How to make a laptop sleeve

1. Materials & tools

Materials (14 inch)

• Main fabric (canvas, corduroy or heavy cotton) — about 60 × 60 cm (24 × 24 in)
• Lining fabric (flannel or brushed cotton — something soft) — the same amount
• Fusible batting (medium) — the same amount
• Hook-and-loop or a magnetic fastener — 1 set

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Bags” → “Laptop sleeve” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter your laptop's width, depth, thickness, ease and the flap depth. Presets cover 13, 14 and 16 inch.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure the laptop
   Width, depth and thickness. Measure the thickness at its greatest point — hinge and feet included.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body. It is one piece folded at the base, with the flap continuing above.
3. Cut
   Cut the main and lining, and the batting 1 cm smaller all round so the seams are not bulky.
4. Fuse the batting
   Press it onto the wrong side of the main fabric, pressing straight down rather than gliding.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the layers together

1. Place main and lining right sides together and sew around, leaving a 15 cm (6 in) gap.
2. Trim the corners and cut the allowance back to 7 mm — with batting in there it will not turn otherwise.

4-2. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn through the gap and ease the corners out.
2. Press with a cloth and a light hand so the batting is not flattened.
3. Topstitch 5 mm from the edge all the way around, closing the gap.
4. You now have one large two-sided rectangle.

4-3. Fold and stitch the sides

1. Fold up from the marked line, leaving the flap standing above.
2. Stitch both sides 3 mm from the edge. Increase the presser foot pressure, or work the handwheel by hand.
3. Backstitch at both ends, then run a second line just inside the first — a laptop is heavy.

4-4. Add the fastening

1. Put the laptop in, close the flap and mark where it lands.
2. Fit hook-and-loop or a magnetic fastener 3 mm outside the mark to allow for the thickness.

✏️ Do not skip the measuring. A 13 inch label describes the screen, not the machine, and two 13 inch laptops can differ by more than 2 cm in width. Measure, then add the ease.

5. Tips & variations

• Brushed lining: the surface the lid rests against. A napped fabric will not scratch it.
• Medium batting: too thin and it protects nothing; too thick and the sleeve will not go in a bag.
• Add a handle: a self-fabric loop caught in the side seam makes it easier to carry around the house.