I-Baggie Tablet Knit Case [FREE Knitting Pattern]

If you’ve ever tossed your tablet into a bag and held your breath hoping nothing scratched the screen, you already understand why a handknitted tablet case is one of the most practical things you can make. The I-Baggie Tablet Knit Case is a simple, satisfying project that works up quickly, looks beautiful, and gives your device exactly the kind of cozy, cushioned protection it deserves. Whether you’re knitting for yourself or making a thoughtful handmade gift, this pattern is one you’ll come back to again and again.

This free knitting pattern is written for intermediate beginners — if you can knit, purl, and work a basic decrease, you have everything you need. The finished case fits most standard tablets, and I’ll walk you through how to adjust the dimensions so it fits yours perfectly. Grab your needles, pick out a yarn you love, and let’s get started.

Why Knit a Tablet Case?

Store-bought tablet cases are everywhere, but they share a common problem: they’re generic. They’re designed for millions of people at once, which means they end up feeling like they belong to no one in particular. A handknitted case is different from the moment you cast on. You choose the color, the texture, the yarn weight — every decision reflects your taste and the personality of whoever will be using it.

Beyond the aesthetic appeal, knitted fabric is genuinely excellent at protecting electronics. The natural give of knit stitches creates a cushion that absorbs impact, and wool in particular has a natural resilience that bounces back after compression. Whether your tablet is bumping around in a backpack or sitting at the bottom of a tote bag, a well-knitted case takes the brunt of it.

There’s also something deeply satisfying about using an object you made with your own hands every single day. Every time you pull your tablet out of this case, you’ll get that little spark of pride that only comes from handmade things.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you dive in, gather everything together so you can settle in and knit without interruption.

Yarn: Approximately 100–150 yards of worsted weight yarn (Category 4). You can use almost any fiber here — a wool-acrylic blend is an excellent choice because it’s durable, slightly elastic, and easy to care for. A 100% cotton yarn will give you a crisper, firmer fabric that some people prefer for tech accessories. Avoid very loosely spun or fuzzy yarns for this project, since you want stitches that stay defined and fabric that feels dense enough to be protective.

Needles: US Size 7 (4.5mm) straight or circular needles, or whatever size achieves your gauge. Adjust needle size up or down as needed.

Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful), measuring tape, and one button or a snap for the closure.

Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge matters here because you want the case to fit snugly. Take the time to make a gauge swatch, wash and block it as you plan to wash the finished case, and measure after it dries. If your gauge is off, your case will be too big or too small.

Measuring Your Tablet

One of the best things about knitting your own case is that you can make it fit your specific device. Before you cast on, grab your measuring tape and note three measurements:

The width of your tablet. The height of your tablet. The depth or thickness of your tablet.

For the case to slip on and off easily while still holding securely, you want to add about half an inch to each measurement. If your tablet is 8 inches wide, you’ll aim for a finished case that is 8.5 inches wide. If your tablet is 10 inches tall, you’ll aim for a finished case that is 10.5 inches tall. The extra ease gives you room to slide the tablet in and out without wrestling with it, and the knit fabric will still hug the device comfortably.

For a standard 10-inch tablet, the pattern as written will fit beautifully. Adjustments for other sizes are included in the notes at the end of the pattern.

Pattern Notes

This case is worked flat in two identical panels that are seamed together on three sides, leaving the top open. A simple flap folds over the top and fastens with a button. The body of the case is worked in a double moss stitch, which creates a beautifully textured, dense fabric with excellent structure. The moss stitch is also reversible, which means both the inside and outside of your case will look intentional and tidy.

Abbreviations used in this pattern:

CO = Cast on. K = Knit. P = Purl. BO = Bind off. Rep = Repeat. St(s) = Stitch(es). RS = Right side. WS = Wrong side. K2tog = Knit two together (a right-leaning decrease). SSK = Slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease). PM = Place marker. SM = Slip marker.

The I-Baggie Tablet Knit Case Pattern

Front Panel

Using your long-tail cast on or your preferred method, CO 40 stitches.

