How to make your own see through pencil case...

Hi everyone

Am I the only one who has a 3yr old that seems to drop crayons (like rabbit poop) all over the house?
I ask him to leave them on his table so that they are available to draw with, but they end up lost all over the house and I always seem to find them when I'm doing my most hated chore - vacuuming :P

Now I have tried to get him to keep them in containers on his table, in zip lock bags and even in pencil cases...but some seem to work better that others at containing the crayons, but none are full proof.

So, I put on my thinking cap and decided to make my own containment device in the hope that it would work, because "mummy made it" ;)

Here is what I came up with...

 

I made a see-through patchwork pencil case!

After I got quite a few compliments on both IG and Facebook, and seeing as I needed to make a few more too, I thought I would write you all a tutorial to make your own!

So, would you like to make your own? Yes?!
Well keep reading, as I am about to tell you so you can do just that :)

Here is what you will need:
(2) 11.5" x 9.5" pieces of fabric (I have chosen to make patchwork panels as I have an over flowing scrap bin, you can choose to do this or to just cut some fabric to size :D).
(4) 12" x 3" strips of fabric
(1) 6" x 9.25" piece of see though vinyl (or you could recycle, and use a bag from a sheet set from Target, like I have {see pic below}, yes I have a problem, I KEEP EVERYTHING :D )
(1) 10" zip
A fabric marker (with removable ink)
A walking foot - not essential, but very helpful ;)
Your sewing machine and other sewing room essentials :)

 

Okay, now you have everything ready lets get started :)

Part 1 - Create your see-through panel 

**PLEASE NOTE: I found a walking foot particularly helpful for this part of the project.**

* Also, If you find the vinyl sticking to the base of the throat of your sewing machine, just lift it up slightly to reduce the contact between the two while sewing*

1. Take 1 of your 12" x 3" strips and place your piece of vinyl on top.  Stitch to join along the edge.

2. Using a zigzag/overlocking stitch, sew in your seam allowance to help reduce fraying over time.

3. Trim excess fabric.
4. Fold your fabric back and finger press the join.

5. Topstitch along the same edge you have just sewn - ensuring to catch your seam allowance so it is sewn flat on the reverse side, and can not be seen from the front.

 

6. Repeat 1-5 for the remaining sides. Then measure a 11.5" x 9.5" rectangle, ensuring that the vinyl is centred and trim to size.

 

*I sometimes find it easier to lay one of my 11.5" x 9.5" fabric rectangles on top of the vinyl panel so I can easily see the size it needs to be trimmed to :) *

Part 2 - Inserting your zip

You will need to attach your zipper foot to your sewing machine for this part of the project.

7. Place your vinyl panel face down on your zip - as shown in picture below.

 

8. Sew along the zipper tape to join your zip to the vinyl panel.

9. Using a zigzag/overlocking stitch, sew in your seam allowance to help reduce fraying over time.

10. Press and topstitch along the same edge you have just sewn - ensuring to catch your seam allowance so it is sewn flat on the reverse side.

11. Place one of your 11.5" x 9.5" pieces of fabric face up in front of you, then place the zip along the top edge.  Then place the other 11.5" x 9.5" pieces of fabric face down on top. (You might find it helpful to pin all your layers of fabric here - but ensure NOT to pin through the vinyl!)

 

12. Sew along the zipper tape to join your zip to the fabric panels.
13. Press and topstitch along the same edge you have just sewn.

Part 3 - Finishing the pencil case off

14. Open your zip.
15. Fold your panels so that the zip pull is on the inside.

16. Sew all 3 layers together with a straight stitch, on all 3 sides. Then using a zigzag/overlocking stitch, sew in your seam allowance to help reduce fraying over time.

 

17. To create your boxed corners, to do this you need to measure and mark a 1” square in one corner with an erasable marker.  It is helpful to use the seam stitching line as 2 sides of your square (as shown in the photo below).

18. Repeat step 17 for the remaining 3 corners.

19. Fold your corners out so that the lines of the squares match up, and sew along the line. Then using a zigzag/overlocking stitch, sew along your stitching line to help reduce fraying over time.

20. Trim your seam allowance to ½”

21. Turn right side out and press CAREFULLY - do not press the vinyl! It might melt!

And your finished :)

You can adjust the size of your fabric to make your pencil case smaller or larger if you like too! I might make some different sized ones as gifts sometime soon :)

I'd love to see any pencil cases you make using this tutorial, so leave a link, tag me on IG (@formylittlemonster) or send me an email: emma@formylittlemonster.com
Have fun :)
Emma