Much like me, my laptop never goes anywhere these days; I work remotely. But vaccination has begun in earnest, and a time will come when my laptop and I can start traveling again. Even a trip to a coffee shop seems exotic right now. But I hope we will travel further afield, and when we do, I’ll want this sleeve for my laptop to cushion it and to protect it from scratches.

This is a great pattern for practicing your stranded knitting skills. It’s not as much knitting as a sweater or cardigan, but it has a large circumference, so it’s not as fiddly as a mitten or sock; and there is no shaping as there would be for a hat. Furthermore, the recipient (your laptop!) won’t have any complaints about whether it’s flattering, too itchy, or too hot. And if you add the optional lining, nobody but you will ever see the inside.

A stranded pattern works well for a laptop sleeve because it creates a thick fabric. The motifs are drawn from Mary Jane Mucklestone’s beautiful book, 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter’s Directory. The color scheme is simple, using purples, creamy caramels, and beiges, with a spot of rose hip.