Okay, so I'm obviously on a roll here, not only with blogging, but also with laptop covers!
So.....after suffering through the minor catastrophe of putting a hole in the other (more fragile) laptop cover (see my last post), I decided I should make a "sturdier" one for everyday laptop use and keep the "more fragile" one for another project that's whirling around in my head (more on that after it stops whirling and settles!).
Anyway, I loved the "lace" idea so I decided to try and adapt it to "sturdier" type. Fortunately, I had three Battenburg lace placemats that I'd purchased from a thrift shop a year or so ago for about $2 each if I remember correctly. I used two and a half placemats total for this cover, and I'm quite happy that it's sturdy enough to withstand even my clumsiness! (which is saying a LOT!)
Here's how I did it:
Okay, forget "start to finish". I didn't take as many pictures as I thought I had. At any rate, this is one of the three placemats. However, all four edges were surrounded by a strip of plain cotton with a rolled hem edge on each placemat. But I didn't like it, and it made it too large for the laptop, so I probably spent about two hours removing it by cutting around each flower edge. Hint....use small scissors! They're great for this type of thing!
This is the stage where I was checking to see how to line up and attach the "flap" closure (from the half of the third placemat) to what would be the back placemat.
This shows where the flap was stitched to the back placemat. Sorry, but I don't have a picture of the top placemat. It's identical, of course, and I just lined it up on top of this piece. Once pinned in place, I stitched along the two sides and the bottom, following the outside of the flower design. This created a "pocket" with a "flap" overhang closure.
This is why I LOVE coffee staining fabric!! And it worked beautifully! This shows both top and bottom placemats sewn together along the two sides and bottom (following the outline of the flower decoration), with the "flap" closure sewn onto the bottom placemat, and draped over the front.
I prefer coffee staining, although on occasion I'll use hot tea to stain fabrics, journal paper, etc. Coffee is usually cheaper, and I think quicker! I use a teapot full of boiling water, poured into a large bowl, and I had about half a cup of the cheapest instant coffee I can find. Then I placed my "pristine white" cover into the bowl and swished it around with a metal spoon, letting it sit for about 30 minutes or so. This depends on how dark you want it; leave it in less if you want a paler color. I usually don't rinse my cloth because that takes some of the dark pigment out, so I just wrung it out, then ironed it dry. The heat from the iron helps "set" the color permanently.
It suddenly occurred to me (about time too!) that I didn't have any cushioning fabric in the cover to protect the laptop! That was a big "DUH"!! moment, I can tell you. Oh well, put the thinking cap on and see what I can come up with. Ah Ha!! I had this fabric, which is sort of a thick "batting", but it's a close weave. Anyway, I just cut out a rectangle long enough to go around the laptop top and bottom, folded it in half, then stitched up the sides to create a "pocket" (a protective pocket at that!!). :-)
I slipped it inside the cover to test for size, then I trimmed a couple of inches off the top edge so that it would sit just below the top of the lace placemat decoration (i.e., so you couldn't see it).
This shows the protective "pocket" sitting inside the cover, just below the top, out of sight. I didn't have to stitch it down because it was a snug fit. However, if I discover that it's slipping later on, I can always tack it down in the corners.
And here the cover is, with the protective pocket inside, just BEGGING ME to decorate it!! Honest! I actually heard it begging! And it took me awhile too! I kept coming up with all kinds of things, but I finally made up my mind and .........
VOILA!!
The lace on the flap cover at the top is an antique remnant that I glued in place, then stitched the small chain of pearls in place over the top edge.
The five flower clusters on the base are also antique, which I glued in place.
Years ago, I went with my mother-in-law to Scott's Antique Market, in Atlanta, Georgie. It's held monthly, over the first weekend. And they have everything and anything. It's two huge buildings (previously warehouses), with "stalls" and vendors selling everything from .....well, just everything. That's the best way to describe it! And I found one vendor selling large bags of fabrics which you couldn't pick and choose from. You just bought the bag, lock, stock and barrel, without being able to go through the bag. I took a chance (it wasn't expensive; maybe $10). And I came away with some of the most beautiful laces, trim, ribbons, etc., that I've ever seen. And most of it was vintage and antique pieces. That's where these two pieces (above) came from, as well as the lace table runner remnant (from the previous post)! Talk about hitting the jackpot! I was in a "happy fabric coma"! :-)
So..........there you have it! My second, and sturdier, laptop cover!! I know these aren't the best instructions in the world, so let me know if you have any questions and I'll help all I can.
Hope you've had a lovely weekend and I hope you'll have a lovely week!
May God bless. Jan
