To protect your new tablet or android phone nothing is better than a stylish leather case.

You only need two leather pieces, a sewing machine, and a few spare time to dedicate to it.

Step 1: Sewing

Before starting sewing I recommend to make a bit of practice, set up the tension of the threads, find the right type of stitch, especially if it's the first time you use that machine, as it is in my case.

Then sew following the edges of the rectangle shaped on your device, I added about 3 mm all around the perimeter, but this depends by the thickness of the tablet. Make the corners more rounded than I did if you wish, it will appear better. I suggest you to use a zig-zag stitch (what is the right name, misses?) so you can stretch it a bit.

When you start, and also at the end of the trace, you need to go a pair of times backwards and forwards, so to reinforce that part, which is near the opening and will be subjected to the higher force.

Step 2: Cut

Cut the exceeding leather all around the thread, leaving about 1-2 mm of margin, so that the leather doesn't rip.

Step 3: Immerse

to make the leather a bit elastic immerse the case in hot water and leave it there for 10-15 minutes or more.

Step 4: The Wood Mold

To avoid killing your new tablet, you need now a mold to give the case the right shape. I made it from a wood board, but you can use any solid material.

Insert the mold in the case, better if it fits hardly, this is exactly the purpose.

Step 5: The Holder

To hold the case over a radiator I used a clamp with two wood boards. This is also useful to give a shape also on the opening edge.

Step 6: The Sign

Here you can go wild... I used a pair of old Swiss francs, but everything you push on the wet leather will leave a mark on it. I placed one coin per side, so that the clamp keeps and pushes both at the same time.

Step 7: Remove the Clamps and the Stamp

I suggest you to leave the case to dry over a radiator for a few hours, then you can remove clamps and stamp.

Anyway in my case the mark didn't last much after I removed the coins, I would probably had to heat the coins or the entire case... I could have used my thermo-regulated oven.

Step 8: Ready for Improvements

It's complete now... actually an improvement could be adding a closing system, maybe something magnetic, or a leather cord, or automatic buttons... I still have to think about that, meanwhile I can hear suggestions from you!

Hey! and thanks to Ford which provided me with a full box of useful tools!