DIY Pencil case tutorials (4 very easy ones including Zipper pencil pouch)

When you are in school or college there is always writing – and then more writing and then some more. For all that you need countless pens, highlighters, pencils, gel pens, sketch pens and then there are so many accompaniments to this like erasers, post-its, mini stapler, and other knick-knacks or just about anything that you need to carry to school/college – coins, keys, lip balm and hand sanitizer comes to my mind.

And you are always in need of pencil pouches to carry all these.

Here are 4 very easy to make pencil pouches for all that. All easy sewing tutorials that even beginners can use and make cute pouches for all that they need to carry.

DIY PENCIL CASES

1. Zipper pencil pouch

A zippered pencil pouch made of fake leather

This is a boxy pencil box- just right to carry a lot of pens and pencils. Increase dimensions if you want a bigger size.

You can use fabric or faux leather to make it – you need a heavyweight fabric or use double layers of medium weight fabric or interface your fabric. 

How to make this pencil case

Step 1 Cut out a 10 inch square fabric piece.

cut out 10 inch fake leather piece for the pencil pouch sewing diy tutorial

Step 2 Keep the fabric right side up in front of you. Keep the zipper face down along one edge of the fabric. Sew in place. 

keep zipper face down on the side of the pencil pouch material

Step 3 Fold the fabric and join the remaining zipper edge to the other edge of the fabric as in the picture below.

Bring the other side of the zipper up and sew

Step 4 Keep the tube you have now flattened and arrange the zipper to the center. Stitch the side edges closed.

Bring the zipper to the middle to make pencil case

Clip the corners

Clip the edges

Step 5 Pinch one of the corners and sew across one inch from the corner. Remember to keep the seam allowance open as you sew.

To make the pencil pouch boxy, sew across corner

Do this for all the corners.

All 4 corners boxed of the DIY pencil case

That is it. Turn your pencil box right side out. Now you can stuff the pencil pouch with anything you have a mind to. You can use tack stitches to keep the inside corner neat and tidy – they do give some sturdiness to the pouch so you may not want to trim it out.

Boxed corners of the pencil pouch

2 Simple flat zipper pouch

Flat diy pencil case

This is a compact flat pencil case which will easily fit into your bag/backpack/purse etc. Make two or more to keep different types of pens separately organized

How to make this pencil pouch.

Step 1 Cut out fabric pieces – 2 for outer pouch and 2 for lining with the same dimensions – 10 inch by 5 inch. Use a coordinating zipper.

cut out fabric pieces to make easy pencil pouches  - 4 pieces  - 10 inch by 5 inch and a zipper

Step 2 Keep one of the lining fabric face up on table. Keep the zipper face up along the long edge. Place the outer fabric face down on top of this. Refer picture below.

sandwich the zipper in between the outer and lining for the pencil pouch making tutorial

When you stitch the edge and turn the zipper out – you will get one side of the pouch ready

bring the zipper out for the pencil pouch diy

Step 3 Now to join the other side fabric pieces – Place the other remaining lining piece face up on the table. Keep the already prepared pouch piece with zipper attached on top of this, face up as in the picture below.

sew zipper to other side fabric pieces

Now keep the other outer pouch fabric piece face down on top of all this. Refer picture below.

sandwich zipper between fabric pieces for making pencil pouches

Stitch along the edge joining the zipper edge to the lining and outer pieces.

sew the edge for the pencil pouch

You get the zipper in the middle and the outer fabric and lining fabric to either side of it.

open the fabric pieces with the zipper in the middle to make flat pencil case

Step 4 You may want to add a small strap to the purse for ease of carrying the pouch around. Cut out a 4 inch piece of webbing or ribbon or make  on with fabric 

Turn the fabric pieces so that the outer fabrics are on one side and lining pieces are on the other side of the zipper. Refer picture below

a small strip of webbing for bag handle for the pencil pouch

Keep the strap folded inside the two outer pouch pieces.

insert the webbing in the middle of the fabric pieces of the pencil pouch

Stitch along the outer edge leaving a 2 inch unstitched

sew all along the outside of the pencil pouch

Step 5 Get the bag out of the lining through the hole in lining – remember to clip the corners before doing this – if you want sharp corners. Stitch the hole closed after everything is as it should be.

bring the pencil pouch right side out

3. Small Pencil Case Pattern 

a small boxy pencil pouch

Another zipper pencil pouch. This is a similar pouch as the boxy one – just that it is smaller and the construction is a little different. There is no bulk inside.

