Sew up this simple case to carry your notepad, Ipad, e-reader or tablet in style. This fun project would also make the perfect gift for Mum for Mother's day!
Shopping List:
- One fat quarter quilting cotton for exterior of pouch
- One fat quarter quilting cotton for interior of pouch
- All-purpose thread for construction
- 2½” of ½” wide hook-and-loop tape (Velcro®)
- Lightweight interfacing (Pellon® Shape Flex)
- Fusible Fleece
- Disappearing fabric marking pen
Sewing Directions:
- From the exterior fabric, cut 1 piece measuring 7½” x 16” for the outside of the main pouch. Optional: Use the curved edge of a bowl or glass to make the edges of the TOP corners of the pouch rounded. Also from the exterior fabric, cut 1 piece measuring 10” x 7½” for the interior pocket, and one piece measuring 7” x 7½” for the front of the pouch.
- From the interior fabric, cut one piece measuring 7½” x 16” for the inside of the main pouch. Optional: use the curved edge of a bowl or glass to make the edges of the TOP of the pouch rounded. Also from the interior fabric, cut once piece measuring 7” x 7½” for the inside of the front of the pouch.
- From the interfacing, cut one piece measuring 7½” x 16”, one piece 5” x 7½” and one piece 7” x 7½”.
- From the fusible fleece, cut one piece measuring 7” x 15½” and one piece 6½” x 7”.
- Fuse the light weight interfacing to corresponding pieces of the exterior fabric. The interfacing that measures 5” x 7½” should be attached to the exterior piece that is 10” x 7½”. Because the 10” x 7½” piece will be folded in half, only ½ of the fabric needs to be interfaced.
- Center and fuse the fusible fleece to the corresponding pieces of the exterior (the outside of main pouch and the front of pouch pieces).
- Fold the interfaced 10” x 7½” interior pocket piece in half so it measures 5” x 7½”. Top stitch ¼” down from the folded edge.
- Place the folded pocket piece onto the right side of the 7½” x 16” INTERIOR fabric. Match the bottom and sides. Pin in place. Increase the machine’s stitch length and baste around the sides and bottom to help hold the pocket in place for the next step.
- Using either a disappearing ink pen or a washable fabric marker, draw a vertical line every 1½” on the pocket. There should be 4 vertical lines along the 7½” wide pocket.
- Sew along the 4 vertical lines, backstitching at the beginning and the end. This creates the pencil/pen compartments on the pocket. Remove any markings from fabric.
- Place the 7” x 7½” exterior and interior pieces right sides together and sew along ONE 7½” edge using a ¼” seam allowance.
- Press seam open, then fold the pieces so they are wrong sides together. Top stitch ¼” down from the top seam.
- Fold pieces created in steps 10 and 12 in half vertically to find the center. Measure ½” down from the top seam and mark these points.
- Place the top of your 2½” “fuzzy” half of the hook-and-loop tape (Velcro) on the point marked in step 13 and center it on the interior/pocket piece created in step 10. Pin in place, then stitch the hook-and-loop tape down about ⅛” away from the edge on all four sides.
- Place the top of your 2½” “rough” half of the hook-and-loop tape on the point marked in step 13 and center it on the front of pouch created in step 12. Pin in place, then stitch the hook-and-loop tape down about ⅛” away from the edge on all four sides.
- Place the front of the pouch, created in step 12, on top of interior of main pouch with attached pocket, created in step 10. Match bottom and sides. Pin in place. Increase the machine’s stitch length and baste the sides and bottom.
- Place the 7½” x 16” exterior piece on top of the joined pieces created in step 16, right sides together. Pin in place.
- Using a ¼” seam allowance, stitch around all the pieces leaving a 3” opening at the top of the pouch for turning. Be sure to back stitch when you start and stop sewing to prevent your stitches from coming apart during turning. Do NOT leave your opening along the bottom or sides where there are more layers of fabric.
- Slightly clip the four corners of your pouch, making sure you do NOT cut through any of your stitching. This helps reduce bulk in the corners.
- Turn the pouch right side out through the 3” opening. This may take some work to push out the corners and smooth the edges. Be patient and take your time.
- Press the pouch and smooth out the seams. At the 3” opening, fold the edges in and press. Pin the opening closed.
- Top stitch along the sides and top of the pouch using a ⅛” seam allowance. This will close the 3” opening you left. Begin and end this stitching at the where the front of the pouch (created in step 8) meets the interior of the main pouch with pocket (created in step 6).