Easily Embellish Techie Device Cases
When developing the Sewing With Nancy series on how to create covers for electronic tablets or low-tech paper tablets, it was exciting to see how a small amount of stitching or a creative use of fabric could create a stylish cover. The first of the two-part series, Sew Techie Covers, demonstrates how simple embellishments can transform the practical device covers. Watch the episode online.
In this first episode you’ll learn these three easy stitching techniques:
- E-appliqué tips
- How to Stitch Techie Circles
- Undercover Stitching accents
Choose a Tablet Keeper Template
To create these functional, yet fashionable tablet covers, use Clover’s E-Tablet & Paper Tablet Keeper Templates. There are two template offerings. Why you may ask? Good question: After designing and bringing the first template to market, more electronic tablets with different sizes were introduced. So, a second tablet keeper was needed.
Select the original Clover’s Trace ‘n Create Tablet Keeper Template for an iPad, iPad Mini, or the original Kindle. (There are more tablets that fit the original Tablet Keeper.) Click here to view the original Tablet Keeper Template device listing.
Select the newer Tablet Keeper, Trace ‘n Create Tablet Keeper Template 2.0, for the Kindle Fire, Nook, and many more. Click here to view the Tablet Keeper 2.0 device listing. If you don’t see your tablet listed, email us at [email protected] and we’ll add your electronic device to the listings.
Undercover Stitching Showcase
I know that not all of you clicked to watch the video . . . sigh. To give you an idea of what you may be missing, here are the highlights of one of the three easy stitching techniques, Undercover Stitching (otherwise known as bobbin work).
- Wind 6- or 12-weight thread in a bobbin, using conventional bobbin winding techniques. I selected Madeira’s Decora 6 wt. thread. Note: If your machine has difficulty winding heavier thread, wind the thread by hand. Thread the needle with all-purpose thread.
- Insert the bobbin into the bobbin case.
- Back the fabric with interfacing, and add a second stabilizer and length of interfacing in the stitching area. Then, mark the stitching line on the wrong side of the fabric.
- Choose a non-satin, decorative stitch. An outline or open stitch is best suited for bobbin work. Lengthen the stitch for best results. Test the stitch on sample fabric.
- Check the look of the stitch on the right side. My test stitch had a few hiccups! So, I adjusted the settings, lengthening the stitch. It doesn’t always go perfectly for me either!
- Helpful Hint! Some machines handle heavier thread in the bobbin if you bypass the bobbin case tension. In short, don’t pass the thread through the bobbin case tension guide.
- Also, test a variety of stitch settings, lengthening/shortening or narrowing/widening the stitch length and/or width. A straight stitch is also ideal! A narrower stitch width setting was used for the strap.
Watch Sew Techie Covers (Part One) on Sewing With Nancy online.
To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.
A book with 12 Sew Techie Cover Ideas
The Undercover Stitching idea is just one of 12 techniques found in Sew Techie Covers! Check out all the options!
The random winner of the Ultimate Serger Technique Workbook is Barb Steinmetz. Her comment was: I just bought the Evolution at Sewing Weekend and want to learn how to work with decorative threads and the wave stitch.
Bye for now,
Sandra Chavez
I just purchased a new tablet device. I am looking forward to creating a Techie Cover with decorative bobbin stitching to showcase some of the beautiful threads I have in my stash.
jacki
I would love to try this – thanks for the giveaway !!!
Caroline S
Wow, so cool looking! I love varigated thread…
Robin
I love the variegated thread example and wonder what other techniques are in the book. These would make great gifts for my techie adult children!
Sue
I love this site. I used your tapes and teaching techniques when I was teaching. Now that I am retired, I apply many of your suggestions to my own sewing,
Kathleen Duncan
I have never tried the heavier thread in the bobbin. That looks like it could be a lot of fun experimenting with. The possibilities are endless!
Lorraine
I am a “BLING” girl…sequins and beads on the outside cover!! HUMM might be a great place for embroidery (hand/machine) or how about bringing out that tucked away Be-dazzler. So many possibilities. This tablet cover is a blank slate!
Linda Morales
I have a kindle,but my grandkids have tablets and anything new out there and I’d love to be able to make these as gifts….homemade is always much nicer. Looks stylish and hopefully easy!Thanks for all the great ideas,just love it.
Sharon Kirby
Love these embellishments. I have an embroidery machine and would also embellish with embroidered motifs.
Nancy
I like a 2 or 3 letter monogram on the cover.
Stella
I’ve been wanting this for a while, so winning would be sweet. I think a combination of an appliqué along with the bobbin work would give a really unique look.
Iola Turner
Being a large re by family, I see a lot of Christmas presents to be made and this would definitely help
Tina J.
A fabric cover might make the tablet easier to hold while reading in bed! I’d like that. 🙂
Diana G.
