A flat zipped pencil case is very easy to make and is a great accessory for students, artists and anyone who loves to doodle.
This pencil is made using a simple rectangle. As for the ones on my pictures the size of the rectangle is 21x17cm (8 1/4″ x 6 3/4″). Slight variation of this measurements is ok.
The zipper must go to the longer side! So keep this in mind when choosing the design for the front.
It can be made with just one piece of thick fabric or lining can be added firmness. The body rectangle can also be made using denim scraps, as I will describe below.
The basic version without lining
The basic version with added lining
The patchwork version with lining attached
If you wish to sew a zipper pouch using denim scraps, you’d need to add another layer of fabric not only for firmness but to hide the wrong side of the patchwork. In some cases, usually for small pouches, the lining fabric can play a role of a patchwork base as well.
Cut out the exact shape for your pouch including seam allowances out of a fabric which will be your lining.
Lay some scraps onto the wrong side. Preferably lay grain lines parallel with future zipper line.
Keep in mind also that the pouch is narrow and the front of it is just about 6cm (2,5″) along zipper and the rest of this rectangle is folded over and creates the back of the pouch. That means that when you are laying the pieces remember that your nicest scraps should be situated within the 6cm (2,5″) along the zipper.
Make sure all the pieces overlap as described in the easy patchwork lesson >>>. The scraps at all four edges can stick out for now, they will be trimmed later. Pin and stitch on top through all the layers including the lining. For the bottom thread choose the colour matching the lining.
Trim off anything larger than the lining, as it was our exact size for the pouch. As you can see on the picture above and below, the stitches are there but they are barely seen.
Now the body piece is ready and you can proceed making this pencil case in exactly the same manner as the makeup bag here >>> or the zipped key pouch here >>>
You can also use this patchwork technique with attached lining to DIY a make up bag:
