A Simple Kindle Fire Slip Case: kindle sewing tutorial series

01/02/12

I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas, it was the perfect present for me, both unexpected and practical. I read that Amazon sold at least 4 million of these for the holidays – so there’s a good chance you got one, too. Besides reading books and magazines on the go, Kindles can play on the Internet. If you’re in the middle of a great book and find yourself with time to kill during your busy day you’ll want to take it with you. And if it’s leaving the house, you probably should put it in a pretty carrying case. I certainly shouldn’t mention that I knew I needed a case when all I had was a size 4 “pull-up” to put the kindle in. It survived unscathed but humiliated.

I have three tutorials in mind for the Kindle tutorial, one is a durable quilted zipper case (now available here), the second is a fancy pants clutch pattern, and the third is the easiest to make, a simple kindle slip case. Kindle slip cases require only fat quarters or scraps and a few other notions to complete. It’s a quick and economical project. Two fat quarters will yield two cases.

Materials:

  • 2 pieces of outer fabric cut to 6 & 5/8″ wide x 9 & 1/4″ tall
  • 2 pieces of pocket panels cut to 6 & 5/8″ wide x 6.5″ tall
  • 2 pieces flannel or other soft, non scratchy lining cut to 6 & 5/8″ wide x 9 & 1/4″ tall
  • Elastic, about 4-5″ long (we used 5″)
  • Button

Seam allowances are approximately 3/8″; Finished dimensions approximately 6″ wide x 8.5 inches tall. For reference, Kindle Fire measures: 4.7″ x 7.5″ x 0.45″

  1. Identify top of the pocket flap, fold over 1/8″ to wrong side and press, fold over one more time to wrong side and press. Edge stitch in place.
  2. Lay the envelope flap on top of the exterior fabric right sides up. Sew along the two long edges so the pocket flap is secured and does not shift. If you would like to divide the pockets into sections do so now.
  3. Using your elastic or other button loop identify the top center point of one of the panels (make sure the size of the elastic will allow you to sew a button in place; it should easily slip over but also secure the case opening. Fold the button loop in half and secure the raw ends to the raw edge of the fabric, and backstitch to secure in place. 
  4. Next place your flannel on top of main panel (right sides together), sew the top edges together. Press seam allowance toward flannel.
  5. Line up the two long pieces with right sides together. Try to match up the lining and exterior fabric joints. Pin around the edges.
  6. Sew along edges of this long panel. I began mid-way along one side of the lining fabric (flannel) and stopped about three inches short of closing the seam. You’ll need to leave this area open to turn the piece right side out.
  7. Clip corners.
  8. Turn right side out. Use a chopstick or knitting needle to gently push the corners out.
  9. Now stitch the opening shut. You could hand stitch this or use the machine as I did.
  10. Push the lining into the slip case and press around the top edge.
  11. Roll the top inward so the flannel is less visible. 
  12. Stitch around the mouth of the slip case  so the lining doesn’t flop around.
  13. Sew the button in a sensible location so your button loop can easily slip over it.

Finished!

Materials:

Nani Iro Button, found in our Etsy shop.

Echino dot dot dot, found in our Etsy shop.

Pocket fabric is by Heather Moore, of SkinnyLaMinx, and ships from South Africa.

UPDATE: a modified iPhone slip case version of this tutorial is available at Craftsy.

Closure Modifications:

Ribbon Closure: center two ribbons instead of elastic on the top edges of both sides of your kindle cover. You’ll want these to be at least 8 inches, tie in a bow for silent security.

Button Tab: Create a button tab with button hole and insert as you would the elastic, sew in place. When finished add the button on the other panel.

I just finished my second book, The Help. What are you reading and recommending on Kindle?

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 2nd, 2012 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

56 Responses to “A Simple Kindle Fire Slip Case: kindle sewing tutorial series”

  1. erin says:

    January 3rd, 2012 at 6:36 am

    it’s adorable, laura! i LOVE the button.

  2. erin says:

    January 3rd, 2012 at 6:41 am

    also – your subscribe button is not working, fyi.

  3. Laura says:

    January 3rd, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Thanks, Erin. I think I need a wordpress update!

  4. luvinthemommyhood says:

    January 3rd, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    Love it! And the button & fabric are to die for!

  5. Laura says:

    January 4th, 2012 at 11:26 am

    Thanks, Shannon!

  6. Esther says:

    January 14th, 2012 at 2:46 am

    This is a great tutorial, thank you for sharing it!
    Esther.

