We are so excited to announce that both of Joelle Hoverson’s Last Minute Knitted Gifts books have become available in ebook form! Additionally the folks behind Joelle’s books, Open Road Media and STC Craft Melanie Falick Books, have released a whole library of great crafting books in the e-book format including:

• Knitalong by Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown
• Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen
• A Knitter’s Home Companion by Michelle Edwards
• Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick
• Knitspeak by Andrea Berman Price
• One More Skein by Leigh Radford

 

Check out Open Road Media’s behind-the-scenes interview with Joelle. Hear her insights on the culture and craft of knitting, and get inspired below:

 

In celebration of this e-book excitement we created a whole family of beautiful Felt Tech Cases for every kind of digital reader, notebook computer and phone! These two-toned cases are designed to custom fit the square or rectangular device of your choosing: iPhone, Droid, Kindle, you name it… Made with Wollfilz’s 1 mm Wool Felt, these cases are a breeze to make and joy to use! -Laura

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Materials

To make 1 Electronics Case (for device with sides measuring less than or equal to 8-inches)

• 1 18-inch square of Wollfilz’s 1mm Precut Wool Felt for the exterior of the case. I used colors Brick 22 and Salmon 19.
• 1 18-inch square of Wollfilz’s 1mm Precut Wool Felt for the interior of the case. I used colors Bright Pink 27 (with Brick) and Tomato 06 (with Salmon).
• 100 % Cotton Thread to match the exterior felt. I used 4850 to match Brick and 4860 to match Salmon.
• 1 pack of Riche’s Felt Buttons in Ecru (Optional). I used the small buttons on the Kindle Fire case and the Medium on the iPad case.
• 1 yard Purl Soho’s Cordel Cording in Natural (Optional).

To make 1 Electronics Case (for device with sides measuring measuring more than 8-inches)

• 3/4-yards of Wollfilz’s 1 mm Wool Felt Yardage for the exterior of the case. I used color Ochre 12. (If your device has two sides measuring more than 12 1/2-inches, buy 1 yard)
• 3/4-yards of  Wollfilz’s 1 mm Wool Felt Yardage for the exterior of the case. I used color Yellow 02. (If your device has two sides measuring more than 12 1/2-inches, buy 1 yard)
• 100 % Cotton Thread to match the exterior felt. I used color 1685.
• 1 pack of Riche’s Felt Buttons in Ecru (Optional). I used the small buttons on the Kindle Fire case and the Medium on the iPad case.
• 1 yard of Purl Soho’s Cordel Cording in Natural (Optional).

Pattern

Draw the Case Shape

If you are using felt by the square: draw a vertical line down the center of the square of felt. Next, draw a horizontal line across the center of the square.

If you are using felt by the yard: first, cut a square out of the 3/4 or 1-yard piece, then follow the instructions above. The square should be no smaller than (2 times the height + 2 times the thickness +1 1/2-inches) of the device.

Draw a rectangle the size of your device centered on the crosshairs. Below are the dimensions of a few popular devices. If your device is not listed below, simply visit the manufacturer’s website to find that information.

• Amazon Kindle: 6.5 x 4.5 x 0.34-inches
• Amazon Kindle Fire: 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.45-inches
• Apple iPhone 3GS: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48-inches
• Apple iPhone 4 /4S: 4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37-inches
• Apple iPad: 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.34-inches
• Barnes and Noble Nook: 8.1 x 5 x 0.48-inches
• Droid: 4.6 x 2.36 x .54-inches

When drawing the case, I rounded the device’s dimensions to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.

Draw a larger rectangle outside the original rectangle. The sides of the larger rectangle should be (the thickness of the device + 1/8-inch) away from the sides of the original rectangle.

• Amazon Kindle: 0.34 + 1/8 = (approx.) 1/2-inches
• Amazon Kindle Fire: 0.45 + 1/8 = (approx.) 1/2-inches
• Apple iPhone 3: 0.48 + 1/8 = (approx.) 5/8-inches
• Apple iPhone 4/4S: 0.37 + 1/8 = (approx.) 1/2-inches
• Apple iPad: 0.34 + 1/8 = (approx.) 1/2-inch
• Barnes and Noble Nook: 0.48 + 1/8 = (approx.) 5/8-inches
• Droid: 0.54 + 1/8 = (approx.) 5/8-inches

Extend the lines of the smaller rectangle so they meet the edge of the larger rectangle. This will create a square at each corner.

