Super Simple Pencil Pouch Tutorial

I've made a super simple pencil pouch for my preschooler. She's getting new colored pencils for her 5th birthday and they need a place of their own. The older they get, the more stuff they have with pieces and parts that need a "home".

I've made various sizes of these here: 

But this one is scaled for pencils. I like to work with knit for these because I can upcycle tees with cool graphics or make use of knit scraps left over from other projects as I've done here.

The stretch factor makes for a nice variable-capacity container and it lies flat when you're not using it for storage. Here's what you need to make your own:

Medium or heavyweight vinyl cut to 10" x 5 1/2"
Two 10" x 5 1/2" rectangles of fabric (I prefer knit)
1 yard of trim that's at least 3/4" wide (could be bias tape, twill tape, ribbon)
One 9" zipper

Start by stitching your zipper on to the top edge of your vinyl. Sometimes I pin it and sometimes I eyeball it. Just remember to keep your pin holes along the edge where it will be covered by your trim.

After your zipper is sewn onto the vinyl, flip it over and trim a hole in the vinyl so that when you unzip the zipper you can reach inside the pouch. Otherwise... it won't be a pouch. More of a practical joke.

Again keeping the pin holes on the edges where it'll be covered by trim, pin the vinyl to your rectangles. I like the added strength of two layers of knit fabric.

If you're using a graphic from a tee, the inside and outside could be different prints. But if you want to void the warranty and live dangerously, it'll work with just one.

Stich it down as close to the edge as you can. It'll wiggle a little. No biggie.

Fold your trim in half and stitch it all the way around the perimeter, taking care to catch all of the layers. I used a 5/8" ribbon and it was a little too narrow, so I had a few problems with this one as far as stitching. Note to self and the crafty bloggy world: 5/8" is too narrow.

And that's it. Easy peasy. Okay, you don't have to look all that hard to see the stitching that would've been better off with a bit wider ribbon. But that's okay. Just because it's not perfect doesn't mean it's not good. That's my mantra lately.

Bags with a transparent vinyl window make me disproportionately happy. I like to see what's in there. So I use these to organize travel gear, craft supplies and small toys and games. I think they make a great handmade gift that can be repurposed. And now my preschooler's pencils have a handy place to be.