Dee Dee's The Winner and My Tutorial!

Thanks to all who voted for me in the Blissfull ATC Swap Holder Contest!  Sadly, I didn't win.  Aww.  Seriously, I am happy for the winner, Dee Dee!  Her holder turned out great!  Actually, we are all winners because we now have fantastic holders for our cards!  I plan on receiving a lot of ATCs because I plan on making and giving a lot of them!  So, I AM A WINNER!  And dog-gon-it, people like me!

Now, on to my computer keyboard wrist rest and the tutorial.  First, thanks to the ladies at work.  They work really hard to make me look good and I think they are definately underappreciated!  They type the letters off their keyboards and I'm sure will all be sporting those lovely carpul tunnel braces as they all get closer to their retirements!  In the meantime, thanks gals for your feedback and suggestions!  I appreciate them all!  So, let's get going already! 

Sew Loquacious Keyboard Wrist Rest Tutorial

Materials:

2      20" X 4" Inner Fabric Pieces

1      20.5" X 8.5" Outer Fabric Piece

1      22" Coordinating Zipper

Long Grain Rice

Scented Oil (optional)

Funnel
Coordinating Thread

Sewing Staples: Machine (hello), marking tools (chalk, etc), zipper foot, rotary cutter/mat or scissors, measuring tool

The Inside Story

1. Start with your inside fabric choice cut two pieces to 20" (or whatever the length of your computer keyboard) X 4"

2. Align the raw edges and pin together.

3. Measure and mark at 6 1/2" and at 13". You will be sewing vertically on these lines so you will have 3 sections.

4. Sew the two pieces together along the sides and bottom. For the top, you will sew and stop, leaving about a half an inch space in each of the 3 sections.

5. You will pour your rice into the three "holes" you've left open. After filling each section, sew closed. TIP: Don't actually FILL each section with rice. Leave enough space inside so the rice actually moves around a bit. Also, if you want your rice scented, pour your rice in a large baggie and shake a drop or two of scented oil inside the bag.  Then shake it!

The Outside

1. Lay your outside fabric rightside down and place your zipper facedown on top of it.

2. Pin the zipper to the fabric and sew it together using a zipper foot.

3. Turn it over and press. Now topstitch the fabric and zipper on the right side. (I'm not a big fan of this step, but it actually helps secure the zipper).

4. Repeat these steps (except #3) with the other long end of the fabric. Here I actually folded over about a half an inch extra fabric so that the zipper would be "hidden" or covered by fabric when completed.

5. Now make sure everything is straight and cut the zipper ends so it is even with the fabric on both short sides.

6. Open your zipper halfway and sew both short sides. If you have a label, this is when and where you would attach.

7. Trim and turn rightside out.

8. If you gave yourself extra fabric, you will now be able to fold over this excess and press it over your zipper. This is completely optional and only necessary if you don't want to see the zipper.

That's it. Now just place your 3 section rice pouch inside, zip it up and you are finished. The rice pouch can be placed in the freezer or microwave. Obviously the outside can be washed.

VOILA!

Please let me know if you make a keyboard wrist rest!  I'd love to see your photos!

Toodles for now!