★ Laptop Bag Patterns | DIY Camera Pouches, Phone Cases, iPad Sleeves & More!
Free Sewing Patterns & Tutorials For Gadget Cases
In the modern age, it's very likely that you will be carrying around at least one gadget - whether it's your phone, a laptop or an iPad - and these valuables need protecting right? So if you are even slightly craft-minded and would like to save yourself lots of money by making your own unique case, please take a look through the list of DIY tutorials I have compiled below.
There are all kinds of options, from messenger bags to recycled sweater sleeves, and from molded leather pouches to knitted covers, and you will find lots of ideas covered on this page.
Many materials can be used for making cases, but try to use anti-static and smooth materials which aren't going to hold dust and aren't going to scratch your screens. To protect from damage, batting is the padding used between fabrics when sewing items, and foam is great too for extra protection.
I hope you find a project below which inspires you to have a go at making your own gadget bag :)
Felt & Leather iPhone Wallet
Top-Rated Craft Books, Cases & Bags
Hopefully after browsing this page you will decide to create your own unique bag or case from scratch, and if so, the books below are sure to help you out with lots of tutorials, tips and ideas. If, on the other hand, you decide you don't have the time or inclination to make a gadget case after all, you can always buy one ready-made!
Patterns For Homemade Laptop Bags
- Recycled Jeans Tote Bag
How to turn your old jeans into a fashionable laptop bag. - Total Electronics Bag
A classic shoulder bag with pockets for a laptop as well as an iPhone and an iPad mini. - Fashionable Handbag
With foam pieces inserted between the fabrics for protection. - Custom Shoulder Bag
A tutorial for creating a patchwork style bag. - Wool Sweater Bag
Felt an old wool sweater and create a lovely ruffled laptop carrier. - Quilted Tote Bag
How to sew a large bag with padded quilted sides. - Ecological Cardboard Case
Low cost and eco-friendly option - just don't get water on it! - Travel Bag
With a very handy outside pouch for holding accessories. - 16 Messenger Bags
A great selection of patterns to alter to your specific laptop's dimensions.
Fun Dial Phone Case
DIY Laptop Sleeves & Fabric Pouches
- Leather Laptop Sleeve
I love the felt lining and the mustard yellow stitch detail. - Padded Placemat Laptop Cover
Inventive and practical use for a placemat. - Quilted Sleeve
Make a padded sleeve from scratch, with button fastenings. - Geometric Sleeve
I love the modern style with the gold accents. - Felted Sweater Pouch
DIY cover made by shrinking an old sweater into felt. - Envelope Style Sleeve
Smart and sleek design with a fleece interlining. - Knitted Aran Cover
If you can knit, check out this knitting pattern which incorporates cables. - Button Strap Sleeve
Smart sleeve with a professional look. - Crochet Pouch Pattern
Sweet case for the crocheters amongst you. - One-Piece Felt Cover
A single template shape is needed for this smart wrap-around cover.
Hexagon Patchwork Sleeve
Duct Tape Laptop Sleeves
More Laptop Cover Tutorials
- Sweater Cozy
Felt an old sweater and add a zip for a squishy laptop haven. - Recycle-a-Hoodie
Quick way to make a cozy case with built-in pocket. - Screen Protector Cover
An extra layer of flannel provides protection for the screen too. - Squiggle Quilted Sleeve
With free-motion quilting technique and Velcro flap. - Military Canvas Pouch
Made from old military materials; tent canvas, camouflage and a blanket. - Minimalist Zippered Sleeve
Thick wool felt in grey makes a stylish sleeve. - Cushioned Duct Tape Sleeve
Inventive project using foam and half a roll of duct tape. - Wetsuit Case
Recycle a tatty old wetsuit to create an unusual neoprene laptop cover. - Patchwork Kindle Case
With a nifty flap detail to prevent the Kindle falling out easily. - DIY Woodgrain Wrap
Wonderful idea that is surprisingly easy to implement.
Godzilla Laptop Sock
A fun cozy knitted by Lauren O'Farrell from Whodunnknit.com - and the project itself is from the 'Stitch London' knitting book.
Even More Laptop & Tablet Projects
- Stand-Up Tablet Holder
A clever stand for your gadget - using an old binder or chipboard. - Cross-Body Shoulder Bag
An iPad sleeve and phone holder with removeable shoulder strap. - Open Tote Bag
Fabric tote bag with inside pockets for holding accessories. - E-Reader Shoulder Bag
Plenty of pockets for all of your gadgets and gizmos. - Striped Felt Tech Case
With a contrasting whip stitch around the outside.
2 Ways of Adding Padding to Cases/Bags - Using a Quilting Sandwich Technique or by Inserting Foam
Method 1: Here, 3 layers are sewn together to create a padded fabric.
What You Will Need:
* Your outer fabrics; one piece of fabric will be the front and one will be the back. Sometimes the front piece of fabric (and the back - depending on the look you want) is made up of more than one section of fabric i.e. is a patchwork design.
Also, don't forget to wash the fabrics first because if they haven't been washed before they may shrink and you don't want this happening when you've already made the product!
* Batting; this is what will be sandwiched between the outer fabrics and will provide the padding.
* Spray baste, (curved) safety pins, sewing pins or a needle & thread; depending on the method you prefer. I think using a spray baste is the easiest, but safety pins are very popular.
* Sewing machine and thread. A free-motion sewing machine foot may also be required.
- The first thing to do is cut out the front/top piece of outer fabric, which (if making a laptop sleeve for example) will probably be a large rectangle. This fabric will be on show so pick something you like :)
- Cut out a piece of batting that is 1-2 inches larger than your front fabric on all sides.
