I love pencil pouches because you can use them for stationary or cosmetics! So they are fun for all ages. And with back-to-school looming, a DIY pencil pouch is a timely sewing project!
You can make it character fabric for your school kid, or something prettier for you!
(The cute pencils are from Amazon)
This DIY pencil pouch has a bow that you can add on to it, to make it a little bit girly, or leave it off for a more basic pouch.
The pencil pouch construction is pretty easy, even though it has a zipper, so get ready for a quick project! Easily stash your pens and pencils in this adorable DIY pencil case.
I used my fabric Kiss Me, Kate for this project! I’m SO excited to share this project because the fabric is finally available in stores! You can find it at your local quilt shop and Fat Quarter Shop, right now! I’ll update you as more stores stock it! I used Polka Bow for this because it’s cutesy and polka dotty – but also has bows! I thought it would be fun to make a bow pouch with bow fabric, so there you go!
You don’t even need a pattern for the pouch part, we’ll start with a rectangle. Let’s get sewing!
DIY Pencil Pouch Materials
- 1/3 yard fabric for main fabric
- 1/3 yard fabric for lining
- Lightweight fusible interfacing
- 12″ zipper
- Basic sewing supplies such as a sewing machine, scissors, rotary cutter and mat, and acrylic ruler
Bow Pencil Pouch Pattern Download
Download the template below! The PDF includes 2 pages – print at 100% or DO NOT SCALE and then tape together.
How to sew a DIY pencil pouch
Use a 3/8″ seam allowance unless otherwise noted.
This zipper pouch is easy to sew! Just follow the instructions below!
Cut a fabric rectangle measuring 3 3/4″ wide by 18″ long. Fold in have matching long edges with right sides together.
Sew along the long side to create a tube.
Turn the tube and press with the seam in the middle. Turn under 1/4″ on each of the short edges and press. Topstitch.
The easiest way to tie this bow is the two loop method. That way you can make sure the seam is on the back of the bow. Pull the bow pieces out until you have a bow that you love!
Assemble the pencil case
Cut 2 rectangles 8″ by 9.5″ – one from the exterior fabric and one from lining. Back the outer fabric with fusible interfacing.
Lay the exterior fabric on top of the lining with the right sides of the fabric facing out, or wrong sides together. Place the zipper face down along the long edge of the stack and pin or hold together with sewing clips. (You can’t see the canvas because it is right underneath the cotton, but I promise it is there!) The zipper tape edge should be lined up with the raw edge of the fabric.
Sew the zipper close to the zipper teeth. You don’t need to use a zipper foot for this, just align your needle to the left as you sew.
Finish the edge.
Press and topstitch 1/8″ from the seam.
Sew the other side of the fabric to the zipper. 
Finish the seam.
Turn and topstitch.
The edges of the zipper pencil pouch are still open. Open the zipper partway and turn it inside out. Pin the short edges with the zipper lined up in the middle. 
Sew the short edges and trim the excess zipper. Then finish the seams with a serger. Turn right side out using a chopstick to poke out the corners. You’re done now if you decide not to add the bow.
Attach the bow
Unzip the zipper just a little bit. Hand stitch the bow to the pouch right at the top. For another way to attach the bow, refer to the video in this post!
And you’re done!
Check out the knotted pencil pouch tutorial if you like this one!
