Laptop Cover Tutorial
- 1). Measure your laptop's length, width and thickness with a ruler. Add 1 inch to the length to obtain measurement "A." Add one inch to the width to obtain measurement "B." Add 1/5 inch to the thickness to obtain measurement "C."
- 2). Draw two rectangles measuring "A" by "B" and one rectangle measuring "A" by "C" on the binder's board, using the ruler and a pencil. These pieces will form the top and bottom of your cover and the spine, respectively. Cut these pieces out with a utility knife, guiding the knife with the metal ruler.
- 3). Place the buckram on a flat, even surface. Arrange the three pieces of binder's board near the top-left corner of the buckram, placing the spine piece between the top and bottom pieces. Leave 2 inches of space between the top and left edges of the buckram and the top and left edges of the top piece. Leave a one-fifth inch gap between the spine piece and the top and bottom pieces.
- 4). Measure 2 inches from the right and bottom edges of the bottom piece. Draw two lines parallel to the edges at that distance on the buckram, using the grease pencil. Mark a dot at each corner of the three pieces of binder's board, then remove them.
- 5). Cut the buckram into a rectangle with scissors, following the lines you just drew. Cut off the four corners of this rectangle, leaving a space of 1/5 inch between the cuts and the dots marking the position of the binder's board pieces.
- 6). Apply some PVA glue to one side of the three pieces of binder's board using the brush. Arrange the buckram pieces, using the marks as a guide, and push down firmly.
- 7). Apply some PVA glue to the edges of the buckram and fold them onto the pieces of board, ensuring that they are as smooth and even as possible. Wipe off any excess glue using a paper towel. Place some heavy books on top of the cover and leave to dry for one to two hours.
- 8). Create two holes in the bottom of the cover using an awl. The holes should be 1 inch from the top-right corner and 1 inch from the bottom-right corner, respectively.
- 9). Thread a length of elastic ribbon through these holes, placing the two ends of the elastic on the inside of the cover.
- 10
Place the laptop on the cover and close it. Fold the elastic around to keep the cover closed. Adjust the tension of the elastic until it is comfortable to fold it around but is completely tight. Once you are satisfied with the tension, remove the laptop from the cover and glue the ends of the elastic to the inside of the cover using PVA glue. - 11
Cut four lengths of grosgrain ribbon using the scissors. Place your laptop upside down on a clean working surface. Slip a length of ribbon diagonally under each corner of the laptop. - 12
Place a piece of paper about half the size of the laptop on top of it. Bend the ends of the grosgrain ribbons backward, one corner at a time, and attach them to the paper with sticky tape. They will form the holders which will prevent your laptop from falling out of the case. - 13
Measure the partially finished cover and subtract 2/5 of an inch from both measurements. Draw a rectangle of the resulting height and width on liner paper and cut it. - 14
Cut four diagonal slits on the right side of the liner paper, using the holder loops as a guide. This will allow the holder loops to protrude from the liner paper. Thread the holder loops through the diagonal slits. - 15
Coat the unfinished edge of the cover with the PVA glue and attach the liner paper and holder loops to it. Ensure you smooth out the paper as much as possible. Push the paper into the spaces between the cover and the spine with the help of a bone folder. Wipe off any excess glue with a paper towel and leave to rest until fully dry.