  7. Anonymous says:

    January 15th, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    [...] to the intensely creative textile designer, Jessica Jones, of How About Orange for including the Kindle Slip Case tutorial in a sewing tutorial wrap [...]

  8. nadine says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    Thank you for this tutorial. I don’t own a kindle but I totally fell in love with the case. I posted the tutorial on my blog. I will def try one…

  9. nadine says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    oops, I left out my info: Lukacreations.blogspot.com.

    all the best!

  10. Laura says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked it and thank you for reposting it on your site.

  11. Laura says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Thank you, Esther!

  12. Jen of Quality Sewing Tutorials says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    Great tutorial! You’ve been featured on the Quality Sewing Tutorials blog.

    We hand select only the best free tutorials and patterns for home sewers.

  13. Laura says:

    January 16th, 2012 at 10:43 pm

    Thanks, Jen! I appreciate the feature.

  14. Beth Coburn says:

    January 26th, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    Wow, I don’t sew, but really want to make my own Kindle cover. I’m going to give it a go! Thanks for the very clear instructions.

  15. Laura says:

    January 27th, 2012 at 11:47 am

    That’s so great, Beth! I hope you do give it a try and let me know how it goes. – Laura

  16. 101 Sewing Tutorials for Winter says:

    January 29th, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    [...] Kindle Slip Case – Charm Stitch [...]

  17. LJ says:

    February 7th, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    I made this yesterday afternoon and pinned it to Pinterest (with your link, of course!). I had 17 repins within minutes, and a friend of mine asked if I could make some for donating to a charity auction! Thanks for a simple and easy pattern that people are LOVING! Here’s mine (I’m a VERY beginner level sewer, so don’t laugh at my wonky top stitching!), I had to modify the size of the pocket to keep the elephant intact! :) http://pinterest.com/pin/137148751122082384/

  18. Laura says:

    February 7th, 2012 at 7:56 pm

    Hi LJ, I’m so happy to hear about your experience. I hope you keep making them, what an honor to be asked to donate another one for a good cause!

  19. April Bosworth says:

    February 10th, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Thanks! My cover turned out great and fits perfectly. I love any project that can broken down into the number of fat quarters used!

  20. Laura says:

    February 13th, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Thanks so much, April! I’m glad to hear it.

  21. Hand-Stitched Velveteen Kindle Clutch: kindle sewing tutorial series says:

    February 15th, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    [...] been surprisingly easy thinking of ways to dress up my dear Kindle Fire. I’ve made a simple slip case (designed to protect from scratches, not being dropped), as well as a thicker quilted zippy version [...]

  22. Lynda says:

    February 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    Does this pattern work for the second generation Kindle as well? So cute!

  23. Laura says:

    February 22nd, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    Hi Lynda, I think you could easily modify it; in the tutorial I provide the finished dimensions of this pouch as well as those of my Kindle Fire. If you would like to send me the measurements of your 2nd gen Kindle I can update the sizing for you (I think the fire is smaller). Feel free to email me laura [at] charmstitch.

  24. Craft Blog / National Craft Month Kickoff: A Collection of Spring Must Makes by COLOURlovers :: COLOURlovers says:

    March 1st, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    [...] DIY | Repurposed Jeans Bag DIY | Boxed Pouch DIY | Diana Hobo free pattern | Kindle Slip-Case |  Felt Checkbook Holder DIY | Easy Knit Produce Bag [...]

  25. Tricia says:

    March 9th, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    Thanks for the tutorial! I was looking for instructions for a pocketed sleeve for my new MacBook Air, but lots don’t have pockets. I love the look of this, so made one for our kindle touch as practice for the MBA :^) I’m glad I did a test, because I messed up the first time (thinking I would make a simplification…). Less fabric wasted by messing up a Kindle cover than a laptop cover!

    Thanks for including the dimensions of your device. Since the kindle touch is about 3/4″ shorter than your Fire, I just subtracted that much from your measurements when I cut my fabric.

  26. Laura says:

    March 10th, 2012 at 9:34 am

    Thank you, Tricia! I’m so glad you liked the tutorial. Hopefully you will have great success modifying the sleeve for your MBA. I’d love to see when you’re finished.

  27. Michele says:

    March 14th, 2012 at 10:26 am

    Thanks so much for this tute! I just bought a Kindle and quickly found that it needs protection. I will make this tonight!

