Back to School Pencil Case
LiEr and her ikat bag are constantly full of fun, new, kid-related ideas and sewing projects. Today she shares this Back to School Pencil Case, perfect for kindergarten through college! The added piping lends a special touch to this project. Learn more about LiEr in her introduction, and visit the ikat bag blog for more (check out the “Most Visited” section in her left sidebar, and her patterns too).
From LiEr: I used home decor weight fabric and/or duckcloth/canvas for my pencil cases– They make a sturdy product. However, it can be tricky to manipulate in many layers and around small circumferences if you are not used to working with these. You might also use thinner fabrics with appropriate interfacing (if preferred).
What you need (1/2″ seam allowance included in all pieces):
- For the Outer Layer:
- One rectangle 9.5″ x 10.5″ in outer fabric
- One rectangle 9.5″ x 10.5″ in heavy sew-in interfacing
- Two circles 4″ diameter in outer fabric
- Two circles 4″ diameter in heavy sew-in interfacing
- One 7″ zipper
- 19″ (approximately) of 1/4″ piping cord, cut into two equal pieces
- Two rectangles 10.5″ x 1.5″ piping fabric
- For the Lining Layer:
- One rectangle 9.5″ x 10.5″ in lining fabric
- Two circles 4″ diameter in lining fabric
- Also needed: a sewing machine with a regular presser foot, a zipper foot, coordinating sewing thread, a needle for hand-basting and a seam ripper.
MAKING THE LINING LAYER
Step 1
Fold the lining rectangle in half, right sides together, so the shorter side is along the fold. You will get a folded rectangle of dimensions 9.5″ x 5.25″. In the photo, the fold is at the bottom.
Sew, with backstitching, a line 1″ from each short side and 1/2″ from the top of the rectangle as shown. You have made a stout tube, attached only at the ends, with a (approximately) 6.75″ opening for the 7″ zipper. The zipper is shown for reference.
Step 2
Press open the seam allowance of this zipper opening.
Step 3
Make 1/4″ – 3/8″ snips/cuts along the seam allowance of both ends. Notches are shown purely for visibility in the photo. Do not cut all the way to the stitching line (shown in purple ink dashes).
Step 4
Pin one lining circle to one open end of the tube, so the right side of the circle faces the right side (inner surface) of the tube.
Step 5
With the circle below and the tube on top as shown, sew all around, using 1/2″ seam allowance, to attach the circle to the end of the tube. Spread the snipped seam allowance of the tube smoothly around the circumference of the circle as you sew.
Repeat for the other end and the other circle.
Step 6
This is the view of the circular end of the tube. It doesn’t matter if the stitching line is a little crooked/wavy. Trim this seam allowance now to 1/4″ to reduce bulk.
This is the completed lining of the pencil case. Set it aside.
MAKING THE OUTER LAYER
Step 7
Sew the pieces of interfacing to the wrong sides of the corresponding pieces of outer fabric as shown. Sew close to the edge (about 1/4″ or less) so that this stitching line remains hidden within the seam allowances when the pieces are later assembled into the pencil case.
Step 8
Repeat Step 1 with the outer fabric rectangle to make a stout tube with an opening for the zipper (shown again for reference).
MAKE THE PIPING:
Step 9
Remove the regular presser foot and replace it with the zipper foot. Move the needle to the outermost position.
Fold one piece of piping fabric over one piece of piping cord and line up the long edges of the fabric. Using a long stitch length (you will be unpicking a few stitches later), hug the piping cord with the edge of the zipper foot as shown, and sew close to the cord to enclose it within the fabric. Sew all the way to the end of the fabric and do not backstitch.
ATTACHING THE PIPING
Step 10
Line up the seam allowance of one open end of the tube with the seam allowance of the piping and pin in place all around the circumference.
Step 11
Using a regular stitch length and beginning about 1″ from the end (hereafter referred to as the “head end”) of the piping, sew close to the piping cord to attach piping to the circumference of the open end of the tube.
About 1.5″ from the other end (hereafter referred to as the “tail end”) of the piping, stop with the needle in the down position.
Step 12
Using the seam ripper, unpick the long stitches (that you sewed in Step 9) in this remaining 1.5″ of the piping, to expose the cord. Trim away enough cord so that it (the cord) just meets the head end of the piping (shown pulled away) and does not overlap. Do not trim the piping fabric – this WILL be overlapped and needs to remain uncut.
