Fat Quarter Make; Laptop Sleeve
If you know me, you’ll know I absolutely LOVE anything with a space print, so this month’s box theme is perfect for me. The fat quarters are stunning and I knew I wanted to make something that I would see and use every single day.
That’s when I came up with the idea to make a protective sleeve for my MacBook Air. I carry it around with me most of the time, yet don’t have any sort of case or sleeve to protect it. So this project is perfect for me!
But don’t worry if you don’t need a sleeve for this purpose – the tutorial will work for anything rectangular, such as an ipad, phone, book…in fact, I’ve used this style of sleeve many times to make book sleeves. They’re ideal for protecting your book from damage when you carry it around in your bag.
So anyway, let’s get on with the tutorial!
You will need:
- 2 Fabric fat quarters – iron these to get any creases/folds out
- Tape Measure/Ruler
- Sewing machine with a universal needle
- Thread
- Rotary cutter & cutting mat / Fabric scissors
- Pins / Clips
- Elastic
- Button
- Fusible batting (I used Vlieseline H630)
Remember to back stitch at the start and end each time you sew – this is essential to secure your stitches.
I’ll be using a ½” seam allowance throughout, unless specified.
- First we need to measure the item you are making your sleeve for. Jot these measurements down.
Mine are: Length = 11 ⅞”
Width = 8 ⅜”
Depth = 0.5”
To determine the length of our fabric, we are going to add the length of our item to the depth of our item, then add on an extra 1.5”
So mine is: 11 ⅞” + 0.5” + 1.5” = 13 ⅞” (I’ll round this up to 14”)
For the width of the fabric, take the width of your item added to the depth of your item, then add on 1.5”
So mine is: 8 ⅜” + 0.5” + 1.5” = 10 ⅜” (I’ll round this up to 10.5”)
- So now we know the size of our rectangles (14” long x 10.5” wide), cut out 2 for the outer sleeve, 2 for the lining and 4 pieces of fusible batting.
- Before you fuse the pieces, sew a button on to one of your outer fabric pieces (I did this in the centre and 3” down from the top). I also sewed a label onto the same fabric piece at the bottom. My label came from the Kylie & the Machine Advent Calendar – it was just a perfect match!
On the other outer piece, baste a length of elastic in a loop on the right side of the fabric. I just ‘guesstimated’ how long this should be for it to loop over the button – I started with a 10” piece but had about 4” overhanging the edge of the fabric.
- Now fuse your batting pieces on to the wrong side of each piece of fabric using an iron.
- Place one outer piece and one lining piece right sides together and pin/clip along the top short edge. Sew along this edge. Open it out and press the seam flat from the right side. Repeat for the other two rectangles.
- Place the two long rectangles right sides together so that the centre seams meet and the same fabrics are facing each other. Pin/Clip all the way around the outside, but mark out a 4” gap on the short edge of the lining pieces. Sew all the way around, but remember to leave the gap unsewn!
- Snip across each corner and trim some fabric from the edges to reduce bulk.
- Turn your sleeve through the gap so that it is right sides out, poking out the corners with something like a chopstick.
- Close up the gap using either hand sewing or your machine – I hand sewed my gap closed using a ladder stitch. Give the whole sleeve a good press.
- Push the lining inside the outer sleeve. Optional: Top stitch around the top of the sleeve. I changed my bobbin thread to match the lining fabric.
And you’re finished – you’ve made an amazing laptop/book/iPad sleeve. I’m delighted with how mine has turned out – the fabric is so beautiful and it feels like my MacBook will be really well protected. This would also make a perfect gift for a loved one if you have any birthdays coming up!
If you get stuck on any aspects of the tutorial, please feel free to send me a message and I’ll help.
I hope you enjoy making your protective sleeve. Share your finished makes on instagram, using the hashtag #SewHayleyJaneFQ and tag me @sewn_on_the_tyne
See you next month,
Tamlyn xx