Mustard Basketweave Tablet Sleeve Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This mustard basketweave tablet sleeve is the cozy autumn accessory your everyday carry has been missing. It's designed for confident beginners who can knit and purl and are ready to try a simple four-stitch block texture, and it comes together flat on straight needles with no cable needle in sight. The dense bulky cotton gives a firm, protective fabric that cushions your tablet, while the raised checkerboard of ridges makes the surface feel wonderfully squishy and look richly textured. Finished with a terracotta garter border and a pointed buttoned flap, it measures 7.5 in (19 cm) wide by 10 in (25.5 cm) tall including the flap and fits tablets up to 7 x 9.5 in (18 x 24 cm).

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky (weight 5) cotton, approx. 150 yd (137 m) total — Mustard (A) 120 yd (110 m), Terracotta (B) 30 yd (27 m)
• Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) straight needles for the body and flap; 4.5 mm (US 7) straight needles for the buttonhole tab and border
• Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers (optional), 1 in (2.5 cm) button, blocking mat and steam iron
• Finished size: 7.5 in (19 cm) wide x 10 in (25.5 cm) tall including flap; fits tablets up to 7 x 9.5 in (18 x 24 cm)

Abbreviations

• CO — cast on
• BO — bind off
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• RS — right side (the outside of the sleeve)
• WS — wrong side (the inside of the sleeve)
• sl1 — slip one stitch purlwise without working it
• k — knit
• p — purl
• k2tog — knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• ssk — slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together (a left-leaning decrease)
• rep — repeat

Gauge

16 sts x 22 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in basketweave pattern on 5.0 mm needles, blocked. Knit a swatch, block it, and measure a 4 in (10 cm) section; if you have more stitches than 16, go up a needle size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Basketweave is simply "knit the knits and purl the purls" — read the stitches as they appear on your needle and you can't go wrong.
• Slip the first stitch of every row purlwise to create a neat, easy-to-pick-up edge along the sides and flap.
• Keep your tension relaxed and even; dense cotton can feel tight, so don't tug the yarn after each block.
• Count your stitches at the end of every right-side row so the 4x4 blocks stay aligned and the flap decreases stay symmetrical.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (Mustard A)

Using 5.0 mm needles, CO 60 sts.

R1 (RS): sl1, [k4, p4] x7, k3 (60 sts).

R2-8: work sts as they appear (k on k, p on p) (60 sts).

R9 (RS): sl1, [p4, k4] x7, p3 (60 sts).

R10-16: work sts as they appear (60 sts).

R17-80: rep R1-16 four more times (80 rows total, approx. 14.5 in / 37 cm).

BO loosely in pattern. Body measures approx. 15 in (38 cm) wide x 14.5 in (37 cm) tall flat.

Flap (Mustard A)

With RS facing, pick up and knit 60 sts along one short end (top edge) using 5.0 mm needles.

R1 (WS): sl1, p to end (60 sts).

R2 (RS): sl1, [k4, p4] x7, k3 (60 sts).

R3-8: work sts as they appear (60 sts).

R9 (RS): sl1, [p4, k4] x7, p3 (60 sts).

R10-16: work sts as they appear (60 sts).

R17-24: rep R1-8 (24 rows, approx. 4.4 in / 11 cm) (60 sts).

R25 (RS): sl1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (58 sts).

R26: work sts as they appear, purling the 2 edge sts (58 sts).

R27-35: rep R25-26 four more times, then work R25 once more — decreasing 2 sts on every RS row 5 more times (48 sts).

Next RS: sl1, k2tog, work to last 3 sts, ssk, k1 (46 sts).

BO loosely in pattern.

Buttonhole Tab (Terracotta B)

Using 4.5 mm needles and B, CO 8 sts.

R1-2: k (8 sts).

R3: k3, BO 2, k3 (8 sts, with a 2-st hole).

R4: k3, CO 2, k3 (8 sts).

R5-6: k (8 sts).

BO. Make 1.

Border (Terracotta B)

Using 4.5 mm needles and RS facing, pick up and knit along the entire outer edge of body and flap: 60 sts along bottom, 60 sts up each side, 46 sts along flap edge, plus flap sides (approx. 240 sts).

R1 (WS): p to end (approx. 240 sts).

R2 (RS): k to end (approx. 240 sts).

R3: p to end (approx. 240 sts).

BO knitwise.

Assembly and Finishing

Fold the body in half with WS together so the cast-on and bound-off edges meet (approx. 7.5 in / 19 cm tall). Whipstitch the side seams with A. Sew the buttonhole tab centered on the flap point, 0.75 in (2 cm) from the tip. Sew a 1 in (2.5 cm) button on the body front, centered and aligned with the tab. Weave in all ends, then steam block the seams and the whole piece to 7.5 x 10 in (19 x 25.5 cm).

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the mustard and terracotta for any two autumn shades — a deep rust body with a cream border looks equally lovely.
• For a snugger fit, work two fewer 16-row repeats on the body before binding off.
• Add a fabric lining cut to size and slip-stitched inside for extra padding and a polished finish.