Kindle Cover Tutorial

I'm going to apologize ahead of time, this is the first tutorial I've written. So if things don't make sense, please leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll clarify. :)

What You'll Need:
- 1/2 yd decorative cotton for the outside (or scraps enough to piece together)
- 1/2 yd fleece or interfacing
- 1/2 yd flannel
- Fusible web (I like MistyFuse, but if you can't find any, you can use a lot of pins)
- Velcro or other closure of your choice
- Thread
- Scissors
- Sewing machine

Optional:
- I use a non-fray/non-stretch canvas called Multi-Purpose Cloth (MPC) from Roc-Lon. It's durable, but softens the more you use it. You can fuse to it, paint it, color on it, love it. It's the "bones" for most of the projects I do. (Buy it here!)
- Rotary cutter and mat

**Note: This tutorial is for the 8.9" Kindle Fire, but you could easily switch up the measurements and use it for whatever size tablet you have.

**All measurements are given in inches. I used a satin stitch for my edges and this takes a bit of thread. It helps to have 3 or so bobbins already wound before you start so you don't have to lose your groove to fill them up. :)

Here we go!

The actual measurement of my Kindle was 9 1/2 x 6 1/4, so I decided I was going to round up and make my piece 8x24. It could've been a little smaller, but worked out with the print of the fabric and will now fit if I get a small cover to fit around it eventually.

MistyFuse the back of all your fabric, except the fleece. (I experimented with this and it melts before it really gets a good fuse.) Let it cure for 10-20 minutes. It will stick to itself if it's not finished curing. You'll know it's done when it doesn't feel tacky to the touch.

Cut one 8 x 24 piece of  MPC (white-- shown below),  then I did 10x26 for the flannel (green) and fleece (purple) or interfacing. This is because the fabric will pull in a little when you quilt it and you can always cut off the extra. I chose to piece together my outside, each piece is 8 1/2 x 10 1/2, then 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 for the flap.

 (This step is a lot easier if a curious baby doesn't wake up early from her nap.) :)

Fuse cotton to MPC. I used a satin stitch at the seams of each piece to hold it in place. I really like using variegated thread for satin stitching, it's got such a fun look and a great way to add more color.

Then I fused the flannel to the fleece. This has to be done in small bits so you don't melt the fleece.  This is where it would be lots easier with a fusible fleece or fusible interfacing, no pins needed. I used flannel for my liner. It's fusible without melting and mine didn't have a wrong side, so it left a smaller margin for error.

Quilt it! I was so intimidated of quilting, I'm not sure why. Have fun here!! I tried free motion quilting for the first time on this project. It was fun to play, learn and overcome another fear.

Trim up the edges using your scissors or rotary cutter. Use a plate or a bowl and place it on the inside of your flap to mark your curves. Trim.

Place and sew your Velcro or closure. Satin stitch what will be the top of your opening (right above your Velcro).

Fold up your piece, insides together, leaving a 4 inch flap at the top. For my measurements, it was 10 inches to the front and 14 to the back. With the raw edges facing out, sew a basting stitch along your "envelope". This is a great time to see if your tablet fits. 

Satin stitch over your basting stitches, catching the raw edges in your stitch. I usually start at one bottom corner, then you can just go up the side, around the top of the flap and down the other side.

And you're done!! Now you have your very own custom tablet case!