Easy DIY Pencil Pouch

Learn how to sew an easy DIY pencil pouch with scraps of fabric, a zipper, and a free sewing pattern. This is a great beginner sewing project!

I’m always losing pens and pencils in my purse, and my kids fight over markers unless it’s clearly separated for each kid.

I made an easy DIY pencil pouch to keep my purse organized, and I’m sharing a free sewing pattern with you. I made one for each kid so they only use what is in their own pencil pouch, and now there’s no more fighting!

These pouches are great and can hold pencils, pens, markers, gluesticks, and small scissors. I love keeping everything in one place so it doesn’t get lost.

My kids can grab theirs and go do some art outside or in another room because it’s so easy to carry it wherever they go.

What fabric works for a zipper pouch?

The fabric that works best for a zipper pouch is quilting cotton for both the outer fabric and the lining fabric. There are so many prints that will be fun to use. Add interfacing to give stability to the pouch and help it hold its shape.

What is a PDF sewing pattern?

A PDF pattern is a sewing pattern designed on the computer and organized so that it can be printed on several letter or A4 size pieces of paper.

I love using PDF sewing patterns because if the pattern gets ruined or if my children or I changed sizes, I can always print it again. It’ll never be destroyed since I have a digital version!

How do you use a PDF sewing pattern?

Open the PDF on a computer and click print. When printing make sure that the scaling is set to 100% or no scaling so that the pattern prints at the correct size.

Once the pattern is printed it can be taped together to get the full size. Then the pattern can be cut for each pattern piece size or individual sizes can be traced so that the pattern can be used again and again. Learn how to use PDF sewing patterns.

Do you love to sew? Here are some fun sewing projects to try!

Supplies

Free Pencil Pouch sewing pattern – get it at the end of the post
2 peices of fabric cut 9 inches by 9 inches
1 plastic zipper 12 inches long
sewing tools
sewing machine

Do you just want the pattern and tutorial as a PDF? Get the pattern and tutorial for just $5. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. Or get the Pattern Bundle with ALL the PDF tutorials!

Place squares wrong sides together. Serge or zigzag around all the edges.

Place the right side of the fabric (outside of the pouch) to the right side of the zipper. Match up the top edge of the fabric with the top of the zipper tape. Pin the edges together.

Put a zipper foot in your sewing machine. Sew along the edge with the zipper foot next to the zipper teeth.

Press the seam and fabric away from the zipper. Topstitch the seam and fabric away from the zipper.

Pin the right side of the other edge of the fabric to the right side of the other side of the zipper. Match up the top edge of the fabric with the top of the zipper tape.

Sew along the edge with the zipper foot next to the zipper teeth.

Press the seam and fabric away from the zipper. Topstitch the seam and fabric away from the zipper. I found this to be easier if the zipper was opened up.

press and topstitch fabric away from zipper

Pull the zipper pull down until it is close to the edge of the fabric, but keep it within the boundaries of the pouch.

Cut off the excess zipper.

Turn the pouch right side in. Pin the short edges of the pouch together making sure the zipper is in the center on both sides.

Sew across each edge with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Make sure to backstitch at each corner and be very careful when sewing over the zipper teeth.

Turn the pouch right side out. Push out the corners and fill it with markers, pens, or pencils. Zip the zipper up to keep everything inside.

Get the Free Sewing Pattern here!

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!