- Cut out your back/base piece of fabric so it's the same size as the batting (but doesn't need to be accurate). This fabric piece will be the backing for the quilted fabric you are making and will either be hidden or, most likely, will be the inside of your case/bag.
- Layer these pieces of fabric as shown in the diagram to make a 'quilt sandwich'. The front fabric should be the right way up whereas the backing fabric should be face-down. Make sure that the batting and backing are lined up and the front fabric is placed centrally on top of the batting. Smooth out any creases.
- There are different ways to secure the layers together temporarily, including using safety pins, spray baste or using a needle and thread to loosely baste the layers together. Choose what you prefer and work from the center of the fabric outwards.
- Then you need to machine sew the layers together (removing any pins you have used along the way so you don't sew over them). If you have done it before or you are a more experienced sewer, then you will probably want to use free-motion quilting techniques. However, the simpler option is to simply sew straight lines (parallel, diagonal or criss-cross) evenly across the quilt sandwich.
Mark the lines in washable/disappearing fabric markers before you begin so you know where to sew.
- Now that you've finished the quilting you cut around the edge of your front fabric to give you a piece of quilted fabric that has 3 layers of the same size. You can now use this to make your gadget case/bag.
Click here if you would like to read more about quilting methods.
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Method 2: This method uses foam and is best suited when you want bulkier, more protective padding. You basically enclose foam in a pocket of fabric.
What You Will Need:
* Foam (1/2" thick)
* Large scissors or an electric knife
* Outer fabrics; one piece for the front, one piece for the back.
* Sewing machine and thread.
* Needle and thread
- First of all, cut out a piece of foam that is the size you want to use in your craft. Large scissors work but using an electric knife (if you have one) is easier and allows you to cut more accurately.
- Cut out two pieces of fabric (one for the front and one for the back) that are 1/2" larger on all sides than the foam piece.
- Put the two pieces of fabric right sides together so that the edges line up.
- Sew around most of the outside edge using a 1/4" seam allowance. Leave a gap that is just big enough for the piece of foam to go through.
- Turn the fabric right-side-out.
- Insert the foam piece.
- Hand sew the gap closed using a ladder stitch - click here for instructions.
- Finished! You can use this method to make chunky padded bags, and if you want to create bends/corners then you can use separate pieces of foam within the same fabric sleeve.
Free-Motion Tools, Spray Baste, Batting & a Sewing Machine
Batting is essential if you want padded sides on your gadget case/bag, and if you also want to add fun freestyle patterns to your quilting then free motion tools are what you'll need too.
On top of that there are of course a wide range of sewing machines available, and you'll easily be able to find one to fit your needs. And lastly, temporary fabric adhesive is really handy to have, especially if you hate messing around with time-consuming pins!
Homemade Monster Cover
Smartphone & Regular Cell Phone Cases
Whatever phone you own, you can always alter any of the patterns below to suit your specific requirements - so even if a tutorial only mentions an iPhone, you can still use it for other phones with a slight bit of tweaking :)
- Wool Felt iPhone Sleeves
Smart sleeves with a minimalist stripe pattern. - Leather Envelope Case
Very easy to assemble with just one piece of leather. - Molded Leather Pouch
Meant for an iPod but would be perfect for phones too. - Crochet iPhone Sleeve
A free pattern for crocheters. - Pendleton Wool Pouch
I love Pendleton wool blankets so this one is a winner for me. - Corset Leather Case
Slick stitched leather case in a sunny yellow leather. - Groundhog Felt Pouch
Super cute animal phone case. - Image Transfer Leather Case
Click on the link at the bottom for the image transfer technique instructions.
Custom Laptop Bag
iPad, Kindle & Tablet Carrier How-Tos
- Floral Fine Art Clutch
Print photographs onto fabric to make this amazing fashion clutch. - Scalloped Felt Case
Thick felt case with a button closure and lovely shaped edging. - Hardback Book Case
Novelty holder for your iPad. - Sewn Fabric Folder
Layered and foldable design with pretty border details. - Hand Painted Pouch
Use plain calico fabric so you can paint on your own unique design. - Geek Chic Handbag
Full tutorial for making a little bag with leather handle and closure. - Magazine Kindle Sleeve
Fun and inexpensive decoupage project where you display a fun image.
Washi Tape iPad Sleeve
A fun and quick way to decorate your case - washi tape!
Photo and sleeve by Cakewalk Queen - Click Here for the tutorial.
Crochet Sock
Further Creative Tablet Covers
- Scrappy Felt Cover
Re-use blankets and wool sweaters to make a beautiful rainbow cover. - Open Fleece Cozy
Snuggly cover with a liftable window so you can use your iPad with the cozy on. - Collar Felt Sleeve
Stylish lined pouch made from thick collar felt. - Etch-a-Sketch
Retro silliness which you can personalize with your own message. - Rollable Fabric Case
A quilted cover which can be rolled in order to prop up the tablet. - Waterproof Oilcloth Sleeve
Oilcloth is a practical material to use as it is sturdy and waterproof. - Quilted Kindle Cover
I love the hexagon quilting technique used here.
Recycled Sweater Sleeves
Ideas, Inspiration & Extras
- Pin-Up Girl Laptop Sleeve
Fun fabric with a leather strap around the centre. - Matblac Gadget Cover Range
A brilliant display of craftmanship. - Foxy Felt Sleeve
A sweet animal design added in felt. - Nintendo Controller Case
Fun idea to replicate the games controller in felt. - Game Boy Phone Bag
A fab geeky phone pouch. - Animal iPad Covers
Adorable animal covers, ideal for kids.
Necktie iPhone Pouch
A Selection of Bag Making Tools & Materials
There are variety of fastenings you can use including magnetic snaps, Velcro and zippers. For the bag straps, webbing, rings and buckles are often required, and of course you'll need some nice fabric too.