CraftSanity On TV: Easy Fleece iPad Cozy Tutorial

After a couple weeks of watching my husband, Jeff Haywood, transporting his new iPad around in a recycled bubble wrap envelope, it was high time for a crafty intervention.

The iPad is a slick device designed to make consuming electronic media an easy and enjoyable experience, so I decided to sew a simple and soft fleece cozy to make the device a little more inviting. (I made a turquoise cozy for blog purposes, but my husband’s will be made of black fleece.)

Here’s what you need:
• 1/2 yard fleece in color of your choice.
• 8 1/2 by 10-inch rectangle of thick interfacing (I used Pellon Peltex 70 Ultra Firm Stabilizer.)
• Thread to match your fabric
• iPad cozy frame template (Download here)
• Rotary cutter with pinking blade or pinking shears

Step 1: Cut out the paper template and trace it onto the interfacing with a pencil. Cut out the front frame shape. Remember to cut a small circle for access to the home button. (Note: The home button will be covered by fleece, but the hole in the interfacing prevents the cozy from interfering with iPad function.)

Step 2: Pin the interfacing frame to the back of 9″x10″ piece of fleece fabric. With the interfacing side up, stitch around inner and outer edge of the frame. Use the pinking shears or rotary cutter, trim the excess fabric around the frame. To create the inner flap over the screen, cut down the sides of the fabric inside the frame and across the bottom. DO NOT cut across the top.

Step 3: Cut a 9″ x 30″ piece of fleece for the iPad cozy. Pin the frame you just stitched to the top front of the fabric with the fleece side facing up. Sew the frame to the cozy tracing the same stitch lines you made when you covered the frame. Cut out the inner rectangle, and add it to your scrap pile.

Step 4: Fold the fabric into a pouch by folding the fleece strip behind just below the frame. Pin and stitch pouch from top to bottom on each side of the frame to create the sleeve to insert the iPad. Fold the top flap down to cover the frame. Trim excess fabric from the sides with a rotary cutter or pinking shears.

Step 5: Insert iPad and tuck the inner frame flap over the top and behind the device. Fold the larger flap into quarters at the top of the cozy to elevate the top of the device. (See video from today’s “Take Five” segment on WZZM Channel 13.  below.) Now you’re ready to surf the web in cozy comfort.

Note: This cozy is not meant for intense transporting of the iPad, but more for leisure home use. I’m still working on a manly bag design for my husband. And, yes, my prototype will probably be turquoise. :  )

Let me know of you have any questions. Enjoy!