Row 1 (RS): (K2, P2) to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): (K2, P2) to end of row.
Row 3 (RS): (P2, K2) to end of row.
Row 4 (WS): (P2, K2) to end of row.

These four rows form the double moss stitch pattern. Repeat rows 1 through 4 until the piece measures 10.5 inches from the cast-on edge, or the height of your tablet plus half an inch.

End having just completed a Row 4 (wrong side row). Do not bind off yet.

Flap

The flap is worked directly from the front panel stitches you still have on the needle. Continuing from your last row:

Row 1 (RS): K1, SSK, work in established moss stitch to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. (38 stitches)
Row 2 (WS): K1, P1, work in established moss stitch to last 2 stitches, P1, K1.
Row 3 (RS): K1, SSK, work in established moss stitch to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. (36 stitches)
Row 4 (WS): K1, P1, work in established moss stitch to last 2 stitches, P1, K1.
Row 5 (RS): K1, SSK, work in established moss stitch to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1. (34 stitches)
Row 6 (WS): Work even in established pattern.
Row 7 (RS): Work even in established pattern.
Row 8 (WS): Work even in established pattern.

Buttonhole Row (RS): Work 15 stitches in pattern, BO 4 stitches, work to end of row.
Next Row (WS): Work in pattern to the bound-off gap, CO 4 stitches using the backward loop method, work to end of row.

Work 4 more rows even in established pattern.

Bind off all stitches loosely.

Back Panel

CO 40 stitches and work the double moss stitch pattern (rows 1 through 4 as established above) until the back panel measures 10.5 inches from the cast-on edge, matching the front panel exactly. Bind off all stitches loosely.

Finishing

Finishing is where a knitted project goes from a collection of fabric pieces to an actual object, and it’s worth doing carefully.

Blocking: Before you seam the panels together, wet block both pieces. Soak them in cool water for about 15 minutes, squeeze out the excess water gently (don’t wring), then lay them flat on a towel and pat them into shape. Use your measurements as a guide. Let them dry completely. Blocking evens out your stitches, relaxes the fabric, and makes seaming much easier.

Seaming: Hold the front and back panels with wrong sides together. Using your tapestry needle and a length of yarn, work a mattress stitch seam along the bottom edge and up both side edges, leaving the top open. The mattress stitch creates an almost invisible seam when done correctly — pick up the bar between the first and second stitch on each side as you work your way along. Pull gently to close the seam as you go; you want it firm but not puckered.

Weave in all loose ends securely on the inside of the case.

Button: Try your tablet in the case to make sure it fits comfortably. Fold the flap down and mark where the button should sit on the back panel. Sew the button securely in place using a length of yarn or thread that matches your yarn color. A large, flat button works beautifully here — choose one that complements the yarn color and feels nice under the fingers.

Sizing Adjustments

The pattern as written is designed for a 10-inch tablet, which is probably the most common size people are working with. But tablets come in all sizes, from small 7-inch models to larger 12-inch versions, and adjusting this pattern is entirely straightforward.

The key is to work in multiples of 4 stitches, since the double moss stitch repeat is a 4-stitch pattern. Start with your gauge — for every inch of width, you’ll need approximately 4.5 stitches at the gauge given. Multiply your desired width by 4.5, then round up or down to the nearest multiple of 4 to determine your cast-on number.

For a 7-inch tablet, you’d aim for a finished width of about 7.5 inches, which means approximately 34 stitches (rounding to the nearest multiple of 4). For a larger 12-inch tablet, you’d aim for about 56 stitches.

For the height, simply work until your panel measures the height of your tablet plus half an inch, regardless of the stitch count. The pattern is worked in rows, so height is easily adjusted just by knitting more or fewer rows.

If you’re using a different yarn weight or different needles and therefore getting a different gauge, calculate your stitch count based on your actual gauge rather than the pattern gauge. Always, always make a gauge swatch — this is the one step that guarantees a well-fitting finished case.

Yarn Color Ideas and Inspiration

One of the most enjoyable parts of any new project is choosing the yarn, and for a tablet case you have tremendous freedom. The case is small enough that you can splurge on a more luxurious yarn without spending a fortune. A single skein of a beautiful hand-dyed wool, a crisp linen-cotton blend, or a tweedy British wool can turn a simple protective case into something really special.