Make a dot along the vertical center line beyond the top and bottom of the large rectangle. This dot should be (1/2 the height of the device + 1/2-inch) from the large rectangle’s edges.

• Amazon Kindle: 1/2(6.5) +1/2 = 3 3/4-inches
• Amazon Kindle Fire: 1/2(7.5) +1/2 =  4 1/4-inches
• Apple iPhone 3: 1/2(4.5) +1/2 = 2 3/4-inches
• Apple iPhone 4 /4S: 1/2(4.5) +1/2 = 2 3/4-inches
• Apple iPad: 1/2(9.5) +1/2 = 5 1/4-inches
• Barnes and Noble Nook: 1/2(8.1) +1/2 = (approx.) 4 1/2-inches
• Droid: 1/2(4.6) +1/2 = (approx.) 2 7/8-inches

Make a dot along the horizontal centerling beyond the right and left side of the large rectangle. This dot should be (1/2 the width of the device + 1/2-inch) from the large rectangle’s edges.

• Amazon Kindle: 1/2(4.5) + 1/2-inch = 2 3/4-inches
• Amazon Kindle Fire: 1/2(4.7) + 1/2-inch = (approx.) 2 7/8-inches
• Apple iPhone 3: 1/2(2.4) + 1/2-inch = (approx.) 1 3/4-inchces
• Apple iPhone 4 /4S: 1/2(2.31) + 1/2-inch = (approx.) 1 5/8-inches
• Apple iPad: 1/2(7.31) + 1/2-inch = (approx.) 4 1/8-inches
• Barnes and Noble Nook: 1/2(5) + 1/2-inch = 3-inches
• Droid: 1/2(2.36) + 1/2-inch = (approx.) 1 5/8-inches

From the dot you just made, draw two lines back to the large rectangle. These lines should connect the dot and the line found between the centerline and the corners of each side, forming a triangle.

Cutting out the Felt

Cut along the outter most pencil markings. Then cut out the squares between the corners of the small and large rectangles.

Repeat the previous steps for the second color of felt. Or, use this freshly cut out piece as a template and trace it on to the second color of felt.

Pinning the Felt

Place the cut pieces of felt on top of one another, wrong sides (sides with the pencil markings) facing.

Sewing the Felt

Sew along the edges of the pinned felt peices with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

NOTE: If you want to do a button closure, skip down the the section below called Adding a Button Closure

Fold the Felt

Place the sewn felt on your work surface with the color you’d like for the inside of your case facing.

For smaller devices, like the iPhone and Droid, I enjoy the tucked closure. It provides a faster access.

Fold the right and left triangles towards the center, overlapping them 1/2 to 5/8-inches. (I prefer my case extra snug, so I overlapped them 5/8-inches). Hand sew where the felt overlaps. I hid my stitches along the line of machine stitching.

Next, fold the bottom triangle towards the center, tucking it under the right and left triangles. Secure the bottom triangle by hand sewing it to the right and left triangles. Once again, bring the tip of this triangle approximately 1/2 to 5/8-inches past the center. The corners of the  triangles will align once folded.

Add a Button Closure

Place the sewn felt on your work surface with the color you’d like for the outside of your case facing. With thread to match, sew the buttons approximately an inch shy of top and bottom points. The button should fit nicely just inside of the sewn line.

Make a slip knot with the cording.

Loop the slip knot around the top button and pull gently to tighten the knot.

Flip the felt piece over, button side down, inside felt facing.

Fold the right and left triangles towards the center, overlapping them 1/2 to 5/8-inches. Hand sew where the felt overlaps. I hid my stitches along the line of machine stitching.

Next, fold the bottom triangle towards the center. Bring the tip of this triangle approximately 1/2 to 5/8-inches past the center. The corners of the triangles will align once folded. Secure the bottom triangle by hand sewing it to the right and left triangles.

Slide your device in. Wrap the cord around the buttons, and you are ready to go!