**This easy DIY zipper pen pouch is quick to make and is a fun way to keep track of all your pens.**
Happy Wednesday friends! How is everyone going? The girls are on break this week, which means lots of arguing. Seriously, Annabelle and Autumn can find anything and everything to fight about. It also means my two hours of me time while Aubrie is napping (that I only just got back when Annabelle went back to school in mid January) is gone for the week. Thankfully the older girls are somewhat self sufficient, so I was able to get this post done.
I know so many people love online calendars, but I am pen and paper type of girl (as is evident of my Emily Ley planer in the above picture). I tend to use different colors for the appointments/activities for different kids. I am also trying to be more colorful in my daily recordings. I wanted a simple zipper case to keep all my pens together for easy access. And while I could probably buy one, I have lots of fabric at home, and these are super simple to whip together.
Materials needed for easy DIY zipper pen pouch
(2) 10″ x 4.5″ lining pieces
(2) 10″ x 4.5″ main fabric pieces
(2) 3.75″ x 2.75″ main fabric zipper end
(2) 1.5″ x 4.5″ lining piece loop
(1) 8″ zipper ( think it was 8″)
Sew zipper ends
Start by folding the zipper end pieces in half, hamburger style, main sides together sew the long ends
Turn the pieces right side out and finger press so the seam is in the middle.
Sew onto the the ends of the zipper at the top and bottom as shown above. If you don’t do this there will be hole on the other side of where the zipper starts and stops. Then your pens will fall out.
Sew your main fabric onto the zipper
With the zipper right side up lay a main fabric piece right side down and sew across the top. You will more than likely need to stop while your needle is in the fabric, lift your presser foot, and mover the zipper pull out of the way.
Flip the main fabric piece down like shown, to get to the other side of the zipper.
Take your other main fabric piece, and once again, put the main side down, and sew it across the top of the zipper.
If you open both sides up, you are left with this.
Sew the lining fabric
This part is kind of hard to show with pictures, but you are going to fold one of the main pieces down , and then flip the project over so that the wrong side of the zipper is facing up. Once again you are going to place the lining fabric down, and sew across the top of the zipper.
Still working on the wrong side of the zipper it’s time to sew the other lining piece down. As you can see all the pieces of the pouch are pushed down. You will be sewing the other lining fabric across the last part of the zipper were my finger is.
**PS. You can also see where the holes in your case would be where the zipper ends, but it’s not where the edge of the pouch is.
Now press both the main fabric and the lining fabric out and top stitch by the zipper if you would like.
Some talented people can sew the lining and the main fabric onto the zipper and the same time. I am not one of those people.
Add the loops
To make the loops for the side of the pouch fold the fabric, main sides together, hot dog style. Sew, then turn out and finger press seam in the middle.
Fold loop in half and place on the pouch like shown above. I did end up putting a loop in the other side too, but didn’t take a picture.
Sew it all together
Now it’s time to sew it all together. First unzip zipper a little. Then match the lining pieces, and main pieces right sides together. Then sew around the edges leaving a small hole on the lining side to turn out.
Turn out your pencil case and sew the hole on the lining side closed. And you are done with your easy DIY zipper pen pouch! Once you get the hang of sewing zippers (they can be tricky at first) these whip up so quickly! I’ve already made two, and totally want to make more pouches (more so for the girls to store small toys so we stop going through sandwich bags.
I also have directions on how to make a pen/planner holder here and this pen holder than has elastic to go around your planner.
I took a video but haven’t had time to edit it yet. Once I do I’ll be sure to include it here.