How to make a tablet case

1. Materials & tools

Materials (10 inch)

• Main fabric (quilted cotton, canvas or heavy cotton) — about 50 × 50 cm (20 × 20 in)
• Lining fabric (flannel or light cotton) — the same amount
• Fusible batting (medium) — the same amount, unless using quilted fabric
• Snap or hook-and-loop — 1 set
• Optional: a fabric name label

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” → “Tablet case” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter your tablet's width, height, thickness, ease and the flap depth. Presets cover 8, 10 and 12 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 tablet
   Width, height and thickness. If it stays in its own case, measure it with the case on.
2. Trace the pattern
   Trace the body — one piece folded at the base with the flap above.
3. Cut
   Cut the main, lining and batting.
4. Fuse the batting
   Press it onto the main fabric. With quilted fabric, skip this.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the layers together

1. Place main and lining right sides together and sew around, leaving a 12 cm (5 in) gap.
2. Trim the corners and cut the allowance back to 7 mm.

4-2. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn through the gap and ease the corners out.
2. Press with a cloth, then topstitch 5 mm from the edge all the way around.

4-3. Fold and stitch the sides

1. Fold up from the marked line, leaving the flap above.
2. Stitch both sides 3 mm from the edge, backstitching at both ends.

4-4. Fastening and name

1. Put the tablet in, close the flap and mark the fastening position.
2. Fit the snap or hook-and-loop.
3. Sew a name label to the outside of the flap. Every tablet in the classroom looks identical.

✏️ Keep it slim if it has to go in a school bag. Two layers of batting protect better but the case then will not fit alongside the books. Medium batting, one layer, and no more than 1.5 cm of ease.

5. Tips & variations

• Quilted fabric: skips the batting step and comes in prints children like.
• Name it outside: not inside. The point is that a teacher can hand it back.
• Add a loop: caught in the side seam, so it is less likely to be dropped.