Hello, everybody! I'm back from my travels. I hope last week's orange round-up didn't scald the retinas of those who prefer other hues. I've got a freebie for you today, and you can make it in any color you like (though I do recommend orange).
The Geek Chic iPad Case is a sewing project from Lisa Lam's book A Bag for All Reasons. You might know Lisa from her site U-handbag.com. Since I have a bag addiction, this book with 12 different sewing patterns makes me super happy. They're modern, clean, and make smart use of hardware. I've seen tons of bag and purse patterns that combine appliques, ruffles, and patchwork in a crazy mess. Cool if you like that sort of thing, but I prefer simplicity. Let the fabric be the star, I say! So I'm a fan of Lisa's lovely patterns. Want to try out a free project from her book, compliments of the publisher?
Download the Geek Chic iPad Case tutorial here.
Download the flap template here.
If you dig it, you can purchase the whole book here. Happy sewing!
(Photos from A Bag for All Reasons.)
I just happen to have that book on my kitchen table! Too bad it belongs to the library. But I do have a bag picked out and plans to make it soon!
ReplyDeleteNice to have the real you back! :)
Mum
It's great! I love the leather straps. I just made an e-reader sleeve of felt though... (http://vervlogendagen.blogspot.nl/2012/06/kobo-to-go.html)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mum! Goodbye, vacation me. Hello real me.
ReplyDeletePetra, I love your felt case! Wow, well done!
That is such a cute case!! And it makes it even better that it is a free tutorial. =)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to make these for gifts!
ReplyDeletePinned to my pinterest under Sewing Inspiration. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteKim
http://loopsoflavender.blogspot.com/
I can't download, anyone else have a problem? would love to try this!!
ReplyDeleteSondray, if it's still not working for you, email me and I'll send you the PDF.
ReplyDeleteooo, I've been thinking about getting this book. So happy to try out a sample project. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteand I loved your orange posts!
I love this case and will be sure to check out the book thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehow cute, the fabric is also beautiful !
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I am getting married and I am pretty thrilled to be blabbing it all over the world.
ReplyDeleteInitially I was thinking "how about orange" could help create a design for my first novel. I am working on getting those details posted on my site fairly soon:
http://swistography.com/
Having said that, now that I see the ipad case, I am thinking of all kinds of hand-made party favour ideas.
This looks like such a cute bag, and i'd love to attempt it, but i'm also having problems getting the pattern :/
ReplyDeleteAH! I love an iPad case that looks like a purse! SO cute :) You rock!!
ReplyDeleteGot to try it even if I do not own an iPad, it would totally be cool as a bag, too.
ReplyDeleteI just got the book last week and I'm loving it!
ReplyDeletenice pics
ReplyDeleteThe pattern is exactly the same as my kids' pottery bard bedsheets bought a couple years ago.
ReplyDeleteI just picked up that book last week - can't wait to get started. I am going to start with the ipad case in this post first - and since I don't have an ipad, I'll be making it for my Kindle Fire and Nook - You can never have enough carrying cases can you??
ReplyDeleteAwesome tutorial- thanks so much!
I love this! May I feature it on www.sewcanshe.com? Please drop me a line and let me know.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Caroline
caroline@sewcanshe.com
I cant download either! Would you mind sending me a pdf to my email? nicole24_07@hotmail.com! Thank you so much! This is very cute!
ReplyDeleteJust emailed them to you!
ReplyDeleteIt's so lovely but I can't download the tutorial..Please help me. Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteHmm, the links are still working for me... it's possible you need to wait a little longer for the download; it's 1.1 MB so depending on your internet connection, it might take a minute? Otherwise, send me your email address and I can mail you the PDF.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone made this bag? How easy were the directions to followW
ReplyDeleteI can hardly find words to express how thankful I am for posting this information! very useful!
ReplyDeleteI've been making this bag over the weekend and i love it!
ReplyDeleteHowever, despite following the instructions i've found that the flap that i cut from the template is about an inch to big (at stage 16 *weeps*)
Going to have to undo it all tonight but on the plus side at least it wasnt too small..
Oh no! I haven't made this, so thanks for letting me know. Can you confirm the PDF was printed at 100% size (no "fit to page" option checked or anything?) Let me know and then I'll contact Lisa or the publisher to get a corrected file.
ReplyDeleteI 'think'I did both and they came out the same size, cant be sure as i was rushing round on friday at the end of the work.
ReplyDeleteI trimed off about an extra cm all round and its fine now - probably should have double checked it earlier.
I'm at a point where i can't go any further anyway as i need to get the leather bits, i have done everything else. None of the fabric shops i've been to in london have any so i'm trawling the charity shops to see if there are any old leather belts i can chop up.
Seeing as my ipad has been delayed i have a little bit more time.
And finally after much swearing, unpicking, resewing and fighting with my sewing machine (all because I was being impatient & trying to jump two steps ahead with out reading) it is done & is beautiful http://pic.twitter.com/XyXmUzfH
ReplyDeleteWOW. I loooove that fabric, and it's perfect with the leather. It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteBrown Eyed Girl, a follow-up note:
ReplyDeleteI've confirmed with the publisher that the flap PDF is correctly sized when printed at 100%, and matches the one included in the print version of the book. It should measure 14.5cm across at its widest point.
They suggest a few things that, if missed, may cause the flap piece to be oversized:
The flap pattern piece measures 14.5cm across at it's widest point, which, when doubled, makes 29cm – this matches the size of the main body piece exactly. The pattern piece includes the seam allowance.
Step 2 asks the reader to trim off 1.5cm all around the Decovil interfacing for both the main body and for the flap, and repeated for the fusible fleece.
In step 10, where we are making up the case flap, the reader is instructed to trim the seam allowance to 5mm (from 1.5cm to 5mm). Missing out this part of the step would result in the flap piece being 1cm too large all round.
Does that shed any light?
Love the pattern, I'm going to try and make it for my sister for Christmas. My questions: as I don't have the book, do you have instructions for making 'open end straps ' (step 4), and 'inserting linings: pull through and turn out method' (step 18)?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pattern!
Hi Aubrey, I don't have those instructions. I think they're probably basic bag-making steps, so you might be able to google for tutorials. If you don't want to purchase the book, you could see if your local library has the book you can borrow, or go look at it in a book store to see those sections.
ReplyDeletehi thanks for all your lovely stuff. i was wondering if you had permission to post the ipad case tutorial? i would love to make it but am a stickler for copyright. Thanks B
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, yep, the publisher sent it to me to promote the book.
ReplyDeleteJust FYI - on ease of understanding, I rate these instructions a 5/10. Read through them all. You'll notice that this pattern references other parts of the book. What good is a free tutorial when you have to have the entire book to understand the directions?
ReplyDelete