Well, how was your first day? Is it already time for your next holiday or are you still OK? This morning, when I took out my laptop it felt like everyone was watching… what an ugly old thing is that?? Not only to improve my looks (or my laptops’ looks) but also to give you a bright start in the morning, I suggest, it is time to make new laptop sleeve. To make it blend in with the rest of the office items it will have a file folder shape and to protect it a fluffy wool felt interior; the DIY leather file folder laptop sleeve!
What do you need?
- Your laptop measurements
- A piece of leather
- A piece of wool felt
- Leather glue
- Adhesive spray
- Matching or contrasting waxed thread
- Leather needles
- Mallet
- Pricking irons
- scissors
- Stanley knife
Step 1: Draw and try
In case you have one laying around, it will be easier to draw your design when you have a file folder to trace or to check for the shape. You can, of course, make one standard digital template and enlarge it or shrink it for other laptop measurements. How to make your design digital, did I explain in an earlier post here! I’ve got a 13″ laptop with the measurements .. cm x .. cm. Don’t forget the room the wool felt will take and the stitching along the edges. Once you think you’ve got the right shape, don’t forget to try it. You might want to give it a little bit more space in the width. You can always cut a little extra off but you can’t glue it back on.
Step 2: Trace and cut the file folder shape
We will be working with two different kinds of material, leather and wool. Both have very different properties. We will trace the pattern of the file folder onto the “pretty/right” side of the leather while we will trace it on the back of the wool felt. When we cut leather, depending on the thickness, of course, we can use a Stanley knife or leather knife. Meanwhile with the wool felt, it might be easier to use very sharp scissors.
Step 3: Mark & glue it together
Once you have everything cut and prepared it is time to glue everything together. But just before we continue, mark the stitching lines on the sides and prick the holes. I’ve decided to stitch the wool felt in between the leather to make sure it will stay. Otherwise, you should trim the wool felt 0.5 cm on each side shorter. First, glue the wool onto the leather and thereafter the two sides together for stitching.
Step 4: Stitch it up!
This is, in this case, the easy part. Just two straight lines on the side and all the stitching is done! If you have a little extra time you can stitch all the edges for the finished look.
Step 5: Time to go to school!
All that’s left is the finish. I have chosen to just coat the leather with a little bees wax since I can’t burnish the edges together with the wool felt in between. Doesn’t it look great! Now you can present your laptop in class and tell them all you have done it yourself! I wish you all a lovely start of the day with your new leather file folder laptop sleeve.
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