Tech Sewing: Free Padded iPad Case Sewing Pattern

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Today I have a fun and useful sewing tutorial for you. This Padded iPad Case Sewing pattern. It’s simple to sew, and features a back zippered pocket, but best of all it’s padded! Adding a thin layer of padding helps to give your iPad or Tablet just a little bit of extra protection.

The other night I was cleaning off my nightstand. I don’t know if you’re like me, but my nightstand collects EVERYTHING, I swear I counted a half a dozen black hair elastics on mine the other night. It’s no wonder that I can never find one when I need it!

One of the things that was on my nightstand was this iPad case. When I picked it up I thought to myself, “man, I’ve had this a LONG time”. Just for fun I check on my site to see when I made it. It was 2011, which was almost 6 years ago! It’s crazy, there are not many things in my life that stick around for 6 years.

As I was reading through the original post, I realized that it could be refreshed a bit. Today I’m posting the refereshed sewing tutorial for you.

The case measures about 9″ x 11″ when finsihed and has a back pocket with a zipper. Which now that I have an Apple pencil comes in very handy. I’ve also kept pens, pencils, notebooks and earbuds in the zippered pocket.

iPad sizes have changed a bit over the years and it still fits my iPad but is a bit big now. If you want a tight fit then reduce all the measurements by an inch. You could also make this for an iPad pro, you’ll just need to measure the dimensions of your larger iPad and adjust your pattern sizes accordingly (make sure you add in 1 ” for ease and 1″ for seam allowances)

Here’s what you’ll need to make one:

-10″ x 12″ piece of fabric for front
– 10″ x 12″ piece of fabric for zippered pocket lining
– 10″ x 12″ piece of fabric for flap lining
– 4″ x 10″ piece of fabric for zipper panel
– 10″ x 10″ piece of fabric for zipper panel
– Two 4″ x 10″ pieces for front flap

-6″ x 10″ piece of fabric for front flap (you have 3 pieces total making up the front flap)

– 10″ x 12″ piece of Decor Bond Fusible interfacing

9″ zipper

2 pieces of auto liner 1/4″ foam cut to 10″ x 12″ (you can buy this at the fabric store, it’s the stuff they line roofs of cars with, you can also use Pellon Flex Foam)

2 pieces of Minke or Snuggles cut to 10″ x 12″

Misc. ribbons (at least 2 yards)

Step One: Construct the Back Zipper Panel

Pin the right side of your zipper to the right side of one of your zipper panel pieces along the 10″ side. The zipper will be a bit longer that is ok. Stitch in place using a zipper foot.

Pin the right side of the other side of the zipper to the right side of the other zipper panel piece. Stitch in place.

Tutorial for a padded ipad or tablet case. A free ipad case sewing pattern available on polkadotchair.com

It will look like this when you are done.

Press and topstitch along each seam on the side of the zipper.

Close the zipper then trim piece down to 10″ x 12″.

Place the wrong side of the zippered piece on top of the right side of the pocket lining piece. Baste in place

Cut a piece of ribbon to 5″ long and fold it in half. Finish the ends of the ribbon with fray. Stitch to lower left corner. Cut another piece of ribbon about 12″ long and stitch to the center of long side (make sure you get it in the center).

Step Two: Assemble Case Outside

Pin your ipad case front piece to your zippered piece (that you just created) with right sides together. Stitch around 3 sides leaving the side with the ribbon loop open. As you stitch around the corners stitch in a curved line. Clip corners. Set aside.

Step Three: Construct the lining

Make a “sandwich” with your auto liner foam and minke. Place your minke pieces right sides together then place the foam pieces on the outside of that. You want the “non fabric” side of your foam to face out, with the wrong side of the minke facing the “fabric” side of the foam. (If your foam doesn’t have fabric on one side, don’t worry). Stitch around 3 sides as you did for the case outside, also curving at corners. Go slow and if have a telfon foot it will help you greatly! Trim seam allowances down to 1/4″.

Turn right side out

Step Four: Construct Flap

Stitch your 3 flap pieces together along the 10″ sides as desired, then trim down to 10″ x 12″. (your pieces are deliberately cut too large, so that you can “offset” the center panel if you wish).

Apply 10″ x 12″ piece of Decor bond fusible interfacing to the wrong side.

To add an optional front accent; I sewed 2 ribbons, one 2″ wide, and one 1″ wide, to the center strip of the flap, if you do this make sure you sew the smaller ribbon in the CENTER of the flap so that it lines up with the other ribbon you placed on the cover.

Cut a 12″ piece of ribbon and stitch to the center of the flap, on the 12″ side of the flap that you want to be the bottom (this only matters if your fabric is directional).

Pin the flap outside and flap lining right sides together, sew around 3 sides (leave the side with OUT the extra ribbon open). Curve corners as you sew. Turn right side out and PRESS. Top stitch along the outside edge of the flap.

Slip flap into case with the RIGHT side of the front of the flap matching the RIGHT side of the back of the cover. Matching raw edges. The raw edge of the case back (the part with the zipper) will be flush with the raw edge of the flap – Baste in place.

Slip your padded lining piece into your cover, right sides together- your padded piece will be right side out, and your cover will be wrong side out.

Stitch raw edge of case, starting about 2 ” from center front, around to the back, then back around to the front- leaving a 4″ opening to turn case right side out.

Turn right side out.

Press well.

Machine stitch opening closed. (Just turn it under and press it down and pin well and top stitch to close the seam.)

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Comments

Jacqueline Blanchard says

August 25, 2018 at 2:16 PM

I am currently 66 years old and have been sewing since High School. A graduate of Fashion Industries HS (class of ’69… YAY!!!). Unfortunately, I’m sitting here with pieces of fabric, foam and minke all sewn up… but apparently not correctly.

I’m having a VERY hard time following the instructions. I think I’ve got the FLAP confused with the FRONT. Ribbon sewn on ahead of time… YIKES

If you would be good enough to identify the pieces for me, I’d be MOST appreciative. With all of the different patterns, I’m just finding it difficult to sort out. TIA Jackie

- Jacqueline Blanchard says
  
  August 25, 2018 at 6:28 PM
  
  I managed to complete the project using a different method. Thanks for sharing.
  
- Melissa Mortenson says
  
  August 26, 2018 at 7:32 PM
  
  the flap folds over the front of the case. the front of the case is the front when the flap is up
  
Lynne LePore says

September 8, 2018 at 8:08 PM

Thank you for this!!!! I went rogue a few weeks ago and attempted to create my own pattern, obviously before I saw your pattern. I am now stuck with mine and am do grateful to have found yours!!! I’m going to open mine back up and follow your instructions! Thank you for saving my attempted project!