i-Pad Cover Tutorial

As promised, a tutorial for the i-Pad cover.  Read through all the instructions before you begin.  Note:  I do not like the way I sewed in the pocket for this and will be redoing this on another one I'm working on now.  I will update this post once I have it finished.  You have the choice of doing it just like I have outlined here or wait until I have the updated post.  So here we go:

First, get your fabric, batting and interfacing together.  You will also need a 12 or 14 inch zipper.  I used 14 inch just because I don't like working around the zipper pull.  You'll also need a 2" strip of Velcro.  Here are the measurements for the fabric:

Focus fabric:
1 piece cut to 27" x 11"
1 piece cut to 5" x 11"
1 piece cut to 1 1/2" x 11"

Lining fabric:
1 piece cut to 27" x 11"
1 piece cut to 5" x 11"
1 piece cut to 1 1/2" x 11"

Medium weight interfacing:
2 pieces cut to 27" x 11"
2 pieces cut to 5" x 11"
2 pieces cut to 1 1/2" x 11"

Batting (I used warm and natural) - you could also use fusible fleece in place of interfacing and batting
2 pieces cut to 27" x 11"
1 piece cut to 5" x 11"
1 piece cut to 1 1/2" x 11"

Let's begin.

We'll construct the zipper pouch first.
Grab your focus fabric (1 1/2x11) and put your batting piece on the wrong side. Lay your zipper tape on top or your focus fabric right sides together lining up the raw edges.  So your batting will be on the bottom, then the focus fabric and then the zipper.  Pin through all layers.

Use your zipper foot and attach the zipper.  I have my seam very close to the teeth.

Now take your lining piece (1 1/2x11) and lay it on top of your zipper tape that you just attached to the focus fabric.  You will be sandwiching the zipper between the focus fabric and the lining.  Pin in place.

You'll now stitch the lining to the zipper tape.  I flipped mine over and stitched on the batting side and used the stitch line of the focus fabric.

Open up both pieces to expose the zipper and press the seam.  It should look like this.

Now we'll repeat for the other side using the 5x11 pieces of fabric.  Place the focus fabric with the batting on the back face up on your work surface.  Lay the other side of your zipper tape on top lining up the edges and pin in place.  Stitch just like you did the other side.

Now take your lining piece and lay it on top of your zipper tape right sides together and pin in place.

 Another look:

Flip it over and stitch right on the same line as before.  Open it up and press the seam really well.  It should look like this.

Now grab your large focus fabric piece and lay it down on your work surface right side up with the batting underneath.  We are going to position the zipper pouch on this piece.  Fold it up to about 8 1/2" like pictured.

Now determine where you want your pocket.  I measured down about an inch from the top and roughly 2 inches from the bottom.

Now use a water soluble marking pen and mark the top of the focus fabric on both sides right above the pocket.

Now remove the pocket and lay the main piece out straight right side up with the mark at the bottom.

Now make another mark 1/4" up from these two.

Now take your pocket and line up the edge with the top mark you just made. Right sides together.  I know it looks funky, but we are going to flip it over in just a minute, and it will be in the right place.  I promise!  Pin in place.

It should look like this.

Stitch to the main piece using a 1/4" seam allowance.  Then flip it over and press the seam well.

It should look like this.

Now we need to trim away a smidge of the batting on the bottom, so we can turn under that edge and stitch.

I trimmed about 3/8".  Now take it to your machine and run a 1/4" stitch line across the bottom of the pocket.  This will give us a nice neat, even fold line.

Now turn that edge under 1/4" on that stitch line and press well.

Pin it in place and run a scant 1/8" stitch line to secure.

Now it's time to determine where to place our Velcro.  You could also use a button and a pony tail holder or a snap.  Fold your top section down to see where it falls.

I didn't take a picture, but I pushed a straight pin through where I wanted the Velcro and used my marking pen underneath to mark my spots.  I found my center then stitched one piece to the bottom section of the focus fabric.

Mine wound up being about 1/2" from the bottom of my zippered pocket.  You'll sew your other piece of Velcro to the top of the lining portion of the main piece as shown here.  Lay out your batting first, then put your lining piece on top right side up.  Stitch the Velcro at the top roughly 5/8" from the top edge.  Measure this with your focus piece to be sure!

I embellished the front of my main piece with some lace that I had.  You can do that now.  Just pin it to the top edge of the main fabric and stitch in place.

We are almost done.  Hang in there with me.  Now it's time to stitch the two main pieces together.

Lay out your lining piece on your work surface right side up as shown.  The Velcro should be at the top.

Take your main focus fabric and lay it right next to your lining with the zipper pouch at the bottom as shown.  I do this to make sure you have them positioned the right way.

Now just flip the top over and on top of the lining so right sides are together.  Pin all the way around.  Stitch all the way around the piece using a 1/4" seam allowance and leaving a 2" opening for turning.  Clip the corners before you turn.

It should now look like this.

Now press the seams well making sure to fold in the opening.  Top stitch all the way around the cover a scant 1/4" or 1/8" from edge.  Go slowly, because there is a lot of bulk.  You will need a Jeans needle in your machine.

It should now look like this.

Now just fold up the bottom so it measures about 8 1/2" and pin in place.  Stitch the sides closed.  GO SLOWLY HERE.  THERE IS A LOT OF BULK AND YOU WILL BREAK NEEDLES.  I had to use my hand wheel several times to get it to go through the bulk.

And this is how your cover should look.

And how it looks with the zipper pouch open.

And there you have it.  A new little cover for your i-Pad.

I made several mistakes on this one.  I ran out of stabilizer and used craft fuse instead.  Don't do that.  It is too heavy which was one of my problems with the extra bulk.  I also will do the pocket differently next time to eliminate more bulk.  I will post an update on that with the next one I do.  I plan on putting a ruffle at the bottom of the next one and use some ribbon to dress it up.

Have fun embellishing yours.  They would be great with a monogram on the front.  Or maybe you'd like to add flowers or something else fun.  It's your creation, so have fun with it.

Angela

**UPDATE**  See this post for another way to attach a zippered pocket.