Monday, October 31, 2011

Laptop Cover for under $5

Hey there! How was everyone's weekend? Mine was extremely restful and very nice. Saturday was scheduled to be a really busy day...we were going to go to a cheerleading competition (just to watch) and then ice skating with friends, and then to church (because I forgot that DH was not working Sunday). Well, I woke up Saturday morning to my little guy standing next to my bed.  I said "hey Buddy!" and he said, "Mommy, did you recognize that it's snowing outside?"  (Did I "recognize?"  How cute!)  Uh, no, I didn't recognize that, but it could be the answer to all of my un-prayed prayers for the day.  So I went over to the window with him, and sure enough, we had time warped from October to February.  It was coming down hard!  Everything was coated with about 3-4"...even Mr. Plow was out.  Perfect!  I got to cancel going to the cheer competition, and we all agreed to save ice skating for another day, and then I realized that DH did not have to work on Sunday, so we didn't go to church Saturday night...it was a day of loafing.  Movie watching, card playing, minimal cleaning/laundry (minimal)...and some sewing!  

I've had my laptop since June, and I have been wanting to sew a cover for it since about...June.  ;)  It was hard to decide, because there are so many styles and different tutorials out there, but I settled on this one because I just wanted something simple that would keep it from getting scratched up, but one that I didn't have to mess with a zipper or pouch every time I wanted to use it.  

So I dug out some fabric - actually, it was a skirt from Goodwill! - and some felt, because I thought that would give it a little padding without being puffy.  I do not like puffy.  I'm not a puffy person.

Anyway, it was really easy to sew...just basic straight lines and all.  It took very little of my precious time.  ;) And when I finished, I was happy, but not really.  




 I mean, it's fine...it does a job...it's made of cute fabric...but I don't know.  I just wasn't thrilled.  For one thing, I mentioned that this fabric used to be a skirt.  Well, do you see the seam about an inch up from the tab (in the first picture)?  That bothered me.  So...I busted out my ribbon stash and made a little cute thingy to slap on top of the seam, and slapped a button on the tab.  Lots of slapping involved here.

So...it's definitely better.  Cuter!  But I still wasn't completely happy, because...

...because I tend to be lazy and I don't want to mess with taking this thing on & off my computer every time I want to use it.  And since I don't have x-ray vision, this is a problem.  

So I thought, well, the fabric (skirt) cost me about $3.  And I've got about an hour invested into this thing.  So if I ruin it, no real harm done.  Deep breath...

OK, so after I cut out a little "TV screen" around the screen, I did the "lazy girl hem" all around it, which is just a zigzag stitch that goes halfway on the fabric & halfway off.  It's sort of like faux-serging, but not really.  I don't know.  I just didn't want it to look all ghetto like it does in the picture above.  

Because nothing says "class" more than covering a computer with some used piece of clothing I scavenged from Goodwill.

Anyway, it all worked out, and now I have a cute laptop cover that I don't have to mess with.  I can finally move on with my life!



12 comments:

  1. I love your title on My Junk Drawer's Link party. Definitely made me come check out your post. :) Turns out I'm even too lazy to do that much work. But thanks for sharing.

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  2. such a great idea! i hate taking mine out of the cover too!

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  3. Oh I abasolutely adore it!!! One question though, maybe stupid ;) isn't it going to overheat now?
    PS.Thank you so much for explaining the knitting pattern. It does help:)
    Hugs..

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  4. That is so cute! Makes me wish I could sew.

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  5. Yup... I'll take one too! ;) Unless, of course, I have a spare couple of hours to make one myself. Did you know that I can also sew? (Not if I don't have to, though....)

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  6. I love it! I need to get busy on some of these projects! You have so many great ideas! Thanks for entering my GIVEAWAY! I liked your comment...that's how I always feel, too! GOOD LUCK! ♥♥♥

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  7. Awesome tutorial! I have to make one for my lap top. Hmm. I think I have a half made shirt I don't plan on finishing. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. I love it! Fantastic job! Loved the story about the wee one. Have a grand day! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  9. That turned out out really well! I like the play-by-play :)

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  10. That is so cute! Doesn't it overheat in the cover though?

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  11. OMG, I was laughing sooo hard about your 7th picture. Still laughing...... That is a very lovely post about your cover and thanks a lot for the tutorial.

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