Make Your Own iPad Cover

I recently acquired an iPad and I am pretty much obsessed with it.  As with my other expensive gadgets, I needed something to protect it but the covers that I found were either too expensive or too boring (or both).  I decided to try making a cover and I found a great tutorial here.

To make this cover you will need some chipboard (you want chipboard not cardstock or corrugated cardboard because you need something strong enough to support the iPad for watching movies, etc.), 1/2 yard of fabric, and some 1" elastic.  Did you know that they actually make elastic in colors now?

The directions in the tutorial are pretty easy to follow (and there are pictures for every step).  Having said that, I highly recommend that you measure everything exactly and use a 1/4" seam allowance.

I wouldn't say that this was an especially easy project (for me at least).  I did have to unpick the two side seams because I made the seam allowances too big (see above comment.)

However, this project cost less than $1.00 because all I had to buy was the elastic.  I have lots of left-over fabric because I always buy more than I need just in case I mess up on a project.  I also recycled the chipboard from some old 3-ring binders (I am a teacher so I have an endless supply).

I also love the fact that I now have a custom cover.  I really hate having the exact same thing that everybody else has.  It is so boring!

Ultimately I would call this project a success!  Really, the sewing isn't that hard because it is all straight stitching.  Just remember the 1/4" inch seam allowances or the chipboard pieces won't fit and you might say some naughty words while unpicking!

Give it a try!  Did I mention that I absolutely love my iPad?  I don't know how I lived without it!

 

Go here to see the cases I made for my phone, camera, and iPod.