Digital tablets and iPads have created a whole new genre to inspire the home cook – food blogs with gorgeous photos, community recipe sites, You Tube cooking videos and more. But working with the iPad means trying to prop it up on the kitchen bench while following a recipe. I’ve found many of the cook book stands don’t always fit the slim size of a digital tablet. While trying to master the digital cooking session one day Lynn Pavey (our Guest Presenter) decided to make a stand from non-slip rubber matting. She had been using it to make the Embroidered tray mats and was inspired by it’s versatility and durability. Here she’s created a protective cover for an iPad, Kindle or tablet which rolls up to prop up the device while you follow a recipe. The non-slip material stops the device from slipping on the bench and from slipping easily out of the case when packed up. Just remember to adjust your screen settings so that it doesn’t fade to black just when both hands are covered in goo and you’re at a crucial step in the recipe!

2. 1. Materials
1 roll of non-slip rubber matting
1 roll of coloured raffia
1 plastic bodkin
1 coloured button (which matches
with rubber matting and raffia
colours
1 sheet of A4 sized corflute
(corrugated plastic sheet, approx 3-
4mm thick)
1 adhesive velcro dot scissors ruler
pencil

3. 2. Measure the corflute
Measure the corflute into 4 pieces
each measuring 23cm x 8cm wide
(almost 9 inches x 3.25 inches).
These are the panels to insert in
the pockets of the case.

4. 3. Cut the corflute
Cut the corflute with a ruler and
‘Stanley’ (or ‘X-acto’) knife.
Practice on a spare piece first,
holding knife tight to edge of ruler.

5. 4. Measure and cut the rubber
matting
Measure 2 pieces the same size, 25cm
x 50cm (10 inches x 20 inches). It
doesn’t have to be exact, as long as
the corflute pieces are shorter than the
width of matting. Cut in a straight line
so that a clean row of holes for a row
of sewing is close to the edge. To
make the tie strap for the case, cut
another piece 4.5cm x 50cm, or the
same length as the large pieces (1.75
inches x 20 inches).

6. 5. Sew the 2 large pieces
Lay the 2 large pieces directly on top of
each other to make a rectangle with
the long sides sitting horizontally.
Match the holes together for the
needle to thread through. Thread the
raffia onto the bodkin and knot the
end. Make it a really long piece, it will
run 3 sides of the rectangle. If you run
out, start with a new piece. Start in top
left hand corner, gently pulling through
the threaded needle, leaving a 12cm
tail on the reverse side. Stitch 1 row in,
where there is a complete row of holes,
sewing down the short side of the
rectangle. Sew over 2 holes and under
1 in a running stitch. When the first
side is complete continue along the full
length of the long side, then continue
up the last short side. Leave the other
long side open.

7. 6. Sew in the pockets for
the corflute panels
To create the pockets to insert the
corflute pieces, 4 vertical rows are
stitched about 8.5cm apart. This
creates 4 pockets the same size and
one larger pocket (which doesn’t
have a corflute panel). Measure
8.5cm in from the row of stitches
along one of the short sides of the
rectangle. Then measure another 3
rows, each 8.5cm apart. Test the
corflute pieces can fit with enough
room on either side to slide in when
the pocket is sewn up. Using running
stitch again in the same pattern (2
over, 1 under) thread the needle and
knot it, stitch a line from one side to
the other. When you reach the other
side, leave a 10-12cm tail. Insert the
corflute panels.

8. 7. Sew the case closed
Sew down the last side of the
rectangle to close the two pieces
together with the 4 corflute panels
in place. The larger pocket will
remain empty.

9. 8. Tidy up loose threads
To finish the ends neatly, re-thread
the 10-12cm loose tails and and sew
over 2 or 3 of the first few stitches
following the same pattern, to secure
the thread. This secures the thread
neatly without excess knots over the
piece.

10. 9. Melt the knotted ends
(optional)
To finish the main knotted ends, try
burning them with a match for a
couple of seconds to melt it. Test it
first with a spare piece of raffia to
check how fast it burns and how
much heat you need. Too much
could melt and discolour the raffia
and the mat.

11. 10. Make the tie strap
Take the long strip of matting,
sew the button on at one end
about 1 cm in from the edge. Stick
the velcro dot on the underside of
the button. Fold the case up, so
there are three layers of matting.
Tie the strap around the folded
case so it fits snugly. Mark where
to attach the other side of the
velcro dot for the strap to sit
firmly but not stretched.

12. Use as an iPad or book case
To fit the iPad/tablet inside the case, sit the iPad on 2 middle pockets containing
corflute with the empty pocket on one side. Fold over the longer end of the case with
the 2 corflute pockets so it looks like a book cover. Then fold the last empty pocket
over the top of the two layers containing the tablet. Tie together with the strap.

13. Use as an iPad or book stand
To use the case to prop up a book, roll up the case to create a triangle shape, with
the empty pocket sitting flat on the table.

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