Need a gift idea that works just as well for guys as it does for girls?  You’re in luck!  These felt laptop cases are a completely unisex option.  They’re also easy for even the most craft-challenged of us; if you can use an iron and scissors, you’re set.

What you need:

Photo from Design Sponge

-3/4 yard each of two different colors felt
-Steam-a-seam
-Scissors
-Iron & ironing board
-Velcro dots
-The dimensions of the laptop that you’re crafting for
-Optional: pinking shears, hole punch, X-acto knife

Now put it together:

-Find out the measurements of the laptop that you’re crafting for.  If you know what time of computer the recipient has, you can Google it and find out the dimensions.
-If you want your laptop case to have a little visual interest, there are a few things you can try:

• Use a hole punch to punch holes in the top layer of your felt so that the bottom layer will show through.  You can do this all over or just in selected areas.
• Use pinking shears to cut the top edge of your fabric so it will be zigzagged.  You probably only want to do this on the flap that will be on top when you fold everything up together.
• Use an X-acto knife to cut shapes out of your top layer.
• This one’s a little hard to explain, but for the flap that will be on top when you fold everything up together, make the bottom piece of felt about 1″ longer than the top piece of felt.  Then, when you put everything together, fold that extra 1″ over top to make a stripe.

-Take a look at the tutorial on DesignSponge and follow the instructions for cutting out the  felt.
-Design Sponge recommends that you use fusible interfacing to connect the two layers of felt.  That’s not a bad idea, but I had an easier time just using the Steam-a-seam strips along the edges.  Either way, make sure the edges are stuck together really well!
-Fold the case up and apply your velcro squares.

That’s it – you’re finished!  Once you get the process down pat, you can make one in under an hour.  I’ve made these for a bunch of people on my list and I’ll probably make a few more in the next couple of weeks.

Happy crafting, kids!

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 10:01 pm and is filed under Craftiness, crafts, diy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.