it was my lovely pal mandy's (of sugar & candy handbags) birthday a few weeks ago and i knew i wanted to spoil her. i posted the business card holder i made her but i also made her another pressie - a handmade tablet case for her new tablet. woot woot! mandy is a whiz when it comes to making her gorgeous handbags for her business so i knew i wanted this tablet case to have a purse like feel to it. a mandy vibe so to speak. i even named it after her. her maiden name is greyling - thus the "greyling tablet case tutorial" was born.
mandy has a great eye and a flare for prints and i knew she had been eying my pat bravo stash of summerlove for art gallery fabrics. i used "naivety berry" for the upper curved portion (the faux flap) and "beyond bliss ginger" for the main body print. the tablet case has a tab closure that buttons on the front with a curved faux flap. it's interfaced and padded so it will keep those trusty tablets safe and cozy :)
this tutorial is a great one for practicing your buttonholes, curves and edgestitching skills. you guys know how addicted i am to topstitching right? well i just can't get enough. it's like drawing to me and i love the intricacy of it. it adds that special touch to just about any and everything if you ask me :) and a turquoise button never hurt anyone right??
you ready to make one for your tablet or ipad? let's get sewing!!!
THE GREYLING TABLET CASE TUTORIAL
*Copyright 2012 www.luvinthemommyhood.com All rights reserved. This tutorial is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Please do not sell items made with this tutorial unless permission has been given. Thank you.
MATERIALS
**Important: Please note the dimensions used for this tablet match a Samsung Galaxy Tablet that is sized 10"H x 7"Wx .3799"D. In order to calculate the dimensions for other tablets please measure the size of your tablet as accurately as possible or refer to your product's website for specific dimensions. I added 3" to the tablet height (that actually is your cases width) and 2" to the width (that becomes your cases height) to accommodate for the depth of the tablet and also for the batting/interfacing that you will be using. The tablet slides into the case sideways so your width actually becomes your cases height and the tablet height becomes the cases width when cutting your fabrics. This is not a perfect science. I strongly suggest adding the seam allowances that will work best for the fabric and tablet that you are using.
* Outer Fabric Bottom Portion - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Outer Fabric Upper Portion - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 4 1/4"H (to cut pattern piece out of)
* Lining Fabric - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Interfacing (medium to heavy weight) - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H
* Batting - (2) pieces @ 13"W x 9"H for lining and
(2) pieces 6.5"H x 2.25"W for tab.
* Loop (lining fabric) - (1) pieces @ 4.75"W x 2"H
* Tab (outer fabric) - (2) pieces @ 6.5"H x 2.25"W
* Coordinating thread
* Scissors or rotary cutter/mat
* (1) Button
PATTERN PIECES
- Pattern piece for the curved faux flap (upper portion) of case.
TABLET CASE FAUX FLAP PATTERN PIECE - DOWNLOAD HERE
*Please set your printer to "no scaling" or "actual size" before printing your pattern piece.
INSTRUCTIONS
*All seam allowances are 1/2" unless otherwise noted.
STEP ONE: ASSEMBLE YOUR OUTER FABRIC
Print out your Faux Flap Pattern Piece. With your lining fabric cut out out your pattern piece and press. Take your (2) Outer Fabric Upper Portions and press well a 1/4" seam around bottom curved edge. This can be a tad tricky but just take your time, go slow and press well. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I pinned mine down as I ironed. See images below. Note: There are other ways to attach the faux flap but for time, style and materials on hand this was the way I chose to assemble my case.
With (1) of your Outer Fabric Bottom Pieces right side facing up pin an Outer Fabric Upper Piece right side facing up matching both long straight upper edges together. I removed my pins that were on the wrong side of the fabric as I pinned to the Bottom Piece. Edgestitch along the curved edge as close to the outer edge of your curved piece as possible. Press flat. See images below. Repeat with the other Outer Fabric Upper & Bottom Pieces. Take both of your Outer Pieces and iron your interfacing onto the backs of both pieces. You now have two tablet case outer pieces.
STEP TWO: MAKE YOUR TAB AND LOOP
Match your two pieces of batting for your tab with your two tab pieces. We're now going to sew together your tab and make a bit of a sandwich so to speak. Lay your pieces together in this order: batting, fabric right side up, fabric right side down, batting. Basically your fabrics will be right sides facing each other and the batting pieces will go above and below them. See images below.
Sew 3 sides (both long and one short) using a 1/4" seam allowance leaving one short end unsewn. Clip your corners taking care not to cut through your sewing. Turn right side out and press. Edgestitch along perimeter of the tab except for your unsewn short end. Press again. See image below. Nice work!
Now we are going to make your loop. Take your loop piece and press in half matching both long sides together. See image below.
