By Ed Barrall II
The Knitting Room
San Jose, Ca
Copyright June 1, 2000. All rights reserved
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Click here to see an inside picture of the Palm Pilot Case
The Palm Pilot or equivalent is becoming a part of our lives. The naked device is rather fragile. Commercial covers tend to be costly, bulky and not too interesting. Crochet can solve all these problems at a low cost and with a nice feeling of accomplishment.
This project uses a small hook (E US) and rather large cotton yarn (light worsted weight cotton from Cotton Classics, Tahki). Normally, this yarn would work on a G or H hook. The goal is to produce a very stiff and protective cover for a Palm Top PC. Should you feel like doing a "tight" stitch, this would be a grand time to do it.
I have chosen to work this case in rows rather than rounds. Single crochet tends to work into a rather dizzy spiral when done in rounds. This can be charming for hats and such, but is undesirable in a case for anything other than a gin bottle.
The case has a pocket for cards in the fold over. The edges of the required folds are made sharp by working on one side only of the stitch as specified. To hide the rather rough stitch at the turn for the rows, the case is worked inside-out until the flap is started. It is desirable to have the Palm Pilot requiring the cover near by during this project to check for fit at various stages. Fit should be very snug.
Materials: 100 yds. worsted weight cotton or nylon.
Hook: US E ( 3.5 mm).
Gauge: TIGHT!
SACK:
Chain 17
Row 1. 2 sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across to last ch. 3 sc in the end ch. Sc in the free loops of the beginning chain across to the start: 15 sc. Sc in the beginning ch and join with a ss to the beginning sc. Ch 1 and turn. You should have 15 sc on both sides and 3 sc at each end.
Row 2. Sc in each sc around. Join with a ss to the top of the first sc, Ch 1 and turn, You should now have a total of 36 sc (15 sc on each side and 3 sc in each end).
Repeat Row 2 (check for a snug fit after 8 or so rows). Continue until the "bag" is long enough to fully cover the Palm Pilot (about 30 rows). There should be an even number of rows in the bag to keep the sc pattern repeating properly.
Turn INSIDE OUT AND BEGIN FLAP
FLAP:
Row 1 Sc in each sc across the back: 16 sc. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 2 Sc in the first sc and sc across. Ch 1 and turn.
Repeat row 2 two more times: 4 rows of 16 sc.
Row 5 Sc across in back loops only (makes the flap bend forward).
Row 6 (and following) Work in sc rows until the flap is long enough to cover the front nicely using both loops of the sc. About 28 rows should do the job. End with the inside of the flap facing you.
FLAP FOLD:
Work next row of sc in back loop only, ch 1 turn.
Work even for 16 rows and end off.
FINISHING:
Carefully fold the card flap at the back loop area matching row for row. Tie down lightly with a contrasting throw away thread. Starting at the row where the flap starts from the sack, sc evenly in each row down the side (being very careful to match the flap rows). Sc across the bottom of the flap using the free loops of the card flap fold, and sc up the other side. Finish off where the flap joins the sack. Tuck in the ends and shove in the Palm Pilot. The flap with a few cards will close on its own. However, you may like to add a bit of Velcro or a button to make the flap stay closed. In any event, the Pilot has another layer of protection and looks rather cool.
Ed Barrall II
The Knitting Room
San Jose, Ca
