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DIY: Laptop Sleeve from Leather Jacket
As you may recall from a previous project I posted, we still have the rest of the thrifted leather jacket leftover to something fantastic with! So with my Hubby's birthday quickly approaching, I decided to make him a homemade sleeve for his laptop computer. Sure you can buy one from the store - and I did scrounge up a tutorial for using some neoprene from an old wetsuit [and here, too!] (like I have many of those laying around!)...but I wanted to try a different material. Leather is cushioning and sleek - but if you prefer manmade leather or vinyl (or even fabric, corderuoy, or denim!) this project will work just as well. I was inspired by those wraparound manila envelopes - but you can always use a strip of material and velcro as a closure, or fashion a long strip with a parachute buckle around the entire laptop, or extend one side of the outer material and use it as a closure flap, or even add a couple inches to each end and use a zipper as closure, turning this sleeve into a simple zippered bag. The possibilities are endless!

Posted by carlyjcais from Portland, Oregon, United States • Published See carlyjcais's 60 projects »
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  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 1
    Step 1

    Prep Your Parts

    Place laptop on your sleeve material, right side up, front edge facing away from you. Trace around laptop on all sides, adding 1".

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 2
    Step 2

    Lift and rotate laptop up on its back edge towards you, then wrong side up on top of the material. (Front edge will be facing towards you.) Keep drawing 1" around all edges. (I know this sounds somewhat confusing, so I included the diagram above to show how the material was measured.)

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 3
    Step 3

    Cut the rectangle out of the material (cutting through both outer and lining if you are using a jacket), using leather shears. If you do not have a lining, place this rectangle on top of your lining material, trace around, and cut using fabric scissors.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 4
    Step 4

    Cut a small piece of leather about 1" square.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 5
    Step 5

    Unroll batting from package, and leave it doubled up as you flatten it out. Place rectangle of material on top of the batting. Cut a piece of batting the same size as the lining, then trim batting about 1/2" on the sides only.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 6
    Step 6

    Time to Sew!

    Fold material rectangle in half, and machine-stitch the edges together, using a needle for leather and upholstery thread. (Upholstery thread is not a must-have...but it is a lot stronger that regular cotton/poly mercenized, and is more suited to sewing leather and taking the stress of repeat usage. Also, f you have a walking foot or Teflon foot for your machine, it can help the leather from sticking.)

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 7
    Step 7

    Clip corners and turn right side out.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 8
    Step 8

    Fold lining rectangle in half, and machine-stitch the edges together, using a needle for wovens and regular thread. This will make the lining into a "pouch." Do not turn right side out; the right side needs to remain on the inside.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 9
    Step 9

    Wrap batting around the outside of the lining pouch. Fold upper edges of lining pouch down and overlap batting piece at top edges.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 10
    Step 10

    (Trim batting top edges if they are too bulky or long.)

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 11
    Step 11

    Wrap batting around the outside of the lining pouch. Fold upper edges of lining pouch down and overlap batting piece at top edges. (Trim batting top edges if they are too bulky or long.)

  • Step 12

    Machine-stitch the lining edges down over the batting, at about a 3/8" hem.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 13
    Step 13

    Closing It Up

    Sew button to the material pouch you made in Step 6), about 2" down from the top edge on the front of the pouch.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 14
    Step 14

    Sew button to the material pouch you made in Step 6), about 2" down from the top edge on the front of the pouch.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 15
    Step 15

    Slide the lining into the material pouch, and slip the laptop inside to check for sizing. On the back side of the material pouch, tape one end of the elastic cord to the center, about 2" down from the top edge.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 16
    Step 16

    Wrap elastic cord around button, and bring the other end to the back, cutting it and gluing it down next to the other end. Make sure the cord is taut around the button and will keep the laptop from falling out.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 17
    Step 17

    Trim the cord to meet the taped-down end.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 18
    Step 18

    Re-tape cords down with the ends free. Place a dab of glue under the ends and press them into it.

    Remove tape and glue the small square over the ends of the cords.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 19
    Step 19

    Remove laptop and lining from the material pouch, and machine-sew the square over the elastic cord ends, first sewing a square around the edge, then an "X" shape in the center.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 20
    Step 20

    Finishing

    Spread glue on the inside of the outer pouch, close to the top edge. Turn down top edge about 3/8"; clamp until dry.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 21
    Step 21

    Slip the lining back inside the outer pouch, pushing the corners all the way in.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 22
    Step 22

    Stitch around upper edge of laptop sleeve to secure the lining to the outer material, using a needle for leather and upholstery thread.

  • How to make a laptop case. Laptop Sleeve From Leather Jacket - Step 23
    Step 23

    Et voila!

    Finally, a homemade FUNCTIONAL accessory that my husband will actually use! (And it's unisex, so can be a great gift for a man or woman!)

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Comments

carlyjcais
carlyjcais · Portland, Oregon, US · 61 projects
@Jet H.: thanks! Do you have a link to that video you saw - I'd love to check it out!
Thanks for your comment-
xoxox
Carly
Reply
Jet H.
Jet H. · Haarlem, North Holland, NL · 108 projects
awesome i saw this tute as a video on crafside and thought to bad i like the picts to see i have still problems to see and hear the explaination in english soooo i'm so glad with you!!!!
thank you very much!!!
it is well done and i liked the idea of recycling;-D
Reply
carlyjcais
carlyjcais · Portland, Oregon, US · 61 projects
Thank you @Lovette'sz-xoxo and @michelle G.!
xoxox
Carly
Reply
michelle G.
michelle G. · Antigonish, Nova Scotia, CA · 1258 projects
awesome
Reply
Lovette'sz-xoxo
Lovette'sz-xoxo · 15 projects
nice job Happy
Reply

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