Laptop Case Tutorial Part 2

I had to jazz up my laptop case somehow. I also had to cover up a seam on the flap that was left because I chose to sew a velcro strip on the case to hold it closed.

After seeing these adorable flowers on this website, I wanted to make my own tutorial (and a few changes).

First, I cut five large circles. I used the base of a fat candle to trace around. Next, I cut four smaller circles. I used the base of a vase to trace around. I made these circles from knit fabric so the edges would not fray. I also cut two leaves from knit fabric (from a project gone wrong...) and selected a button in a contrasting color.

One of the large circles served as the base for the whole flower. I folded the other four large circles into quarters.

I then hand-sewed the quartered circles onto the large circle.

Next, I folded the small circles into quarters and hand-sewed them in the spaces left by the large circle quarters.

I sewed a button in the middle to cover up all my stitching.

To attach the flowers, I decided to use pins (I essentially made them into broaches). I didn't want to sew through the velcro and also thought I'd end up being too messy with my hand sewing and didn't want the messy stitches to show on the flap of the laptop case!

After I hot-glued the green leaf onto the flower, I hot-glued some felt on the back. To finish, I glued a pin onto the back!

Laptop Case Tutorial Part 1

My outstanding husband got me a laptop for Christmas. My very own laptop! I couldn't believe it. I decided it needed me to make it a case.

This case is made from two inner layers of fleece and an outer layer of cotton fabric, so it isn't going to protect it from all that much; but I figure it should help it not get unnecessarily scratched. Plus, it looks cute!

I sized it as L=(L+H+1") and W=(W+H+1"). My dimensions ended up being 17.5" x 12.5".

Here are the two fleece layers. I stitched around the top of each set and then stitched all four layers together to make the lining. I left an open space at the bottom for turning.

The outer layers are shown below. Go ahead and stitch around three sides, then clip the corners.

The flap (before shaping it to a point):

I wanted to center my velcro. I only had a strip that was 5" or so long, so I centered that strip and then angled the sides down with a ruler.

I sewed around the flap and clipped the corners. I turned it and ironed it flat. Next, I added one velcro strip.

To assemble the whole thing, pin the lining to the outer fabric with right sides together. Add the flap and make sure that the velcro will face the correct way when the case is turned with right sides out. (I did a "test turn" before stitching the top seam. I did jab my hand with the pins, but it saved ripping out the whole seam.)

After stitching the top seam, pull the outer fabric through the hole left in the bottom of the lining.

Before doing any other finishing work, I tested to make sure the computer fit inside the case!

(It did!!)

I stitched up the hole in the lining.

Mark where the other piece of velcro should go.

Top stitch around the upper edge of the laptop case.

There's the case! All done, right? Hmm...

I could have stopped here. But the stitching from the velcro was bothering me.

I was afraid this seam was going to bother me. But I wanted to attach the velcro to both layers of the flap to prevent it from ripping through just one layer.

Here's a peek at how I covered it up. Isn't embellishing so much more fun than plain old sewing? Tomorrow I'll show you how I made and attached the flowers to make my laptop case a whole lot prettier and to cover a nasty (yet necessary) seam.

Stuffed Elephants

I made two more stuffed elephants for my mom to give to friends who had babies. I used the tutorial found here.

You can't see it too well, but I put a bow on the light blue elephant's head because it is for a little girl.

"Lost Sock" Board

My husband's comment to our five day-old son upon arrival home from the hospital, "Welcome home! The dryer has already eaten one of your socks!"

That is an example of how common single socks are at our house.

I decided to make a sock board to combat this problem! I plan to hang it in our new home's laundry room
(when the house is built!)

This is the house so far (and no, it is not the white building in the background):So, based on how far along the house isn't, planning the laundry room's colors may be premature, but I decided our laundry room is going to be pink and brown, to which my husband replied, "The laundry room is going to have a theme?"

I guess we'll have to talk about that later.


Here's my first laundry room creation!

I took a piece of wood, put some holes in it.Then I used mod podge to affix scrapbook paper to it along with scrapbook paper (and then letters spelling out "lost socks") to the front of seven clothespins. I used hot glue to attach the clothes pins to the board.

Then I went a little crazy and made a taffeta flower to 'girlify' the board even further.

I added a wide ribbon and I was all done!

Here's where I got the idea to make this craft in the first place!

Little Boy's Vest Tutorial

This is my J. Crew vest inspiration for this project!

And this is my very own finished creation!

Here are the steps I took to make it!

My little boy wears a 2T right now, and I wanted him to be able to wear the vest at Easter, so I took a t-shirt he has that is size 3T to use to draft a pattern:

I traced the torso:

Then, I cut it out and folded it in half and traced around the pattern. I added a point at the bottom.

I added a V-neck about 4" from the top. I only want to cut the front pieces with a v-neck.

I pressed the fabric...which was an old men's Ralph Lauren button down shirt.

I then started cutting!

**One big mistake with my pattern: I did not leave 3/4" overlap on the front pieces. I cut the back the exact same proportion as the front, so it will not overlap. Oops!**

I almost ran out of fabric, so I had to cut one of the lining pieces on the bias. But I really liked

the way it turned out! I should have cut the front pieces this way! Oh well...

Then I had to cut the "v" portion out of the front pieces and the front lining pieces:

I sewed the three outer pieces together at the side seams only. Then I sewed the lining pieces together in the same manner.

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Then, I laid the lining and outside pieces with right sides together, and sewed around the sides, armholes, neck, and the pointy front bottom pieces.

**Other pattern mistake: you'll notice in the above picture that all the pieces are pointy on the bottom. NOT my intention! I fixed this oops by folding the points up and therefore making the back shorter than the front.**

Clip the pointy corners. Cut notches in the curved edges.

Turn the whole thing and iron it all flat. If you made the same mistake regarding pointy pieces on the back, go ahead and iron those up into the rest of the vest.

Pin the bottom part in place. Also, turn under the front part of the shoulder, and then pin it to the back part of the shoulder covering the raw edge with the turned under front part. (You may have to rip out a few stitches for this.)

Try the vest on your model before you go about all the finishing handstitching. Here is my little model during our first fitting. He didn't like the vest.

I did the button holes next. I originally thought maybe I would use the button holes from the shirt which already existed. But since I lined the vest, that was not possible. I made three new ones. Mine are not perfect.

I added three buttons.

Then, I finished up all the hand sewing! Not my favorite part.

And I'm entering the "Knock it Off" Contest at seventhirtythree: