Laptop bags aren't just the standard business colors of black or brown anymore. They can come in a wide array of colors and patterns. But making your own is a great way to not only exert your personal style, but also save some money.
Instructions
Make Your Own Laptop Bag
1. Measure the dimensions of your laptop: length, width and depth when it is closed. Write these down. Calculate the dimensions of your muslin fabric to cut as follows: Each side should be 1 inch longer and wider than the laptop dimensions. If your laptop happens to be particularly deep, make the measurements for each side 1 1/2 inches longer than each laptop side.
2. Sew your muslin together on three sides; the shorter width, a longer length and a shorter width. Leave a 1/2 inch of seam allowance. You can either baste this together or use the sewing machine. Put the laptop inside and check the fit. There should be about 1/4 inch of ease on each side of the laptop. Make adjustments to the measurements of your muslin to calculate your preferred fit. Transfer these changes to the original dimensions calculated for your muslin. In your final calculations, make your quilt batting and your exterior fabric 1/8 of an inch longer and wider than your lining fabric.
3. Cut out the pieces of your laptop bag: two pieces of your exterior fabric, two pieces of your quilt batting and two pieces of your lining fabric. Sew the lining the same way you sewed your muslin, this time using your sewing machine if you basted earlier. Pin your quilt batting to the wrong side of your exterior fabric. With the right sides of the exterior fabric facing each other, sew together on one short side, one long side and one short side.
4. Press the seams of your exterior shell and turn right side out. Press the seams of your lining and place in the exterior shell. Measure the length of the final bag. Take your zipper and measure the same length from the top of the closed zipper downward. Mark the measurement. Double thread your sewing needle and stitch over the zipper at the marked measure at least 10 times. This is your zipper stop. Clip 1/2 of an inch below the stop.
5. Turn the exterior shell edge inward 1/2 of an inch. Turn the lining edge outward 1/2 of an inch. Slip and pin the zipper in on both sides between the exterior shell and interior lining. Zip up and check to make sure it is straight. Baste zipper in place, remove pins and place laptop inside. Zip up again to check the fit. Adjust as needed. When fit is confirmed, unzip and remove the laptop. Sew zipper in place. This will lock the seams at the same time, finishing the bag.
Tags: your muslin, exterior fabric, exterior shell, pieces your, your exterior, dimensions your
