How to Sew Covers for Kindle Readers: Free Project Instructions

Jan 25, 2011
Christine Mann

Sew Covers for Kindle Readers in about an Hour - Photo by Christine Mann

Sew protective Kindle cases and covers in about an hour and save a bundle! Complete step-by-step project instructions include photos and supply list.

This easy-to-sew kindle protector covers your Kindle reader securely while you’re not using it, and folds elegantly out of the way while you’re reading. It takes about an hour to make, and costs much less than buying a Kindle covers from Amazon.

Supply list for Sewing Covers for Kindle Readers

Rubbing alcohol and cotton ball or small rag for cleaning the Kindle back.
Two coordinating pieces of prewashed fabric, each measuring 13½”x 7¾” (33 x 20 cm).
A stiff, double-sided fusible interfacing. I used Pellon Peltex® 72F. Fast2fuse® is also good.
Stick-on loop tape, 5/8” wide (1.6 cm): two pieces 9” long (23 cm), and two pieces 2½” long (6.35 cm).
Sew-on hook tape, 5/8” wide (1.6 cm): two pieces 9” long (23 cm), two pieces 2½” long (6.35 cm)., and two pieces 2” long (5 cm.)
Sew-on loop tape, 5/8” wide: two pieces 2” long (5 cm).
All-purpose thread in a coordinating color. If your inside and outside fabrics are two different colors, choose the upper thread to match the inside fabric, and the bobbin thread to match the outside fabric.
Rotary cutter cutting ruler, and cutting mat.
Sewing machine with straight and zig-zag stitches.

Step by Step Instructions for Sewing Kindle Covers

The photos at the bottom of the page provide a visual guide to making Kindle protectors. Click on any photo to enlarge it. To make the Kindle Cover:

Look at the pattern in Photo 1. Start by drawing a rectangle 13½”x 7¾” (33 x 20 cm) on the fusible interfacing. To make the envelope-shaped flap shown in the pattern, mark two dots 1" from the corners of the long sides of the rectangle, then draw a curved line between the two points.
Cut out the interfacing along the drawn lines with a rotary cutter or with sharp scissors.
Once the interfacing is cut out, use it as a pattern for cutting the fabric. Trace around the interfacing and cut out one piece of inside fabric and one piece of outside fabric.
Fuse each fabric to one side of the interfacing, following the manufacturer’s instructions for fusing.
Set your sewing machine to a satin stitch (a zig-zag stitch with the stitch length set to zero). Stitch all around the outside of the cover. Use the same color thread in both the top and bobbin for this step.
Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch. Stitch two lines ¼” apart from the top to the bottom of the cover, as shown on the dotted red lines in Photo 1. This makes it easier to fold the interfacing around the Kindle. I stitched each line twice to make the fold more flexible.
Use the alcohol to clean the back of the Kindle, then stick four pieces of stick-on loop tape to the back side, as shown in Photo 2 below.
Using the loop tape affixed to the Kindle as a guide, use a wash-out pencil or fabric marker to mark the spots to sew the matching pieces of sew-on hook tape on the inside of the Kindle cover. See Photo 3 below.
Pin the hook tape into position as shown in Photo 4, then sew the tape to the cover.
Position the 2” piece of sew-on loop tape about ¼” from one edge of the inside cover, centering it vertically. Sew the tape to the cover. See the pattern in Photo 1 for a placement guide.
Put the Kindle inside the cover and fold the cover over the Kindle screen, as shown in Photo 5. Position the 2” piece of sew-on hook tape about 1- 1/8” from the left edge of the outside cover over the Kindle screen. Sew the tape onto the cover. See the pattern in Photo 1 for a placement guide.
To use the Kindle for reading, fold the short side of the cover back first, then fold the longer side back and press the hook and loop tape together. The cover will stay out of the way while you’re reading.

You have now made an inexpensive, personalized Kindle case to protect your reader wherever you take it.