By Janome Maker: Emily Steffen
Dimensions of my iPad 8.5” x 11”
Dimensions of my apple pencil 6 3/4” tall x 3/8 wide (I am adding a pocket for my apple pencil so that I don’t lose it)
The pattern should be pretty easy to adjust based on the dimensions of the tech you are sewing for. A rough estimate for adjusting would be to measure your device, then adjust the following (approx):
For the width, add 2.5” (add more if your device is thicker than 1/2”).
For the “height” – take your product height and multiple by 2, then add 8 (for instance, my height is 11”, so I am cutting my height 30”)
MATERIALS:
- main outside fabric – 11” x 30”
- lining fabric – 11” x 30”
- trim fabric (or you could use bias tape if you wanted to) – 2” wide x 45” and another 2” x 11.5” (or about)
- apple pencil pocket fabric – 5” x 9” (or about)
- Flex Foam interfacing – 11” x 30”
- Flex Foam interfacing for apple pencil pock (if application) – 2” x 8”
- Some velcro for closing up (about a 4” strip for laptop and a small dab for the apple pencil closure if desired)
- Pins
- Your favorite sewing machine and coordinating thread
- Optional fabric marker
- options glue stick for basting if desired.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cut your fabric
- Cut your outside fabric and lining fabric to 11” x 30”
- Cut your trim fabric (if not using bias tape) to 2” wide by 45” and another 2” x 11.5
- Prep your trim
- You will need 2 trim pieces for later on in the pattern, one piece that measures approx. 11.5” (just over the width of your outside fabric) and another that is about 45” in length.
- With the pieces of fabric that you cut for your trim, sew together as many needed to meet the trim needs above. To sew them your trim pieces together, you will want to lay the pieces right sides together at a 90 degree angle, overlapping the top piece the amount of your seam allowance. Then stitch at a diagonal between the 90 degrees angle to get a good join. Trim away the excess fabric and then press.
- Then for each of your trim pieces you are going to want to fold them in 1/2 lengthwise and press. Then open up the folded seam and bring your two outside edges, wrong sides together, towards the pressed seam so that the outer raw edges are touching one another at the center. Press well, then set aside.
- Iron your interfacing
- Make sure to follow the packaging instructions on your interfacing for “adhering” it to your fabric. You will sandwich your interfacing between your outside fabric and lining fabric (iron both wrong sides to the adhesive).
- Trim off any edges or ends as needed after ironing.
- Quilt your case
- I chose to do diagonal quilting straight lines. You can do horizontal, vertical or something else fancy. I have found that quilting gives some sturdiness to the Flex foam because the simple fusing from the iron won’t hold up over time.
- I used a ruler and a disappearing marker to make sure my lines were straight.
- Use your walking foot on your sewing machine if you have one (this makes any “bunchy-ness” go away as you’re quilting this thick of a layer together, although I didn’t use a walking foot and mine didn’t really bunch at all)! 🙂
- Make your apple pencil holder (if desired)
- I wanted my holder to be taught to my case AND be padded as well (I have broken a few apple pencil tips from being careless, welp!)
- I cut a piece of Flex Foam to about 8” x 2” and then covered it in fabric by wrapping it like a present leaving the last overlapped edge on one of the far long sides so that when I sew the pocket down in place (in step 8) it “catches” these ends and sews it all together. You will want to be sure that you don’t have any raw edges showing AND it’s optional to use a glue stick to “baste” things down before you press it all together just to help! 🙂
- Trim up and round out your case
- I chose to make a small “inverted” curve at the top inside of the case
- And curve the top flap of the case.
- Be sure to fold the length of your case to fit your device so that you can visualize how deep you want this curve, if at all.
- Add your velcro
- Cut a piece of sew-on velcro about 4” in length to the top part of your case. Measure to make sure your velcro is meeting in the middle of the side by side and pin in place. Stitch around the outside carefully.
- Attach your apple pencil holder.
- Start with sewing one short seam along the top edge of the apple pencil pad (the top seam). Then pin the whole pocket in place and stitch the remaining 3 sides onto the case being sure to anchor the pocket at the top 2 edges nicely.
- Sew your trim or bias tape edging
- Start by sewing your trim or bias tape along the top inside edge (the short side). Do this by opening up your trim or bias tape completely and lining up your raw edges on the inside lining part of your case. Pin and carefully stitch in place.
- Then you will fold over your tape towards the front (or outside) of the case. Pin or clamp in place and then top stitch all layers together. Trim the excess fabric edging flush with your case.
- Then you will want to fold your case in 1/2 (as you would as if it’s finished, but leave the flap open). You will begin on the backside adding your trim or bias tape in the same way that you just added it to the top inside edge. The only difference is that you will have TWO layers of fabric/interfacing near the bottom because the case is folded as if it’s ready to hold your device.
- Stitch in place BUT leave the bottom 1/2” near the bottom of the case unstitched so that you can fold or tuck your loose edging into the trim leaving everything nice and finished as you top stitch.
Now slide your device into your awesome new case and enjoy its beautiful protective enclosure! 🙂
