* Pencil bag

Posted on June 20th, 2008 by maitreya. Filed under Projects with Instructions, Sewing/Fabric Crafts.


This linen+colorful bits idea has apparently been percolating in my head for 3 years, with a sidetrack using gray wool a while back. The pattern’s made up as I went along, but it’s a pretty basic design that’s all over the Japanese craft books. I was very pleased with myself for getting the zipper+lining topology right on the first try. :P

I rather like it plain, but I’m tempted to add some embroidery, or maybe Gocco or stamps like Scrapabee’s awesome stuff (warning: her site has music on autoplay).

Sketchy instructions: you need a 9 inch zipper, 10×12 inch rectangles of the lining and outer fabrics, and 13 inches of binding.

1. Stack your materials like this: lining right side up, zipper right side up with the tape edge along the 10 inch side of the lining fabric, outer fabric right side down and with the 10 inch edge aligned with the others.

2. Use a zipper foot and stitch pretty close to the zipper (takes a little feeling around since the zipper is inside.)

3. Fold back the fabrics to expose the zipper. Iron flat.

4. Topstitch along the zipper.

5. Trim the other 10 inch sides to be even if needed.

6. Fold everything around to make the same zipper sandwich on the other 10 inch sides like you did for step 1. Sew like step 2.

7. Now when you go to fold back the fabric and expose the zipper again, you’ll end up with a tube. To topstitch, you have to upzip the whole length, and scrunch to get the very end where you can’t unzip any more. It works, I swear.

8. Zip it up and iron flat, making sure the zipper is centered. Trim the ends straight, and so you only have about half an inch of zipper tape at each end.

9. Fold binding around the corner and over the raw edges. Sew on with a zigzag stitch, folding the end around the other corner. Repeat for the other side.

Hmm, this is hard to explain without pictures. Well, good luck if you try my instructions.

ETA: Yucaree took pictures for all the steps!  Thanks!



16 Responses to “Pencil bag”

  1. abbyjane Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 3:39 am

    I love the linen with green! This is a great project. Thank you.

  2. Donna Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 5:53 am

    Thanks for the zipper instructions, they were very helpful! I’ve been wanting to make a case for my colored pencils and this post came at just the right time.

  3. mycraftyways Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 7:17 am

    Thanks for the explanations !

    This little bag (case ?) will also be perfect to stash all the essentials that would otherwise be dancing freely in the bottom of one’s handbag !

    Love the linen/solid combination.

  4. suzee Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am

    Thanks! This is adorable, and even my big kids will want one for the fall. I’m going to make a few of different sizes for my purse, so everything isn’t one big pile o’ junk!

  5. robyn Says:
    June 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    love this! i’m posting about it, pointing my readers here for the tutorial, tomorrow at 3pm!

  6. r. robyn Says:
    June 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am

    I like this a lot. Sometimes simple is best. I could think of a couple uses for this. I like the idea of using to organize my purse (which really needs to be done).

  7. Miss Snips Says:
    June 24th, 2008 at 9:52 am

    thanks for this, I have been teaching myself some of the tweeks necessary for zippers and linings for bags, this one should prove very useful. I am thinking a few of these in different sizes would make nice christmas gifts for my girl friends…

  8. Bobbi-lee Says:
    June 25th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    What a cute little pouch. I am really tempted to sew some bright green buttons onto it!

  9. Daved Says:
    June 26th, 2008 at 5:59 am

    Great funky design and nice instructions! This bag could be easily used for many other purposes, storing money, make-up and sewing items.

  10. yucaree Says:
    July 2nd, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    thank you for the tutorial! it was simple enough for me, a newbie, to finish in one sitting. i made it for a friend’s birthday present and i’m pretty sure she’s gonna like it. :)

    here’s a link to the photos i took during my sewing process :: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yucaree/sets/72157605942473621/. hope it’s helpful!

  11. Janep Says:
    July 27th, 2008 at 1:08 am

    I wanted to make a front zippered pouch which did not have any exposed raw seams and your tutorial was just the one I was looking for. Your pouch is so much nicer than mine! Still please check out my blue kiddie fabric pouch I made at http://projectsbyjane.blogspot.com/

  12. Stephanie Says:
    November 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am

    Great! My daughter is an art student and this would be perfect.

  13. Perrine Says:
    April 21st, 2009 at 5:52 am

    Hello!
    I really like your how to. I was wondering if I could translate it in French and add it to my list of how to as explained in my french post (http://www.petitcitron.com/index.php/form_howto.html)
    Of course, your website would be quoted and there would be a link!
    Thank you,
    Perrine

  14. Jess Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 1:01 am

    Is there a video for this by any chance? I’m horribly incompetent when it comes to following written and picture instructions D:

  15. julie Says:
    July 30th, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    Just finished three of these- they are great gifts. Thanks for the tute.

  16. Sian Says:
    January 15th, 2012 at 2:32 am

    WOW! this is fantastic, my pencil case turned out great and my friends are asking for me to do presents! thanks alot but a video would of easier <3 <3 <3 thanks!!!

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