College-bound students know that one of the most valuable items you can have is a laptop. It stores all of your files and papers for different professors and allows you to keep in touch with the folks at home. Okay, we know it does a lot more than that, but that’s not the point. You don’t want your laptop looking like crap. These things can take a beating, since they go with you everywhere and are prone to getting scratched. So how do you protect them? With one of the same ways you protect yourself, of course. A jacket! Well, in this case, a hoodie. You can do this for little to no money whatsoever and only a teensy bit of sewing skill. Maybe you can even get your mom, an aunt, your grandma, or some other lovely lady in your life to help you with the sewing parts, okay?
Stuff you’ll need:
An old hoodie- Yours, your bro’s, your sis’s: whoever has neglected a sweatshirt and you’re fortunate to come across it. Make it a soft one to add a nice touch and give a little more lovin’ to your favorite laptop.
Scissors
Marking pen or chalk
Sewing skills, or someone with some, and a sewing machine
A ruler and pins
Step One: Lay your sweatshirt out on a flat surface. Smooth it out as best you can, and put you laptop on top of the sweatshirt horizantally, about an inch up from the bottom. Center it from left to right on the pocket. Take your marking object in hand and trace a line, leaving about a half an inch around from the top and sides. Use a ruler for this. Leave an extra half inch where you want the opening to be. (For example, if you used the top: leave an inch up top, a half an inch on the sides, and an inch on the bottom)
Step Two: Use the scissors to cut along the lines that you just drew. Do this as evenly and smoothly as possible. This is very important: go through both the front and back layers. Flip the layers inside out, so the fuzzier side should be facing you. Now, on the side you will leave open, fold the cut edges on one layer towards you (about a centimeter or two) and pin the fabric there. Try to pin it in a straight line or your results will come out crooked. Do the same thing for the other layer.
Step Three: Warning: this involves sewing. Sew the seams closed (along the line where you put the pins) on both layers with a sewing machine. Don’t sew them together. If you get someone with experience to do this, they’ll know what it should look like. If you’re confused, look at the hem of the shirt you’re wearing right now. Assuming you’re wearing one. Chances are it should look exactly like you want your sleeve’s edges to look if it’s made of cotton.
Step Four: Pin together the rest of the sides that you don’t want open (hence the sleeve). Pin both layers together. No folding involved here. Now sew those closed around the sleeve in a line. A straight one. Trim the edges to about 0.5 cm, flip the sleeve outside in when you’re done, and it should look the way it’s supposed to. Two hems where the opening is and the rest of the cut edges should be inside of the sleeve. Good job! If they’re not? Whoops. Should’ve followed directions. Don’t worry; this happens to the best of us. The seam ripper is your friend. Don’t know what a seam ripper is? Ask your grandma.
**If you’re going to leave the sides open and store your laptop vertically, it’s idea to sew one of the sides of the curved pocket shut. Just so everything doesn’t fall out when you put stuff in your new handy pocket. Storing it horizantally? No problem. Just leave the pocket as it is and you should be able to use it perfectly. Decorate as you wish.**
From www.instructables.com “Hoodie Laptop Sleeve” Posted by TabLeft Visited August 22 2007 Pictures by TabLeft