For a classic, timeless look, consider a deep charcoal or navy paired with a tortoiseshell button. This combination works beautifully for any tablet that doubles as a work device.

For something livelier, a warm terracotta or dusty sage has been hugely popular in handmade goods recently, and those shades look gorgeous in textured stitches like the double moss used here.

If you’re making this as a gift, think about the recipient’s style. Bright, saturated colors work wonderfully for children’s tablets. Neutral, sophisticated tones suit someone who leans minimalist. A variegated or hand-dyed yarn with a long color repeat will create an organic, painterly effect in the fabric, which looks especially lovely against a simple wooden or ceramic button.

Caring for Your Knitted Case

How you care for your finished case depends on the fiber content of the yarn you used. If you used a wool or wool-blend yarn, hand washing in cool water with a gentle wool wash is the safest option. Lay it flat to dry rather than hanging it, which would stretch the fabric out of shape. If you used a superwash wool or an acrylic yarn, most can be machine washed on a gentle cycle in a mesh laundry bag.

Whatever fiber you chose, avoid putting a knitted tablet case in the dryer. The heat can cause significant shrinkage or distortion, and you’d end up with a case that no longer fits your tablet properly. Laying flat to dry takes a little patience but preserves the shape and integrity of the knitting perfectly.

Over time and with regular use, you may notice some gentle felting or pilling in a wool case — this is entirely normal and doesn’t affect the protective quality of the fabric. You can remove pills with a fabric shaver if you prefer a tidier appearance.

Make It Your Own

The pattern as written gives you a beautiful, functional tablet case, but don’t think of it as fixed in stone. Knitting patterns are really just starting points, and there are so many ways to make this one uniquely yours.

You could work the body of the case in a simple stockinette stitch for a sleeker, more modern look, or try a seed stitch for a slightly different texture. If you want a case without a flap, simply bind off at the top of the body instead of working the flap section, and add a few rows of ribbing at the top opening to keep the case from slipping off.

Adding an initial or a small motif using intarsia or duplicate stitch is a wonderful way to personalize a case for a gift. Even a single contrasting stripe near the top of the case adds a graphic, intentional touch.

If you want extra padding, cut a piece of thin foam or batting to fit inside the back panel before seaming. Sandwich the foam between the front and back panels as you seam them, and your case will have an extra layer of protection for drops and bumps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a smaller yarn weight for a thinner case? Yes, absolutely. A DK weight yarn (Category 3) will give you a slightly thinner, more lightweight case. Adjust your needle size accordingly and make sure to swatch for gauge before casting on.

What if I want a zipper instead of a button? You can absolutely swap the button closure for a zipper. After seaming the case, use a sewing machine or hand stitch a zipper along the top opening. Choose a zipper about half an inch shorter than the opening for the easiest installation.

Is this pattern suitable for complete beginners? It’s on the easier end of intermediate. If you’ve finished at least one or two simple projects and are comfortable with the knit and purl stitches, you’ll manage this pattern well. The moss stitch pattern repeats in a simple four-row sequence, and the shaping on the flap is very gentle.

Can I knit this in the round? You could convert this to be worked in the round as a seamless tube, eliminating the side seams. Cast on twice your stitch count, join to work in the round, and work in the round until the body reaches the desired height. Then work the flap flat from the front stitches only. This is a slightly more advanced modification but results in a very clean finish.

A Few Final Thoughts

The I-Baggie Tablet Knit Case is the kind of project that reminds you why handmade things matter. It’s useful, it’s beautiful, and it’s made with care — and those three qualities together are rarer than they should be in the objects we use every day. Whether you knit this in a weekend for yourself or take your time choosing the perfect yarn for a gift, the finished case will be something genuinely worth having.

If you make one, share it. Post a photo with your progress, leave a comment about the yarn you chose, or tag your finished object so other knitters can find inspiration in your version. Handmade communities thrive on shared work, and your I-Baggie might be exactly what someone else needed to see to finally pick up their needles.

Happy knitting.