Folio-style covers are a popular option for many 6” e-readers but they don’t allow you to store your e-reader’s cable with the e-reader. In this tutorial I show you how to sew a zippered e-reader case for 6” e-readers that has a zippered pocket for your cable.

This Sewn By Tanya project is for personal use only.

This zippered e-reader case is 13 cm wide by 18 cm tall by 1.5 cm deep (5.1” wide by 7.1” tall by 0.6” deep) and 20 cm (8”) on the diagonal. It will fit most 6” e-readers and some 7”-8” tablets. The long zipper on the main pocket opens the top and side of the case for ease of use. The accessory pocket is the full width and depth of the case and has a full-width zipper. It can hold a variety of flat objects like a charging cable, a stylus, pen and paper. Fusible fleece provides exterior padding to protect your device and an extra layer of padding between the main compartment and the pocket prevents objects in the accessory pocket from scratching your device.

This is an intermediate project. Techniques include working with zippers and working with bias tape.

Materials:

This project is fat-quarter friendly. You will need the following:

• Exterior fabric: 20 x 40 cm (8” x 16”) 100% quilting weight cotton (you’ll need more if fussy cutting)
• Interior fabric: 40 x 40 cm (16” x 16”) 100% quilting weight cotton (you’ll need more if making your own bias tape)
• Fusible Interfacing: 20 x 40 cm (8” x 16”)
• Fusible fleece: 40 x 40 cm (16” x 16”)
• 1/4” wide double-fold bias tape: ~130 cm (51”)
• 1- 18 cm (7”) long #5 zipper
• 1- 35 cm (14”) long #5 zipper

Tools:

• fabric marking pens/chalks
• scissors or rotary cutter
• ruler
• iron & ironing board
• sewing machine

Seam allowance: 0.6 cm (1/4”) unless otherwise stated.

Step 1 Cut materials

From the Exterior fabric cut:

• 1 Front Top 14 cm x 5.7 cm (5.5” x 2.8”),
• 1 Front Bottom 14 cm x 13.5 cm (5.5” x 5.3”),
• 1 Back 14 cm x 19 cm (5.5″ x 7.5″) and
• 1 Side 30 cm x 3.5 cm (12” x 1.4”).

From the Interior fabric cut:

• 1 Front Top 14 cm x 5.7 cm (5.5” x 2.8”),
• 1 Front Bottom 14 cm x 13.5 cm (5.5” x 5.3”),
• 3 Backs 4 cm x 19 cm (5.5″ x 7.5″)and
• 1 Side 30 cm x 3.5 cm (12” x 1.4”).

From the Fusible Interfacing cut:

• 1 Front Top 14 cm x 5.7 cm (5.5” x 2.8”),
• 1 Front Bottom14 cm x 13.5 cm (5.5” x 5.3”),
• 1 Back 14 cm x 19 cm (5.5″ x 7.5″) and
• 1 Side 30 cm x 3.5 cm (12” x 1.4”).

From the Fusible Fleece cut:

• 1 Front Top 12.8 cm x 4.5 cm (5.0” x 1.7”),
• 1 Front Bottom12.8 cm x 12.3 cm (5.0” x 4.8”),
• 3 Backs 12.8 cm x 17.8 cm (5.0” x 7.0”) and
• 1 Side 30 cm x 3.5 cm (12” x 1.4”).

*The fusible fleece pieces are smaller to avoid bulk in the seams.

Match like pieces together and you will have:

• Front Top 14cm x 5.7 cm (5.5” x 2.8”): 1 exterior, 1 interior, 1 interfacing, 1 fusible fleece
• Front Bottom 14 cm x 13.5 cm (5.5” x 5.3”): 1 exterior, 1 interior, 1 interfacing, 1 fusible fleece
• Back 14 cm x 19 cm (5.5″ x 7.5″): 1 exterior, 3 interiors, 1 interfacing, 3 fusible fleece
• Side 30 cm x 3.5 cm (12” x 1.4”): 1 exterior, 1 interior, 1 interfacing, 1 fusible fleece

 

Round all four corners of the Back pieces, the top 2 corners of the Front Top pieces and the bottom 2 corners of the Front Bottom pieces. For best results, use the same curve on all the corners. I traced around a 3.4 cm diameter circle for my curves.

