DIY Felted Laptop Sleeve

Here’s my latest mantra: Gotta new laptop. Gotta protect it from the elements. Gotta figure out how to make something to cover it. Its gotta be cheap (and stylish), because who can afford a new laptop sleeve once you’ve emptied your pockets for such a beautiful computer specimen?

When I travel (even to the local coffee shop), I carry a laptop. It’s my traveling office companion. With my old laptop (that recently died, I would throw it into a tote bag. Not anymore. This could run the risk of a scratched up disaster.

What I do with my hands has two dimensions–the techie one that clicks away at the computer all day, and the craftster side that needs to create. This project honors both. The DIY thought process went something like this: I could knit a computer sleeve with some leftover yarn. I could buy some organic wool, whip up some felt and sew up a sleeve, or I could dig out the old wool sweaters I had collected for another DIY project and put them to good use. Bingo.

I am offering up this DIY project for your traveling office. You and your computer can travel in eco-style with this simple, free and amazingly light laptop sleeve.

DIY Felted Laptop Sleeve

What you need:

A wool sweater (use only 100% wool)
Scissors
Yarn
Tapestry or yarn needle
Pins
Washer/Dryer
Eco-Friendly washing detergent
Velco dots

What to do:

1. Wash the sweater in a washing machine in hot water with a small amount of detergent two or three times.
2. Place the sweater in a dryer and check the dryer often to see how it’s shrinking. I kept checking every 15 minutes until the width of the sweater was close to the width of the laptop. The material should have a tight fit (felted wool “gives” a little). The sweater will take on a thick, felt-like fabric. You can check if the sweater is ready by snipping the fabric. If it doesn’t fray, it is felted. Since felting wool varies depending upon the weight of the sweater and tightness of the weave, to obtain the correct laptop sleeve size it is important to check often. Also, computers come in different sizes.

3. Leaving the ribbed bottom of the sweater open, cut the sweater to fit the laptop. I cut mine under the armholes.

4. With a piece of yarn and the yarn needle, secure the two cut ends together using a blanket stitch.
5. Turn under and pin both sides of the ribbed end in for a finished look.
6. Sew in place.
7. The laptop sleeve can be left open or Velcro dots can be sewn in to close.
8. Take your laptop and its beautiful new sleeve out for a test drive. Send someone a travel e-card!

Ronnie Citron-Fink lives in New York with her husband, two children (when they come home to the nest), two dogs and a cat. Ronnie is a teacher and a writer. She has been a contributing writer for Family Fun magazine. She currently writes articles about education and home design. Her writings are in four books including Family Fun Home and Some Delights of the Hudson Valley.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

12:55AM PST on Mar 9, 2012

Thank you for the information

send a green star

Faith B.

12:33AM PST on Feb 28, 2012

Great article, thanks!

KS G.

2:41AM PDT on Mar 27, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Bon L.

5:18AM PST on Jan 5, 2011

Thanks for the info.

Merelen K.

11:30AM PST on Nov 11, 2010

This is a fantastic idea and it looks like yours turned out great! I've been checking out secondhand stores lately to get cheap yarn, and it's great to see other ways to reuse old clothes. :)

Robert O.

10:38AM PST on Nov 11, 2010

That's a good money saving idea that's a good eco-solution.

Ivana Y.

4:30PM PDT on Apr 16, 2010

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Stacy S.

8:57AM PDT on Jun 19, 2009

Repurposing your sweater is a great idea. I keep old sweaters and unravel them to knit up something completely new. They often lend to the project since the outside of the sweater has worn more than other parts, making for variegated yarn.

There are many ways to care for the environment. Power to those who are willing to be creative!

Ronnie C.

7:29AM PDT on Jun 19, 2009

Thanks for your comments thus far. I respect and appreciate all your thoughts about the expended energy from clothes dryers, organic wool, the treatment of animals and donating clothes to the needy. My intention for this project was to repurpose, reuse and find an “upcycled” and appealing solution that did not involve buying a new laptop sleeve.

This sweater was used because it had a big hole in the back of the sleeve and it did not fit anymore. In previous posts, I’ve discussed, and believe in the importance of donating used items. Organic wool was mentioned because I like to knit and considered knitting a laptop sleeve, but decided against spending the money. Organic wool claims not to be chemically treated throughout the whole production process – from farm to finished product. It claims to be free of pesticides, formaldehyde, polyester, foams, dioxin and other additives used in manufacturing wool for clothes and knitting. Also, chemical dyes used in wool production may include toxic heavy metals such as chrome, copper and zinc and sometimes known or suspected carcinogens. If you dry clothes in a dryer, a felted item can be thrown in with your other clothes. My clothes dryer is gas, not electric.

Hope some of you try this project; it was a really fun and beautiful solution for protecting a laptop.

Best,
Ronnie

Julie D.

6:52AM PDT on Jun 19, 2009

As soon as washing machines and dryers were mentioned I imagined just how much it must have cost in heating these appliances. I have also just purchased a new laptop and with it I puchased for only 10 euros a very nice cover which is nicely padded to stop any knocks spoiling it. I think my cover must have cost less for me and the environment.