My Beautiful Tablet Keeper


Thank you for stopping by to see my version of Nancy Zieman’s Tablet Keeper project!  I’m sooooo “over the moon” with stars in my eyes about getting to be a part of this blog tour!

Yes, I’m gushing.  - Let us pause for a moment of silence while I calm down so I can show you what I made!!!!!……

……Ok, I’m calm.  Here’s a photo showing the fabric I chose on a recent field trip to High Fashion Fabrics with friend, Stacie D.

I’m really loving the accent hardware:   Satin Bronze Rectangle Ring from Clover!

I’m glad Nancy designed these to use a velcro closure for easy access.  Her Tablet Keeper templates also include instructions and placement for optional magnetic snap closure.

These templates can be modified to hold regular paper tablets or things like Nooks, Kindles, etc. The suggested supplies include some stiff plastic inserts called “shapers” that really provide extra protection for your electronics.

Being that I presently have none of these awesome electronic toys, I chose to modify my paper tablet keeper so it could hold my planning calendar etc.

Take a look at the following photos to see what I mean….

Here is a look at the inside view of my Tablet Keeper... Can you tell what I changed?

Instead of sticking to the original instructions, I decided to make my right hand pocket a vertical one.

Nancy wisely designed the left hand side of the Paper Tablet Keepers with a horizontal pocket for storing miscellaneous papers or a note pad.

I like her clever little corner pocket to keep pens and/or note cards handy, too.

Once the pockets and other features to the Tablet Keeper are completed, the very last step is to bind the raw edges.

Be forewarned, in the image below, I’m showing a shamelessly huge photo of my binding because, I’m just so hippity-hop happy with how it turned out.  (Note:  ”Hippity-hop happy” is an extra special kind of happy that is most often seen in little kids, at the grocery store, in the candy isle.)

In her blog tutorial, Nancy said:  ”Use your favorite method to bind your Tablet Keeper.”    Sooo, I did.

First, I made custom binding and joined it together to make one long strip.

Then, I used an “unconventional method” to make easy work of getting my corners to beautifully miter without having to go back and hand sew the miter closed.  I recently showed this technique to a dear friend of mine who’s been quilting for several years now, and who keeps up with all the latest tips and tricks.  She had never seen this method before and agreed it’s a very cool way to get the job done.

Ta Da!

If you’re curious about this “unconventional mitering method”, I encourage you to check out my free 3 part video tutorial demonstrating the steps to make your own custom binding (on the straight of the grain) and how to make these mitered corners.  In the video, I’m demonstrating the technique on place mats, but the method I demo easily applies to the Tablet Keeper and any other bound project as well.

If you already know how to make custom binding, you may want to skip ahead to parts 2 & 3 of my tutorial.  Here’s the link:  Place Mat Luv/Mitered Binding

Well, we’re all done for now, except, be sure to click on the link below to enter the Clover prize drawing!

Note:  Clover has provided three prize packages for readers (valued at $135) for a February 1 Giveaway. Readers must post comments at the following link to qualify for the giveaway:  Nancy Give-Away Contest Link

Click the Image to go to Nancy's Give-Away

Thanks for reading!

If you’d like to be among the first to know when we post our latest sewing, serging, and/or machine embroidery tutorials, designs freebies and prize give-aways, please take a moment to sign up to follow our blog via email on the right hand menu.

And, if you’d like to attend one of our upcoming classes or events, please click the following link to find out more:  HSC Events & Classes

Have a beautiful day!

Let’s Get Sewing!

Jenny Gabriel – alter ego:  StitchinJenny

About Jenny Gabriel

Jenny Gabriel of StitchinJenny.com is a home school mother of 2 who is also an independent sewing, serging, and machine embroidery instructor. Students of all ages and skill levels love her patient and affirming teaching style. Passionate for sewing since 1997, she began teaching in 2006 and offers local classes, in-home private lessons, and a combination of online videos, tutorials and projects. Jenny is dedicated to providing the beginner to the advanced sewer with quality sewing instruction and inspiration. Jenny has recently launched a non-profit sewing program at Freedom Place, a safe haven for victims of domestic child sex trafficking. As a volunteer at Freedom Place, Jenny gets to combine her love of sewing with her heart for kids. Please visit her blog to see how you can help provide sewing machines and fabrics for these precious girls.
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15 Responses to My Beautiful Tablet Keeper

  1. Grace says:

    Very nicely done. Love your binding technique, and going to try it on a project myself.

  2. Rosie says:

    Love your tablet keeper! Also the binding tip. I’ll certainly try it.

  3. Tamsyn says:

    BEAUTIFUL is right! Fantastic tablet keeper.

  4. BetsyC says:

    Wonderful tablet keeper! Thanks for sharing your project and your great tips on binding and mitered corners.

  5. Marla K says:

    Love the tablet keeper! Awesome fabric. I am anxious to try a new method for binding. Thanks for sharing this.

  6. Linda L. Davis says:

    Thank you for demonstrating a different way to use the templates. I love your choice of fabrics and the binding.

  7. stacie says:

    It turned out fantastic…and should match a lovely Amy Butler Tunic if I recall correctly… :-)

    • LOL! That tunic is STILL waiting to become a reality…. But, I’ve finally got some plans for my “fabric of shame”. (The bolt of cute birdie fabric that I bought and have yet to use….)

  8. Judy B says:

    Your design is an inspiration to all of us, thanks for sharing!!!

  9. Christine says:

    OMG I will never do binding any other way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. Carla says:

    Can’t wait to try your binding, thank you for sharing the technique.

  11. Pingback: Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess » Blog Archive » Nancy Zieman Tablet Keeper Blog Tour Day 18

  12. gloriawr says:

    Thank you for the very practical project. I’m s novice at binding so I’ll watch that before I start.

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