You are going to sew using a 1/4" seam allowance starting at one short end all along one long edge ending on the other short end but leaving an opening big enough to pull your loop through along the long edge. See image below. Mine was about an inch wide. Trim your corners being careful not to clip your stitching.
Turn your loop right side out. Press flat and edgestitch around the entire perimeter of your loop taking care to close the opening you used to pull your loop through. Remember, go slow and steady and you'll do great!!! Grab one of your Outer Case Pieces and turn right side up and find the center of your case. Mark this with your fabric marker. Measure about 1 - 1 1/2" up from the bottom of your faux flap and mark again with your fabric marker. Now find the center of your loop and mark it as well. Place and pin your loop down matching the center of your loop with the center of your case where you marked your 1 1/2" measurement.
Starting on the left side of your loop sew a box about 1" wide. Now stitch an "x" through it. Repeat for the right side. This will keep your loop attached and look purdy. See diagram above. Now take both your Outer Case Pieces and place them right sides facing each other. Pin along 3 edges leaving your long top edge unpinned. Sew along your 2 short sides and the one long bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance. Clip your corners. Turn right side out and press. *Note: this would also be a great time to add a label to your case if you are using one.
Next find the center point of your case on the side without the loop attached. Mark with your fabric marker. Now find and mark the center of your tab. Match these up and place a pin at least 1" down from the top edge with your nice side of your tab facing down and pointing towards the bottom of your case. This will keep your tab from moving and shifting around while you assemble your case. See diagram above.
STEP THREE: ASSEMBLE YOUR LINING
Place both of your Lining Pieces right sides facing each other. Then place your batting on both sides of your fabric pieces sort of sandwiching them together just like you did when you made your tab. So you will have: batting, lining right side facing down, lining right side facing up, batting. See images below. Pin along 3 edges leaving your top edge unpinned.
Sew along your 2 short sides and the one long bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance. Clip your corners and trim your batting accordingly.
STEP FOUR: ASSEMBLE YOUR CASE
Ready to put your case together? Yay! Grab your Outer Case and turn it right side out. Now with your Inner Case still inside out simply put the Outer Case inside of the Inner Case. Trust me, it sounds trickier than it is. Just put one inside the other. It really is that easy. When looking at it you will see the wrong side of the Inner Case and the wrong side of the Outer Case. See image below.
Sew along your 2 short sides and the one long bottom edge with a 1/2" seam allowance. Clip your corners and trim your batting accordingly.
STEP FOUR: ASSEMBLE YOUR CASE
Ready to put your case together? Yay! Grab your Outer Case and turn it right side out. Now with your Inner Case still inside out simply put the Outer Case inside of the Inner Case. Trust me, it sounds trickier than it is. Just put one inside the other. It really is that easy. When looking at it you will see the wrong side of the Inner Case and the wrong side of the Outer Case. See image below.
Pin around the entire top perimeter of the case. Sew along the top edge with a 1/2" seam allowance making sure to leave at least a 3-4" opening to pull your case through. Turn your case right side out being careful not to poke yourself with your pin that is holding your tab in place. You will now have what you see in the image below. Press your case. Now push your lining pieces inside the outer pieces. Before we finish please try the tablet out to see if it fits. If you need to make adjustments to it now is the time.
If your sizing is all good press down your case again especially around your top edges. Topstitch your entire perimeter down taking care to close up the opening you used to pull your case through. Press again. Looking good!!!!
STEP FIVE: MAKE YOUR BUTTONHOLE & ATTACH BUTTON
We now get to put those buttonhole making skills to work :) Don't be scared - you can do it. Place your tablet inside your case if possible and grab your tab and pull it under your loop. Mark with your fabric marker where you would like to have that perfect button on your tab. Now following your machines instructions make your buttonhole where you marked. Remember to always, always do a test for your buttonhole. Trust me on that one. I used to be scared of buttonholes but now find them a joy to make (if you need more help making a buttonhole please see this post).
Once you are done your buttonhole pull your tab through your loop again with your tablet in your case. Mark with your fabric marker exactly where your button should be stitched on to match up perfectly with your new buttonhole. Hand sew your button on being careful to only go through your outer fabric - not your lining as well.
You're done!!!! Looks awesome!!!! Your tablet is going to be riding in style!!! So fun! This case would be great to showcase some of your fave prints or go with bold solids instead! Even a faux leather would look awesome! Experiment...try out different combos and have some fun!
thanks for sewing with me! be sure to add your greyling tablet case to our flickr group! i love seeing your projects when they are done! if you have any questions about this tutorial please feel free to email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca.
love the fabrics i used? you can find all things pat bravo & art gallery fabrics here:
