important step to ensure the lining does not get caught in the zipper.

 19- Open your zipper half way and open your piece so that the two outer surfaces (or pretty sides) of both the lining and the panels touch. Pin in place and sew around the perimeter leaving a 3 in opening on the lining side (so you can flip the bag inside out). Sorry, no picture of this. :-(

20- Trim your seams and corners. Flip your pouch right side out and stitch closed the hole in your lining. Press all seams for a crisp look.

 All done!

 

 I hope you try this easy project! 

Sew it Begins...

I have recently rediscovered my like of sewing. If I think back almost 20 years, I can picture myself in sewing classes and at our fashion shows wearing t-shirt dresses. Needless to say, I won't be revisiting those patterns!

My most recent spark started when I decided I needed a new diaper bag. I went out, bought my materials and spent a whole week making it! Well, $45.00 later, I hardly carry it and am a little upset with myself for spending that much money…

Fast forward nine months and I consider myself something of an expert. Ok, not really but I do pretty good work.

My most recent projects are Chistmas stockings for our mantle…

And grocery bag holders for Christmas gifts...

 I hope you like!