Step 13
Fold in about 1/2″ of the piping fabric as shown.
Step 14
Release the head of the piping and tuck it into the tail end as shown. The ends of the cord itself should meet and not overlap.
Step 15
Fold the piping fabric of the tail end over the head end, and continue sewing to finish attaching the piping to the open end of the tube.
FINISHING THE OUTER LAYER
Step 17
Snip the seam allowance in the same way as in Step 3.
Step 18
Pin one of the outer circles to the open end of the tube, right sides facing, and sew to attach in the same way as in Steps 4 and 5. The zipper foot will enable you to sew very close to the piping cord . You can use the visible stitches from Steps 11-16 as a guide – just sew directly on top of them.
Step 19
Trim the seam allowance to about 1/4″ to reduce bulk and turn right side out to check that the piping is sewn correctly.
Step 20
Repeat Steps 10-19 for the other outer circle and the other open end of the tube.
The outer layer of the pencil case is completed!
ATTACHING THE ZIPPER
Step 21
Insert the lining from Step 6 (wrong side out) into the outer layer from Step 20 (right side out) and line up the ends of the zipper opening.
Step 22
Open the zipper and insert one side (right side up) between the two layers as shown. The zipper coils should be flush with the folded edges of both layers.
Hand baste the zipper in place all around the zipper opening.
Step 23
Turn the entire pencil case inside out and leave the zipper completely open. Change the position of the needle and alignment of the zipper foot accordingly and, beginning in the middle of the pencil case (not the ends) sew about 1/4″ from the coils of the zipper to attach all around the zipper opening. Take your time to do this, particularly if you are using thick fabrics, stopping to turn the fabric often, and always with the needle in the down position.
Step 24
When the zipper is completely attached, remove the basting stitches and turn right side out.
The pencil case is completed!
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91 Responses to “Back to School Pencil Case”
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Oh these are super cute!!!
It looks so beautiful!! But it is too complicated for me to make
How lovely! Thank you so very much for this tutorial, I will certainly make this one.
Great idea and tute. Would work well as a small makeup bag as well (eye liners, mascaras, etc.)
Cute! I’d love the alter the dimensions a tad and make these a little bigger for makeup, etc. Thanks!
WOW! I don’t have any zippers so do you think I could make it with Velcro? I will try….Those are sooooooo cute!
Oh.my.goodness! Adorable!!!
So much more special handmade:)
And how darn cute is that? Love it! Thanks for sharing!
These are so cute!
These would make wonderful back-to-school gifts and give-aways!
These pencil cases are awesome!! And just what I needed.
Cute, cute bag!
wow, this is incredible LiEr! Great thorough tute as usual!
Very cute! Love the piping and circular shape.
Oh I just adore LiEr, and that pencil case is just the thing for me to whip out for a few little kids I know. Stash a couple goodies in there and good to go. Fun!
This is awesome!
Ooooo, I can see this used for a lot more than pencils too. I’m thinking a case for my daughter’s hair accessories… Thank you!
Those are nifty little pencil bags! Great tutorial!
Well, I am intending to do a pencil case for my son. It will probably turn out to be a round one, thanks to this tutorial.
Super fun! I would go and make one right now for my kindergardner but I cannot find any of my attachment foots…torture, pure torture!
That is so cute I wouldn’t limit it to pencils. I can see putting all kinds of things in it and using it as a small purse.
This is really cute and the directions are so well done I think I will try this sometime in the future for sure!
What an awesome tutorial! Thank you so much for sharing!!
love those polka dots
Love this little pencil bag
forget pencils, i could use this for lots of things! very cute
Darling bag and fantastic tutorial! Thank you!
Such a lovely bag.
cute bag
Very cute!
This is absolutely perfect! I was looking for something like this and you brought it out just in time! Thank you so much.
I love these. They’d be great for so much more than pencils.
Way too complicated for me, but I love the step-by-step photographs!!
Thanks so much for the tut!! I love it!
I want to make a big one of those for a bolster pillow! Cute. Maybe I’ll make the little one for little boy for his first time at preschool.
These are so cute! I’ve never attached a zipper that way before, but would love to give it a try.
Very cute! I’ve never sewn anything with piping…this looks like an excellent starter project for it.
Thank you!!! I can see myself making these as my little ones get a bit older.
They look great! I would love to give it a try, but I have a question. What would be the difference if you attach the zipper before and not in the end?
Thanks.
These are so beautiful! I think my kids would love it if I made them each one.
Oh would love to make this for my daughter..she is too young for pencils, but great for her “make-up”, comb, mirror and ponytails!!! Thanks for sharing!
cute! thanks for this tutorial!
Great step-by-step tutorial! And so much useful for my kids, their pencil cases keep getting dirty and I must have alternatives.
This is a wonderful bag. I think the piping makes it look professionally made.
Love these!!! So cute!!
If I’m going to spend the time making something, I want it to look professionally done and the lining in this pouch fits that bill! There aren’t many lined pouch tutorials out there so thank you, thank you!! Now I don’t have to figure it out myself
GREAT TUTORIAL… Awesome to give them as a present!
love them!!!!!!!!!!
These are so super cute. I don’t think I have time before school starts as I still have lunch boxes and a few clothing items to finish, but I am keeping this one bookmarked…the piping and lining just adds such a professional touch!
I am certainly going to try and make one of these, they are adorable! Is there any reason why you couldn’t use fusible interfacing instead of sew-in?
These are lovely and simple. Makes me want to get sewing right away!
Yeah! I’ve imagined making one of these for a while now, but just haven’t taken the time to design it. Now I don’t have to. I’ll just use this tut. Thank you so very much.
really cute … i’ll try to make them!
yeah for school
Love these adorable pencil cases!!
Thanks so much for the tutorial. Why didn’t they have these when I was in school.
as a teacher this would really save me ink on my bags.
Love this project! Will be making more than one with my ds. Thanks for the tutorial!
Cute! Love the circle ends!
These are wonderful. I think piping always gives a handmade project such a professional look. Great job and thanks for posting!
this is so cute and such a great idea!
Thanks for the tutorial. I’ll be saving it for when my daughters old enough to need one. I may make one for myself first hehehe
I used one of these in college! Truly an ageless bag!
This is such a cool tutorial!
Thanks!
How cute. Love the different colors.
Oh! the possibilities! Thanks for this tutorial.
this is so fantastic! thanks for the tutorial!
my soon to be 4th grader will love this!
Love this! I’ve never made piping before! I think I might try it! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Thanks for sharing!
These pencil cases are sooo sweet! And the pipings are great.
Need to make one for each of my girls. And maybe a third one for my crochet hooks.
I think these are great for sketching pencils or colored pencils, not just for school children.
How adorable – The piping is so cute. I have to make some!
thanks for sharing this is great guys!
crochet hooks,,,what a neat idea..
These are really cute. I have never put in a zipper, but I may try to make one of these anyway. Adorable.
Oh I just got the fabric for these, I am so excited to get started on it! I usually buy those plastic cases and it always ends up snapping. Hopefully this will stop the problem.
I really like the circular shape. Great instructions!
lier- i love everything you make you are a genius!
thanks for another great tutorial
So cute, can’t wait to try them!
Love it! Thanks for the great tute. I will take a ‘kit’ to my next retreat with your instructions and make one, two, who knows how many??
I feel like I really need to make one of these for myself! Who says teachers can’t have cool supplies too?? This might even be a great project to get me over my fear of zippers…
oh my! this is such a cute pencil case!!!
That is so cute! I might just have to make one of those!!!
Thank you very much from Spain for this tutorial, it’s so clear! I’m going to make two of them for my children just now.
featured this on my blog today!
wwww.kimboscrafts.blogspot.com
omg this is soo cute ! Thank you soo much for the tut
This is marvelous! Thank you very very much!!!! =)
One of the clearest tutorials I have ever seen. Thank you so much!!!
: ) Great job!!!
I love this pencil case!!! I just am wondering where do you attach the rectangle interfacing to the rectangle outer fabric??
Andy, I just read your comment here – you’d sew the interfacing to the rectangle outer fabric all around their perimeters and as close to the edge as possible. I used about a 1/8″ to 1/4″ seam allowance. See the polka-dotted fabric in the photo of Step 7.
Tjo, die Sachverhalte können so simpel erscheinen. Herzlichen Dank für eure Erklärungen