Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

My oldest child needs an extra large pencil pouch for carrying her stuff to school.  The amount of supplies that are needed by kids today is so outrageous.  I don’t even try to purchase a small size pouch for her.  Normally, I would buy a money bag for her to use as a pouch.  However, this year, I decided to make one.  It turned out nicely.  It’s been awhile since I’ve messed with a zipper, but I made it work.  Plus, I used old place mats to make the pouch….saving money anyway I can.

Items Needed:

  • two pieces of 14×9 material
  • two pieces of 14×9 material to line pouch
  • thread
  • 12 or 14 inch zipper

Directions:

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

First, determine what size pouch that you will need.  I need a pouch the size of 12×7 inch or so.  So, using some old place mats, I cut out two pieces of outer fabric the size of 14×9 to take into account the seams and for possible mistakes. Then, cut out another set of material, the same size, to use as lining for the inside.  I’m using this red material for lining that I found at home.  If you need a smaller or larger pouch, just make the dimensions smaller when cutting out material. 

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Pin lining to wrong side of outer material.  Sew all the way around.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

The red material that I am using for the lining ravels a lot.  So, I am using a stitch to secure the ends.  You can skip this step if the material does not ravel.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Pin the zipper to the outside fabric of the material. I pinned near the first seam instead of the edge.  Both, would work though.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Using a zipper foot, sew the zipper down.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Then, pin the other side of the zipper to the outside fabric of the other piece of material.  Sew down.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Open pieces of fabric.  Press down fabric near the zipper.  Then, topstitch along the outer fabric near the zipper.  You can see topstitching in the picture below.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Notice the topstiching near the zipper..  It helps to keep the zipper firmly in place.  After topstitching, unzip the zipper halfway.  Match the two right sides of the outer fabric pieces together.  Leave the zipper open about halfway so that you will be able to turn pouch inside out.  Try to make sure that the zipper teeth match up together.  Sew down the three sides.  Just for your info, I was not be able to sew over the teeth, but got as close to the edge as possible.

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Just wanted to share a mistake that I made right here.  Looking at the pic, I had to sew a smaller rectangle shape on the inside because the pouch was too big.  I cut my fabric originally at 15×10.  That was too big for the size pouch that was needed.  So, I made it smaller and cut the excess fabric from around it.  It caused me to have to secure the edges, again. (double work!)

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Since, the zipper part was left open halfway while sewing down the sides, it made it easy to turn over.  Love this color!

Make Your Own Pencil Pouch

Just wanted to share that due to my zipper being a little too long, I secured it down on the inside by using a needle and thread to pin it to the side.  Worked perfectly.  Loving this pencil pouch!

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. This is great! And I love how is so much more personalized and unique than those that you can find in a store. Thank you for linking at the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you again next week.

  2. What an awesome project to start sewing on! My daughter would LOVE to make a personalized one of these! Thanks for sharing on Motivation Monday!

  3. Great tutorial. I need to make some of these for my own kids. Thanks for sharing on MerryMonday. Pinned.

  4. Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing at the Bloggers Brag Pinterest Party.

  5. Thank you for such a clear tutorial.I will have to remember to do the topstitching when doing zippers. I always forget before it’s too late 🙂

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