Repeat for the interiors, fusible interfacing and fusible fleece.

Step 2 Apply Fusibles

Fuse the interfacing to the wrong sides of the exterior pieces and fuse the fusible fleece to the wrong sides of the interior pieces. Centre the fusible fleece in the middle of the Interior pieces.

Step 3 Sew Pocket Zipper

Take your 18 cm (7”) zipper and zigzag over the teeth near the end with the metal zipper stop then either remove the metal zipper stop or cut off the end of the zipper with the metal zipper stop.

Place your Front Top Exterior face up on your workspace then place your short zipper along its straight edge with the zipper teeth facing down. The zipper pull will be on the left-hand side of the Front Top Exterior when the zipper is closed (for righthanded zipper placement) and the Front Top Exterior and zipper tape with be right-sides-together.

Place your Front Top Interior face down on the zipper. The right-side of the Front Top Interior will face the wrong-side of the zipper tape.

Pin and then sew through all three layers with a 9 mm (3/8”) seam allowance. A zipper foot or narrow zipper foot may make this easier. Note my zipper tape is 35 mm wide. If your’s is narrower, you may wish to use a narrower seam allowance (eg 6 mm (1/4”)).

Press the fabric layers away from the zipper tape and top stitch 3 mm (1/8”) from the edge of the fabric.

Repeat for the Front Bottom Exterior and Front Bottom Interior.

Slide the zipper pull to the middle of the Front panel. Zigzag over the end of the zipper near the edge of the Front Panel then cut off the excess zipper.

Step 4 Sew Back Panels

Place 1 Back Interior piece face down on your workspace. Place a second Back Interior piece faceup on top of it (wrong-sides together) and place the Front Zipper panel on top of that with the Exterior facing up (interiors together).

Pin and baste the perimeter through all layers.

Place the Back Exterior piece face down on your workspace. Place the third Back Interior piece face up on top of it (wrong sides together).

Pin and baste through both layers.

Step 5 Sew Main Zipper

Note my zipper tape is 34 mm wide. If your’s is narrow, trim your Side Pieces to match the width of your zipper tape. Take your 35 cm (14”) long zipper and zigzag over the teeth near the end with the metal zipper stop then either remove the metal zipper stop or cut off the end of the zipper with the metal zipper stop. Measure 34 cm along the zipper and zigzag over the teeth, cutting off any excess zipper.

Place the Side Exterior face up on your workspace, place your long zipper face down on top of it (right-sides together) and the place the Side Interior face down on top it that. Align the short edges of each piece, then pin and sew through all three layers.

Fold the fabric away from the zipper tape along the seam you just sewed, press then topstitch 3 mm (1/8”) from the edge of the fabric.

Repeat for the other short end.

Baste the Exterior Side and Interior Side fabrics together along the long edges.

Step 6 Assemble Panels

Open the main zipper most of the way. Pin the Side Panel to the Front Panel, exteriors together. Align the closed end of the main zipper at the pocket zipper on the lefthand side and then going along the top and down the righthand side (for right-handed zipper placement). Ease the length of the Side Panel around the corners, evenly distributing any excess length into the four corners. Sew with a 6 mm (1/4”) seam allowance.

Open your bias tape and fold the short end over by ~ 1.2 cm (~1/2”). Pin the bias tape to the Side Panel’s seam allowance near the bottom of the e-reader case starting with the folded end. If your bias tape has a narrower fold, that’s the edge to pin.

Sew the bias tape to the perimeter of the Side Panel along the first fold line in the bias tape. Ease the bias tape around the corners. The cut end of your bias tape will overlap the folded end.

Fold the bias tape in half and then over the raw edges of the Top Panel. Sew close to the folded edge of the bias tape, sewing carefully to avoid sewing through your zipper.

Repeat for the Back Panel.

Turn your 6” zippered e-reader case right side out.

That’s it! Your 6” zippered e-reader case is ready for use.

Here are some photos of my finished zippered e-reader case:

Conclusion

My 6” e-reader and it’s cable fit great in this 6” zippered e-reader case. There’s even room for a few other small items. It’s effortless to access my device with the long main zipper. When I need my e-reader cable I know exactly where it is. Additionally I can toss my e-reader into any bag, purse, or backpack without the fear of the screen being damaged.

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Tanya

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