Kindle Cover Tutorial

Just a quick run through how I made my Kindle cover.  I actually woke in the middle of the night and had a complete forehead slapping moment, as I realised that if using a directional print, the easiest way to make the cover (case?) would be to have the opening flap on the long side, rather than at the top.  Doh!  I may make a Mark II case to demonstrate this.....  but at the moment you will have to manage with this top opening cover instead.

Kindle Cover with slim pocket.

1) Cut out three sets of fabric.  

     Back of case (inc flap) -  6 1/2" x 12 1/2" -  outer fabric, lining fabric and wadding. (if you are making this version in directional print, ideally you would make your piece of outer fabric from two pieces of fabric - one 8 1/2" and one 4 1/2" sewn together with a 1/4" seam with the prints having their 'heads' meeting so that when the flap is closed the print will all look correct).

     Front of case - 6 1/2" X 8 1/2" - outer fabric, lining fabric and wadding.

     Pocket (optional) - 6 1/2" x 8" - two pieces of lining fabric. (I wanted a pocket for the cardboard 'idiots guide' that came with the Kindle.

2) Layer up each set with right sides of fabric facing each other and the wadding, where used, on top.  Pin if you are feeling nervous, although they are small enough not to really need this.

3) On the flap end of the largest set, either mark out a diagonal line (I marked 2" down and across from the corners, but you could use a small glass to make a rounded shape, if you'd like).  This will give you a nice shape for the flap.  Now is also the time to insert your piece of elastic (or hair bobble. or longer bit of ribbon to twizzle around the button to hold the case closed).  You need to make sure that the 'working' end of the loop is between your fabric / lining layer where it will pop to the right side when you turn these pieces out, and that you are going to sew over the ends when you make your seam.  I like to knot elastic or ribbon to make doubly sure that it can't escape from the sewn line later.

3) Sew around each of the three sets with a 1/4" seam, starting at what will be the bottom of each set of fabrics and finishing approximately 2" from where you started to leave a 'turning gap'.

4) Snip diagonally across the corners (taking care not to snip your stitching!) to get rid of the excess fabric - it will lead to a neater corner when you turn it through.

5) Turn the three pieces right side out and press (or finger press) the edges to make them tidy, paying careful attention to the seam allowance where you left the turning gap.  If you would like to lightly quilt your case, this is your moment to do it.

6) Layer up all three pieces with the bottom edges matching, the back should be on the bottom, right side down, then the pocket, then the front, right side up.

7) Stitch the pieces carefully together, using a scant 1/4" seam.  I would start at one side of the opening, go around the front piece (where the stitching will hold the back, pocket and front together) and then continue around the flap, where the stitching will be purely decorative.

8) Nearly finished! Choose a button, insert your Kindle and mark where the button will need to be sewn.  Sew it on taking care not to sew the pocket closed too!

9) Sit back and admire your new cover (and ignore the small matter that I didn't take my own advice about making the two-part back to the case, so my flap is 'upside down'!).