  28. Stumbling Over Chaos :: Sometimes I can’t think of a linkity title and then I am very sad says:

    March 16th, 2012 at 3:01 am

    [...] Sew a Kindle Fire slip case from fat quarters. (via CRAFT) [...]

  29. prairiecactus says:

    March 17th, 2012 at 12:24 am

    My daughter and son-in-law just got kindles…this will be my newest gift for the both of them! Thank you so much for sharing!

  30. Things to make this weekend « Ooh la Lapin says:

    March 17th, 2012 at 10:46 am

    [...] Kindle case: Charm Stitch [...]

  31. Emily says:

    March 18th, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    wow, i love it! i saw this on a website and i thought i t was just so cute! i don’t really sew… but i think i’ll try it anyways! Thanks for the tutorial!

  32. Amy’s Notebook 03.21.12 | The Motherload says:

    March 21st, 2012 at 6:51 am

    [...] love this simple Kindle slip case (@ charm [...]

  33. Connie Starr says:

    March 31st, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Thank you for the great tutorial. I reduced the length an inch and made one for my new Kindle Touch. Now I am ready for vacation.

  34. Gina says:

    April 1st, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Thank you so much! I was able to make tis for my new kindle fire with scraps I had on hand in about 30 minutes. Now I don’t have to worry about scratching it when I put it in my purse.

  35. a Simple iPhone Slip Case Pattern says:

    April 1st, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    [...] simple kindle fire slip case tutorial inspired a great many comments and pins remarking that it would be easily modified to an iPhone [...]

  36. faye says:

    April 2nd, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    i really like your case. i made one from quilted material and has a glass case on the front along with a place to hold the stylic. had trouble making the closing used velcro but did not hold well so put a tab on it . like yours a lor.

  37. mel says:

    April 17th, 2012 at 1:01 am

    This is a really amazing tutorial. I love the fabric contrasts and wooden button you used for the closure. And the fact there are pockets – there are never enough pockets! I have linked your tutorial over on my blog here (http://mel-allwrappedup.blogspot.com.au/p/link-love-to-amazing-free-craft.html).

    Mel@allwrappedup

  38. Laura says:

    April 17th, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    Thank you so much for this positive feedback!

  39. 101 Tutoriale creatii vestimentare pentru Iarna « ilikehandmade says:

    April 20th, 2012 at 3:08 pm

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  40. Tu propia funda para tu kindle | El club del ebook says:

    April 24th, 2012 at 8:56 am

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  41. Stitching: A cover for my new iPad | divinenanny.nl says:

    April 27th, 2012 at 3:24 pm

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  42. A Little Sewing – Reader Cover | Vital Mommy says:

    May 11th, 2012 at 7:37 am

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  43. DIY kindle touch slip case | park house love says:

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  44. Christine @ Park House Love says:

    May 16th, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    Thanks so much for this awesome tutorial! I found this on Pinterest last month and pinned it, even though I don’t have a Kindle. Finally someone I know got one so I was able to make this for her, amending the measurements for her Kindle Touch. Turned out great!

  45. Kate says:

    July 5th, 2012 at 8:37 am

    I just made this! What great instructions. Really simple for a sewing beginner (after 30 years!) like me. Thanks for sharing it.

  46. Miscellany: Block Printing Fabric + a Kindle Cover - katiemama says:

    August 6th, 2012 at 12:23 am

    [...] Amidst working on this endless romper pattern I am fiddling with other things.  Block printing some linen to use for one of said rompers, for instance, and making a Kindle cover based on this nice tutorial at Charm Stitch. [...]

  47. Need your help – TIOT Projects « Romance on a Dime says:

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  48. devonlynne says:

    August 15th, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    Great tutorial! I’m a beginner sewer and this was by far the best Kindle cover tutorial I found.

  49. Connie says:

    August 24th, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Thank you for the tutorial. I made a cover for my Kindle then adjusted the sizes to make a cover for a friend’s ipad.

  50. Margot says:

    September 17th, 2012 at 10:31 am

    Thanks so much for this awesome tutorial! I’ll make one for my Kindle and Tablet. I loved it!
    hugs

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  55. Free Sewing Patterns: Bag Accessories | married to a bmw says:

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  56. Vicki says:

    February 2nd, 2013 at 2:20 pm

    Thank you very much for the pattern. I made mine with imitation suede, quilted and machine embroidered my initials on the front. Used felt for quilt batting. The measurements were perfect.