Step 1. Cut out a square fabric piece of 7 inches 

cut fabric and zipper for the small and cute pencil pouch tutorial

Cut out the fabric as per the pattern

cut the edges as in the picture for making the pencil case pattern

Step 2 Join the zipper to both edges 

place zipper on one side of the pencil pouch edge

Attach the zipper to either side of the fabric edges as done in the first pouch

sew the zipper in place

Keep the zipper open as you pin the zipper to the other side.

sew the zipper on the other side too

Step 3 Bring the zipper to the middle and join the sides. The size of the sides are not the same but join as much is there. 

Bring zipper to the middle and sew side edges of the pouch

Step 4 Pinch the corner openings and stitch.

Sew the edges

Finish the edges. Bring the pouch right side out.

Bring the boxy pouch rightside out

4.  Felt Pouch

If you are really in a hurry and your kid needs a pencil pouch super fast you can make a simple pouch with felt this way.

How to make the felt fabric pencil pouch

Step 1 Simply cut out a shape from felt – get two pieces for front and back and a zipper 

Simple felt pencil pouch

Step 2 Cut out a window for the zipper on the back piece.

cut a small opening for zipper for the simple pencil case

Step 3 Keep the zipper to the inside and stitch along the edge. Cut out the extra tail of zipper.

keep the zipper under the opening of the  pencil case

Step 4 Join the two pieces of felt by topstitching along the edge. Make a decorative stitch if you want a fancy pouch.

top stitch the pencil case

If you want to check out other types of pouches which are similar but different check out these posts : Make a make up pouch : 2 types ; Make a zippered pouch

makeup pouch

Make a phone pouch : 3 easy ways

phone pouch sewing tutorial

Hand sew a Leather Pouch

How did you like this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 3.2 / 5. Vote count: 5

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

This article was written on

& updated on

Subscribe to get weekly notifications of posts in your email

Author: Sarina Tariq

Hi, I love sewing, fabric, fashion, embroidery, doing easy DIY projects and then writing about them. Hope you have fun learning from sewguide as much as I do. If you find any mistakes here, please point it out in the comments.

17 thoughts on “DIY Pencil case tutorials (4 very easy ones including Zipper pencil pouch)”

  1. unless

    Thank you this is helped me.

    Reply
  2. Alejandra Ruiz

    Love the easy heart shaped one. Could make any shape! Great for kids. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Kym

    Hello, am very attracted by your post, thank you. I am a total beginner (& haven’t done zips before), can you clarify please what length zipper to use for box pouch No 1 – also 10” as the fabric? Thank you, sorry for silly question.

    Reply
    • Sarina

      The zipper should be the same size or slightly bigger than the fabric side.

  4. samra

    how to sew pouches for friends

    Reply
  5. Emily Williamson

    hi

    Reply
  6. Kesha Pierre

    Excellent job thanks for letting me know☺☺☺

    Reply
  7. Pearl

    This is really helpful as I can’t go out to buy a purse I can make mine.

    Reply
  8. Benita

    very helpful

    Reply
  9. alexis

    these pencil pouch ideas are great! they are very useful for school

    Reply
  10. judy

    send me on appp number 0026776095159

    Reply
  11. Sally and Sofia

    Thank you for sharing these patterns. My daughter and I made the first pencil case. We lined it and hand sewed it so it took nearer 6 hours to make! Your instructions and pictures were clear and easy to follow.
    Thanks very much.

    Reply
    • Sarina

      Hi Sally & Sofia
      So nice to know that you used my instructions to make the pencil case with your daughter. Thanks for writing the comment
      Sarina

  12. mariam

    love it helped me a lot saved more money

    Reply
  13. Carole

    Will definitely make some of these for our Christmas charity stall. .

    Reply
  14. gift

    This is indeed an interesting piece. Will try it out

    Reply
Your opinion is important here. Leave a comment