Computer keyboard bag

March 10, 2021

Just before Christmas, one of my daughter's teacher asked her if I was still sewing and making bags, to which my daughter gave a positive answer. She then asked her if I could make a bag for her computer keyboard that she carries from one classroom to another. I agreed to it but told her she wouldn't have it until the New Year. I also asked for her brief and wishes and all I received was the dimensions of the keyboard. So this has been on my to-do list for a little while and I put it off for a while to, because 1) we were in lockdown with schools closed so there was no urgency 2) I didn't have a pattern so I knew I would have to make it up as I went along.

I finally got around to think about it and cut some pieces last month, once it was announced that schools will indeed reopen. This bag has been a lot about using my stash, I picked a faux vinyl in a neutral colour in my stash. For the lining, I had a leftover of IKEA fabric, no idea what I used it for. I had just changed my ironing board cover and there was some leftover thick foam that I pieced together to use in the bag.

The brief as I said was rather short with just a proposed dimension of 60x20cm. Based on that, I cut out a piece of faux leather about 25'' by 17'' and I took out a 1'' square on either side in the middle of the smaller sides to box the corners. I also assembled the lining to have a similar piece and attached the foam to it.

I started by adding the straps (also from my stash) to the exterior piece with hidden connectors.

I constructed the flap with 2 pieces about 4'' deep and attached it to the exterior panel before assembling the exterior bag.

I wasn't sure how to finish the bag but I knew I didn't want to have to pull it through an opening, it was just not going to work. So I folded the top of the lining back and decided to attach the bags together by top-stitching around the top of the bag. I messed it up really badly and it really looked like a dog's dinner. And to try to make it better (even though I knew that wouldn't work), I stitched around 2 or 3 times. Only to find it awful and spend so much ripping it all up.

Before I did, I realised that because the flap was so short, it probably wouldn't keep shut that easily so I decided to add a strap to the top and a piece to the flap to thread through the strap.

I tried again attaching both bags together, working more slowly and carefully and working with the entire bag inside out, stitching on the faux leather side. And even though it is far from perfect, I am really happy it is finished, and it has turned out quite nicely, if I can say so myself. My daughter took it to school today and I promptly received a very nice email from the teacher who really likes it :-)