Those days of sitting at home surfing the Net alone are long gone, so don't let your fear of taking your laptop out and about prevent you from finding undiscovered hot spots! Slip on this laptop cover, toss it in your messenger bag, and you're set! Cabled fabric inherently provides extra cushion and security – which makes it perfect for protecting your priceless data and MP3 collection from the perils of the world beyond your doorstep.

Want to add a bit of extra stability or security to your cover? Try sewing in a layer of felt – or some craftboard interface – to the inside before finishing the piece. The extra fabric helps hold your laptop snug inside.

Take a look at a larger image of the laptop cover

Finished measurements: 10" (11", 11") x 12" (14.5", 15.5")
Yarn: Peace Fleece (200 yd.); 30% mohair, 70% wool; shade: Negotiation Gray; 3 skeins
Needles: 24", US size-8 (5 mm) circular needle
Notions: Tapestry needle; stitch markers; safety pins (3); 1" quick-release clips
Gauge: 15 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st

To save time and sanity: Take time to check the gauge.

View cable charts

Pattern
The first stitch of every row is slipped purlwise throughout.
CO 64 (72, 76) sts.
Row 1: (WS) Sl 1 pwise, K1, P2 (4, 5), K2, place marker (PM), work first row of long rope cable right, PM, P2 (4, 5), PM, work first row of wild oak cable, PM, P2 (4, 5), PM, work first row of long rope cable left, PM, K2, P2 (4, 5), K2.
Row 2: Sl 1 pwise P1 K2 (4, 5) P2, work second row of long rope cable left, K2 (4, 5), work second row of wild oak cable, K2 (4, 5), work second row of long rope cable right, P2 K2 (4, 5) P1 K1.
Cont in patt as established and as charted until piece measures 10.5" (11.5", 11.5"), ending on a RS row. Mark on your charts where you've stopped for each. Do not remove markers.

Fold
Next row (WS): Knit.
Next row: Purl.
Cont in reverse St st for 2", ending on a purl row. Restart cable repeats, as established, beg from where you left off. Cont working as set until piece measures 27.5" (28.5", 28.5") from CO, ending on a WS row.

Flap
The top edge of the flap is bound off to form three panels, which will later be attached to the front edge of the cover.
BO first 18 (21, 23) sts, slip 1 pwise K1 (2, 2), cont working wild oak cable, K2 (3, 3). Start a new ball of yarn and BO the rem 18 (21, 23) sts. Break yarn and pull through at end of row.
Next row: On rem sts Sl 1 pwise P1 (2, 2), work next row of wild oak cable, P2 (3, 3). Cont as established for 1", ending on a WS row. BO rem sts and weave in the ends.

Finishing
Lay the cover on a flat surface with the WS facing up. Fold the bottom half of the cover up so that the fold rests 1" into the reverse stockinette section. Using safety pins, pin the two edges together on both sides to secure them for seaming.

With yarn threaded on a tapestry needle, starting at the top of the seams, whipstitch the edges together 1" before fold. Flatten the last inch of fabric to form a T-shape and whipstitch the flattened seam. Repeat on the other side. Turn the cover inside out so that the RS is visible. Sew the top portion of the clip to the top flap of the cover at the center of each of the panels. Slip the cover onto the laptop and fold the flap over. Pull the edge of the cover down across the laptop, stretching it slightly. With safety pins, mark the location of the lower portion of the clip for each clasp. Remove the laptop and sew the lower portion of the clips to the laptop cover.

The knitted cable
Often resembling a rope or twist, a knitted cable is the process of switching the order of one or more groups of stitches. For example, in a grouping of four stitches, instead of knitting stitches 1 and 2 first, you skip them by placing them on a cable needle and working on stitches 3 and 4, before returning to work on 1 and 2. This process is illustrated below.

Tip: A short double-pointed needle is a great substitute if you can't find your cable needle, or your local yarn store is fresh out.

	1. Slip the required number of stitches onto a cable needle by inserting the tip of the cable needle into the stitches on the left-hand needle one at a time as though to purl. In the illustration here, two stitches are being transferred to the cable needle.
	2. Hold these stitches at the front (or back, depending on the pattern) of the work. Skipping over the held stitches momentarily, knit the next two stitches on the needle.
	3. Now go back and knit the two stitches held on the cable needle. Note: These stitches may be a little tight until you get used to the technique -- this is normal.
	4. Continue working the rest of the row as indicated by the pattern. 5. When working the next row of these cables, they may also appear a little tight, which is normal. In order to reduce holes between your cable and the neighbouring stitches, give the yarn a little tug before and after working the cable stitches.

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Excerpted from Knitting with Balls: A Hands-On Guide to Knitting for the Modern Man by Michael del Vecchio. Copyright 2006 by Ivy Press Limited. Excerpted with permission from Dorling Kindersley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.