How to make a tablet stand

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one stand, for a 10-inch tablet)

• Fabric (canvas or corduroy) — about 45 × 50 cm
• Craft pellets — about 170 g
• Hand-sewing thread

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 stand” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the width, the triangle's side and the lip height. Presets cover 8, 10 and 13 inch tablets.
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. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines.
2. Cut the pieces
   One outer band, two triangular sides, one lip.
3. Transfer the notches
   Mark the fold lines on the outer band — they become the prism's edges.

4. Sewing

4-1. Attach the lip

1. Fold the lip right sides together, sew the ends and turn.
2. Stitch it to the lower edge of the face that will be the front.
3. The tablet's bottom edge rests on it.

4-2. Join the band into a ring

1. Place the two ends of the band right sides together and sew.
2. Folding at the notches gives the triangular prism. Pressing the folds first makes the next step easier.

4-3. Attach the sides

1. Sew a triangular side to one end of the ring, right sides together.
2. At each corner, leave the needle down and pivot.
3. Do the same at the other end, but leave 8 cm of one edge open for turning.

4-4. Turn and fill

1. Turn right side out and ease the corners with an awl.
2. Add the pellets. Not too many — about 60% full.
3. Close the opening with ladder stitch.

✏️ Fill it to about 60%. Packed tight, the corners stand out and it rocks when you put it down. With the filling free to move a little, it settles onto whatever surface it is on. It should give when squeezed.

5. Tips & variations

• The filling sets the angle: how you pack it changes the viewing angle. Adjust as you use it.
• It travels: light enough to pack for a trip.
• For a phone too: made small, it holds a phone.