Now those would be excellent Christmas/Birthday gifts! Thanks for the chance to win
Pati Akers
I have wanted to make a cover for some time and now I’m so inspired!! I always thought it was more intricate to create but this looks easy and simple. Love the idea it can be personalized for gift giving!
Starla
The decorative thread really sets this apart. Yet another thing I want to try making…
Diane S.
I could see a lovely embroidered flower on the front with initials in the lower right corner.
Karen B
Love the techniques and any form of embellishments.
Carol-Lynn VanNorman
This Techie Bag information is so timely because my daughter just asked me to make a cover for her iPad. Thanks Nancy for always being on top of what’s new.
Elizabeth Mancini
I just got my mini-ipad and am still learning to use it. I would love to learn to make covers for it
beth d.
I would create a crochet stitch at the bottom of the tab. I could make the stitch with my serger with decorative thread then zigzag it in place.
Anne
I think I might do some machine embroidery — maybe with mylar — to decorate my techie cover.
Jan N.
I would do thread painting along with some applique and depending on the design, add some hot fix crystals to bling it out a bit.
Roberta
The embellishments I would like to see are Mylar, 3d embroidery designs and decorative holder for the stylus.
allen king
I would embellish the cover with some masculine embroidery and add a removable shoulder/cross body strap to make it easy to tote everywhere. I think a few pockets inside and out would add to my tablet’s versatility.
Christina Gonzalez
I would utilize many of the floral and feminine stitches on my sewing machine. I can’t wait to make some new iPad mini tablet covers and protection. Love to learn new techniques and have the chance to win this fabulous prize.
Linda
I would love to make a variegated thread leaf design or a wheat motif.
Diane C
I want to make a cover for my new Ipad. I think I would like to monogram it so every one would know it is mine (LOL)
Robin T
I would love an interior pocket and I’m ready to make a cover!
Marty
I’d like to incorporate monograms or use a design repeating the owner’s first initial.
Judy Jones
As I am a quilter as well as a sewer, I would embellish with perhaps a row or two of paper- pieced flying geese flying up the edge of a new tablet keeper……jj
Cyndi
What a great idea! We can co-ordinate our covers with our purses, luggage and/or our carriers for class! Thank you for the giveaway.
Patty
I need to make a techy cover for my husband’s tablet, especially for when he is traveling out of town. Definitely need to protect it! I’d also like to incorporate a pocket in it to store the charger/power cord!
Pat
The techie covers are wonderful. Lots of great ideas. Thanks so much!
Martha D
Looking forward to trying the bobbin design, your tutorial was inspirational as always & easy to follow.
patricia crocker
I would like to monogram any that I make for gifts. also could embroider their interests. Thanks for the giveaway and charging my creativeness.
Jean D
Took a class on bobbin work just today (had several hiccups, too!!) but found it really fun and sew pretty, especially using variegated thread. Thanks, Nancy, again for another great lesson. …Would love to win 😉
Renea
I would like to make a cover for my Nook. Not sure what I would put on the cover. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
Hope Wasylenki
I like to add a V shaped overlay that is stitched down using a fancy stitch. Sometimes I embellish that with ribbon or jumbo ric-rac. Thanks for some new ideas. I have the original tablet Trace n Create, but will be looking for the new set since I now have a bigger tablet.
Pam Tuttle
i would have my grandkids help by picking out their favorite fabric and then place their name on the inside in an embroidery font. This way they could recognize it easily from the outside. And since kids have a way of misplacing items, with their name on it it could be returned to them.
Gerry
I want to get into decorative stitching and would love to learn the bobbin technique.
Gail Beam
I would love to try the decorative bobbin stitch technique, as it looks like an awesome addition to any project. I think it would be great to have a tablet cover to match a piece of luggage or a purse. A cross body strap that could be attached or unattached could be useful.
Mary Ellen
I would like to use metallic thread and complimentary variegated thread using my decorative stitches that my machine has. Gotta have glitz and glam to add sparkle to life.
Sherie
What great information. I have wanted to make Techi Covers for my kids and grandkids devices. I was thinking of appliques motifs but using decorative stitching would be a great option.
Joanie Molnar
This is part of my planned summer sewing. I really like the way this new iPad cover looks. I’ll have to get some new, thicker thread for use in the bobbin, hopefully I can find thread in my favorite color. Can’t wait to get started!
Eleanor Gibson
The nice thing about the cover is that I know which end is up.
Eleanor Gibson
The nice thing about the cover is that I that I know which end is up.
eginter
Love the tablet cover, and that I can do my own!! Thanks for keeping me inspried. I have sewen for about 60 yrs. And intend to keep on! Only problem is I do not have enough time to do everything I want to do,not enough hrs or days in my week!! Thanks
Vicki B.
I’d like to add a monogram as part of the unique design.
Marilyn
I would like to maybe make one with small fabric scraps in a stitched decoupage style. The books looks like fun.