Now that I am working freelance from client offices with my laptop ("have laptop, will travel"), I've been carrying the power adapter for my MacBook around regularly. And finding that carrying it in a random plastic ziplock bag is both not especially convenient and not particularly classy. So I decided to make something a bit more suitable out of some spare bits I had handy.

The basic approach, to suit Apple Macbook power adapter and mains power lead, is:

• 500mm x 170mm rectangle of some suitable cloth (eg, approx half a quilting fat), washed and ironed flat (preferably with at least one pre-formed edge)

• fold 200mm of longer section up to form rectangle 300mm x 170mm with 200mm overlapping the 300mm, to form main pouch (with pre-formed edge at the top of the pouch; if there is no pre-formed edge then fold over top edge of pouch to form suitable edge and use "iron on" patch over ragged edge to hold into place and prevent fraying)

• fold 50mm of longer section down to form rectangle 250mm x 170mm with 50mm overlapping top of 250mm, to form the top flap

• iron into place to assist holding fabric in place while sewing

• sew down 250mm edges on left and right, approx 5mm in, to form pouch and flap 160mm wide with 5mm seams

• zigzag over exposed edges of seams, or seal with "iron on" patch over the exposed edges

• turn main pouch and flap inside out to hide all seams

• seal bottom of flap into inside of the main pouch with "iron on" patch over exposed edge (there's no where to sew it to that won't show on the outside)

At this point it is ready, and can be used with the flap tucked into the top pouch. Depending on how that works I may add some velcro or similar to seal the flap to the outside of the pouch. (Such velcro would be most easily added prior to sewing the edge seams, as it could then be easily sewen into place with anything being visible from outside, but with care it can be added afterwards.) Another possibility would be to use a slightly shorter piece of fabric, and flap, and sew the flap down on the side seams before turning inside out -- so that it acts like a pillow case -- either with the flap inside the pouch after inverting (like a pillow case) or with the flap outside but held in place on the sides. (In this case the flap would need to be about 25mm-30mm long after folding otherwise it'd be likely to make getting things into/out of the pouch difficult. Tacking it into place and testing it would seem desirable if this design is chosen.)

(An approximately similar design should work for other laptop power supplies and chargers, but the size may need to be adjusted to the size of the power supply and cords.)