Knitted Basketweave Laptop Sleeve

Instructions

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1. 1Cast on and top bandCast on 66 sts: 64 pattern stitches and 1 edge stitch on each side. Work 6 rows of garter stitch (knit every row). This band becomes the top edge of the front of the sleeve.
2. 2BasketweaveThe edge stitches are knitted on every row. Rows 1-6: k1, *k4, p4* x8, k1. Rows 7-12: k1, *p4, k4* x8, k1. Work this 12-row pattern 10 times in total (120 rows, about 46 cm). Because the 8 repeats are symmetrical, the same row instructions are correct on both right- and wrong-side rows, and the small squares line up like a checkerboard.
3. 3FlapWork 24 rows of garter stitch (about 6.5 cm). On row 18 make a buttonhole: k31, bind off 4 sts, knit to end (31 sts after the bind-off, counting the stitch left on the right needle). On row 19, cast on 4 sts onto the right needle when you reach the gap (66). Work the remaining rows and bind off loosely.
4. 4Folding and side seamsFold the piece in half so the cast-on edge meets the start of the flap (the first garter row of the flap); the front and back are now about 24 cm each. Sew the two side edges from the bottom to the top with mattress stitch through the edge stitches. The flap is a continuation of the back and folds over the front.
5. 5ButtonFold the flap down and mark with a pin where the buttonhole falls; this should be about 3 cm below the top edge of the front. Sew the button on firmly with matching yarn, leaving a small thread shank behind it so it buttons easily through the thick knit.
6. 6FinishingWeave the ends into the seams. Dampen the sleeve with lukewarm water and let it dry with a piece of cardboard the size of your laptop inside; the basketweave squares will even out. To protect the device from scratches, hand-sew a lining or thin felt around the edges.