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

Source via Haley 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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