Tutorial: Zippered laptop sleeve

I made another project for my sister today, a zippered laptop sleeve.  Did you see the Kindle Fire case I made her yesterday?  Well in addition to her new Kindle, she got a new laptop and it needed a home too!







This project was a bit more time consuming than the Kindle case because I used a zipper, but I wanted the computer to stay snugly inside its case.



Here's how I made it!

Skill level: Intermediate, most of it is pretty simple.

Materials:
Fabric for the outside, how much depends on how big your laptop is, my sister bought me one yard of this material but 1/2 yard would have been more than enough.
Fabric for the lining, I used white micro fleece, again 1/2 yard should be plenty
Batting, I used Warm and Natural in white
Zipper, the length depends on how big your laptop is, My sister's was about 17" on its longest side and I used an 18" zipper.
Zipper foot for your sewing machine.

Start by measuring your laptop. Measure all the way around because you want to account for the width of it too.

Jenny's laptop was about 32" one way and 21.5" the other way. Then I divided those measurements by 2 since I will make my case with 2 pieces.  Then I added 1.5" for seam allowances and so the case wasn't too snug.

32" / 2 + 1.5" = 17.5" 

21.5" / 2 + 1.5" = 12.25"

Next I cut 2 rectangles that measures 17.5" x 12.25" out of bot of my fabrics and my batting.  I used a basting spray to attach the batting to my outer fabric while I sewed so it didn't slip. If you don't have a basting spray, you can use a basting stitch all the way around.

I wanted the corners rounded like the computer so I found something small and round to trace, I used the top to my basting spray.  I traced the curve on all four corners of my lining pieces and my outer pieces and cut along the curve.

To attach the zipper, I found the middle of on of my outer pieces and the middle of my zipper and pinned them right sides together with the zipper teeth pointing down.

Then I pinned the zipper in place all the way across the top, it is easier to go around the corners if you cut little slits in the zipper.

I used my zipper foot and sewed a basting stitch to keep my fabric and zipper together for this next step.

Place the lining fabric right side down on top of you outer fabric and zipper, sandwiching your zipper in the middle.  Pin along the top and sew in place using your zipper foot.

Flip your pieces right side out.

Close your zipper, place your other outer piece right side down on top and pin the other side of the zipper along the top.   Again snip the edges to turn the corners.  Baste your zipper in place.

Place your other lining piece on top and pin it in place, This time it will be sandwiching your zipper and the fabrics for the other side of the case.

Sew along the top. When you get about half way across the top, reach inside and unzip your zipper past the place you have already sewn to. This will get the zipper pull out of the way so the fabrics lay flat.

Flip everything right side out. you should have both sides of the case connected by the zipper in the middle.

***Make sure your zipper is unzipped some. This is an important step, if you forget to open your zipper you won't be able to flip the case right side out when you finish!

Flip your case inside out again with the outer pieces together and the lining pieces together on the other side.

Pin along the edges make sure your zipper is lined up and the little zipper tails are pulled out.

Starting at the bottom of the lining, sew around the case.  I used a walking foot for this part, if you don't have a walking foot, your regular presser foot will work fine.  Be sure to leave a few inches open at the bottom of the lining.

It can be a bit tricky sewing around the zipper, make sure the curve from the top part of the case is out of the way when you sew.

Flip your case right side out and close the hole in the lining.  You can hand stitch it if your prefer, I just tucked the unfinished edges in and ran it through my machine, it is on the bottom in the inside, no one will ever see it! The tuck your lining down inside your case.

The last step it to top stitch around the zipper.  This proved to be the most difficult part for me!  If it makes you want to pull your hair out, you don't really have to do it, I wanted to just to make sure the fleece didn't snag in the zipper.

All done!