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Have a great idea brewing in your head? Acer is ready to help you make your idea into a reality! You can enter Acer’s Seize the Idea contest by sharing what you would do with the Acer Idea Kit. If you can dream it or design it, Acer wants to help you to DO it!
I’ve been dreaming of bold Scandinavian colors and simple, modern designs. I browsed old family photos, Swedish design books and a favorite design blog. Here’s what I came up with – a cover for this sleek Acer Aspire Switch 11 tablet and notebook in one.
Want to make your own? Here’s a supply list to get you started-
- 3mm 100% wool felt 18-in square
- assorted colors 100% wool felt sheets
- felting needles (course and fine)
- felting pad
- embroidery floss
- large button
- scissors, ruler and pins
- sewing machine
- favorite motifs, designs or patterns
Instructions
1. Measure your device length, width and depth. Add 1/2 inch seam allowance on the length and width. The Aspire Switch 11 is 11.7 x 7.6 x .4 inches.
2. Cut 1 back piece with a fold-over flap (9 in wide + 17.5 inches long) and cut 1 front piece (9 in wide x 12.5 in long).
3. Cut out your favorite designs, motifs or patterns in a variety of colors and lay out on back piece. I chose some modern flowers and love birds for mine.
4. Using the felting needle and foam block, felt the colored pieces onto the back cover piece. Felting is a process of blending the fibers of wool together. By repeatedly poking the layers of wool with a barbed felting needle, the layers are melded together. Sheets of felt are made from wool roving that has been felted or texturized until it becomes stiff. The more you poke or felt the layers, the stiffer and more tightly fused together they become. You might notice the tiny holes left by the needles. Use a course needle to start adhering the large layers together. Finish with a fine needle to create a smooth look or when working on small details. You may notice the colors of your pieces will show through on the back of your cover piece. This is to be expected.
5. Pin the top to the back of the cover and straight stitch around the edge using a 1/8-inch seam allowance. I rounded my corners before stitching. I was going for a very tight fitting cover so the device wouldn’t slide out. You may want to increase your seam allowance or cut your pattern bigger if you’d like to have a looser fit. Alternatively, you could use embroidery floss and a blanket stitch to hold the cover pieces together.
6. Finally, I auditioned several large buttons from our family button collection. My son wanted a pink flower button and it fit with the look of the cover. Measure your flap with the device inside so you get an accurate placement for the button. I pinned the center mark from the edge of the flap and the matching point on the case. Using a full strand of contrasting turquoise embroidery floss, I stitched the button on the case. Be sure to wrap the thread around the shank of the button several times to give it some lift. Measure the diameter of your button and cut your button hole approximately 75% of your button width. The button will slide through the opening without coming undone unexpectedly.
ENTER TO WIN!
Want to make your dreams a reality? You can enter to win your own Acer Idea Kit on Acer’s Seize the Idea Contest Site. The contest is open through February 28, 2015 11:59:59 PST. Share your dream!
Disclosure: Acer kick started my inspiration by providing me with an Aspire Switch 11 device, a tablet and a notebook all in one. It’s sleek and lightweight and practically does back flips. The project idea and opinions are all my own.
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