Home generalSewing pencil case / pencil case - instructions & free sewing pattern

Sewing pencil case / pencil case - instructions & free sewing pattern

  • material selection
    • amount of material
  • Draw the cut
  • Pencil case with outer seam (A)
    • The endless zipper
    • Sew pencil case
    • Sew the lining
    • sew together
  • Pencil case without outer seam (B)
    • Sew on spring bag
  • Quick guide

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Sew quick and easy manual for Pencil case / Sew on spring bag

It does not always have to be the pen ... Pencil cases are so versatile! I like to use them for all kinds of small stuff. No matter if it is my makeup utensils, sewing things, my nail polishes, my felt 1000 hair ties, small parts of the children's toy from the son or as a mini toiletry bag for the hotel accommodation - for a pencil case I always find a useful use and I think, one can not have enough of it. That's why today I'll show you two variations on how to quickly and easily sew a pencil case according to your personal taste.

The first variant is a little faster from the hand, but at least one seam is visible both inside and outside. The second variant requires a little more preparation time and a few sewing steps in addition, but all seams are "invisible". Just read through both instructions and decide for yourself which variant suits you better.

Difficulty level 2/5
(suitable for beginners)
Material costs 2/5
(depending on the fabric selection between EUR 0, - from the remainder utilization and EUR 30, -)
Time expenditure 2/5
(including pattern every 1h)

material selection

To sew pencil case you can actually use any type of fabric. However, particularly robust are cotton weaves, which are additionally reinforced with non-woven fabric. If you are sewing your pencil case to fill things with paint (such as crayons without a cap, etc.), it is best to use a material that is easy to clean, such as coated fabrics. I chose patchwork cotton fabric in both variants in the form of so-called "fat quaters". These fabrics are not only of very high quality and robust, but also in color.

For the zipper, the length is crucial. This should be about 2-3 cm more than the desired width of the finished workpiece, since both ends are sewn. Alternatively - as in the tutorial - you can work with an endless zipper.

amount of material

Depending on the desired size of the finished bag, the amount of material can vary. Normally, you will get by with less than two fat quaters.

Draw the cut

The basic shape of the cut is kept simple and can best be described on checkered paper. If you make changes in height or width, you can already check with the paper pattern that all dimensions are correct by folding the corresponding edges to each other. Once cut from fabric changes are not so easy to implement. Today we are going to sew two pencil cases, the final dimensions of which are about 18 cm in length, 5 cm in height and about 7 cm in depth - just right for all writing utensils. Of course, how you use your bag is up to you.

Pencil case with outer seam (A)

Draw the pattern according to the template on checkered paper, mark the material break and cut it out. This pattern is then cut in the material break each from the outer fabric and then once from the lining material.

If it should be a little faster, you can also print our pattern directly here:

Click here: To download the pattern

Tip: For a better stand, iron on both fabric before cutting. Then you will also save the endeln. For better clarity, I have reinforced the outer fabric with non-woven fabric, the lining but not, this one for it.

The endless zipper

Now place the outer fabric with the right (ie the "nice") side facing up and adjust the endless zipper of the length. The zipper should be about 2-3 cm longer than the top edge, as the ends are sewn in on both sides.

Tip: For threading the slider on the zipper, there are innumerable instructional videos on the Internet and the first try it can be very fumbling. But with the second and third time it works better and faster and you will notice how versatile endless zippers can be used - not just to make a pencil case!

For threading, I open the lower part of the endless zipper one to two centimeters and put first the left, then the right side in the slide, hold both firm down and push the slider carefully upwards. The closed guide comes out at the bottom and the zipper can be opened at the top.

Before you sew ...

If you still want to attach borders, ribbons or applications, now is the ideal time.

Sew pencil case

Put the zipper in front of you and put the outer fabric on the upper edge with the left side up. Stick both layers firmly. Insert the zipper presser foot into your machine and sew the zipper tight-edged.

Fold the outer fabric down and quilt as required with a simple straight stitch. For beginners, this step is suitable because nothing can slip. Of course, it is nicer without it, because later on just about this one more seam is quilted. Alternatively, ironing can be done.

Fold the other edge up to the zipper and put it on the other side of the zipper. Now both sides are quilted and the seam ends are locked.

Fold your workpiece so that the zipper is centered and the rectangles on the sides are exactly on top of each other. Pin the rectangles at both ends with a pin through both fabric layers and the zipper and sew them together with a simple straight stitch. Half open the zipper so you can turn your bag later. Now fold each side opening and put it together at the edges. Be sure to squeeze the seam allowance in the middle and then sew them together with a single straight stitch. Do this on all four corners. Turn the bag. From the outside, your pencil case looks finished, but the food is still missing.

Sew the lining

To do this, iron the seam allowances on each of the two longitudinal edges by half an inch to the outside. Then lay the fabric right side up and fold the two long edges towards the middle so that the square edges on the sides match. Pin both long edges with pins and lock the sides. Then you can do the same with the four corners as with the outer pocket. This bag is NOT turned, because the right side should be inside.

sew together

Put the food bag in your outer pocket and insert the edges along the zipper several times, so that you do not slip anything. Then sew from the outside around with the zipper foot of your sewing machine.

Tip: When quilting, if the slider is in the way, lower the needle into the fabric, lift the foot and rotate your workpiece so that you can gently move the slider to the other side of the foot. Then turn the workpiece back into the correct position, lower the foot and sew on.

And already the first variant of the pencil case is ready!

Pencil case without outer seam (B)

Halve the height of the pattern from variant 1 and add your desired seam allowance (0.5-1 cm) on the lower side. In addition, cut a rectangle from the inner fabric, which is 6 cm wide and 7 cm high. (Motive!)

Sew on spring bag

Place the outer fabric right side up with the zipper upper edge at the top edge and the lining fabric with the right side facing down.

Pin down all three layers of fabric and finish with a zipper presser foot with a simple straight stitch. Fold the fabrics left to left and iron the edges straight. Now do the same with the remaining pieces of fabric on the other side of the zipper. Make sure that the upper and lining are both on the right side. Orient yourself to the already sewn fabric pieces.

Fold the fabric so that the slide of the zipper comes up and iron over the edges.

Sew on helper for opening the pencil case:

Fold each of the long edges of the cut fabric rectangle inwards by about 1 cm and iron over the edges. Then fold the long edges together and iron over them again. Apply the piece of fabric and then trim the long edges on both sides with a simple straight stitch. Fold the piece of fabric again in the middle so that the right side is on the outside and iron over it again. Lay it with the folded edge inwards on the desired zipper end and pin it down. Fix the zipper on both sides and apply the fabrics on the left side.

Put the two longitudinal edges of the outer fabric together and stitch them together. The same procedure is used for the longitudinal edges of the lining material, whereby you avoid a turning opening here. Open the zipper about half way. Sew the rectangles together on each side first, then separate the eight corners (four times on the outer fabric side and four times on the fabric side - as in variant 1). Turn the pouch so that the liner side is on the outside, and close the swivel opening with a ladder seam and turn your pouch over.

And already the second version of the pencil case is ready!

Quick guide

1. Create pattern according to variant and cut (variant B has additional seam allowances!)
2. Reinforce the fabric with fleece, cut it to size (if necessary) and decorate as desired
3. A: Sewing the zipper into the outer fabric | B: Sew on the zipper
4. A: Close sides and corners, sew lining bag | B: Sew sides together, close corners separately
5. A: Insert the food bag and sew together | B: Close reversing opening, turn
6. And done!

The twisted pirate

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