“It’s Back To School time, boys and girls.” This Zip-It-Up pencil pouch would be of great help for them to keep their stationery in place.
Not only that, but it is also a great topic for “Show And Tell” session to their new classmates of how the magic works with this zipper + ribbon strip…”See, this is a strip of ribbon, and I am going to turn it into a pencil pouch…. *zip**zip**zippppp***…. tadaaaa…. a pencil pouch!!!!”. School is fun with friends and books around.
Recently, I received overwhelming and fantastic responses came all over the world to visit the tutorial of the Zip-Itself Tetrahedron Coin Purse, the same concept as this zip-it-up pencil pouch. Among the feedback and comments, some of you found it difficult to understand at some point, but I am glad that after putting your hands on it, you’ve made yourself some successful coin purses.
As usual, practice makes perfect! Grandma G even tried it on with her sewing machine with a wider ribbon that her daughter Jessica of How About Orange designed. Jessica also shared the post with her readers.
I was so happy that you all like the coin purse so much. As an appreciation for all your visits and feedback, I developed another tutorial on the same concept. This time both boys and girls can use this zip-it-up pencil pouch (just have to be fair to the boys too, right?).
Hope you like this Zip-It-Up Pencil Pouch as much as the coin purse. Please find the tutorial after this.
Zip-It-Up Pencil Pouch
Finished Dimension: approx. 4″ x 8″ x 1 1/2″
Materials:
1. Zipper (nylon) – 80″
2. Ribbon (7/8″)- 80″ (Note: you can use grosgrain, woven, satin ribbons, or other alternative materials like lace, fabric strip, soft twill tape etc.)
3. Ribbon – short length for the purse loop.
4. Lining fabric strip (1 1/2″) – 80″ (optional)
Tools:
1. Sewing needles.
2. Matching threads
3. Pins
4. Marker
5. Warm iron (optional, use only with lining)
Get ready the materials and tools as per quantities stated above.
You can get the long nylon zipper from a craft shop that cut into your requested length, and don’t forget to add a zipper pull.
Sew a few stitches to make a bottom-stop about 1″ from the end of the zipper.
Tie 2 knots on both top zipper tapes to prevent the zipper-pull from accidentally glide out from the zipper.
Measure 4 3/4″ from zipper’s bottom-stop. Mark, this is the START point.
Pin and backstitch the ribbon to the zipper tape along line A, start at 3/4″ from the ribbon end and 1/32″ away from the teeth in order for the zipper pull to glide through.
I sewed with a longer stitch on the wrong side but shorter loop stitch on the right side for the back-stitch so that the thread is not obviously seen on the right side.
When you reach the bottom stop, bend the zipper tape down, smooth the corner by crossing the zipper ends, continue sewing your ribbon till you have done around 70″ from the start point.
Come back to the start point. Arch the tape at the marking where the marking should be at the center of the ribbon’s width, pin the ribbon to the tape along line B.
Sew ribbon to the tape of the other side of the zipper.
Fold the ribbon’s end in and slip stitch the ribbon to the tape by following the curve.
A nice smooth curvature determines the beauty of the pencil case.
Continue backstitching the ribbon to the zipper tape until you have done 65″ from the start point.
There will be a difference of 5″ of stitching between line A & B.
Zip-up the zipper and the pencil case shape is formed through an upward spiral closure.
Measure your pencil case from the bottom stop, it should be around slightly over 8″ and your zipper goes 7 rounds of zipping.
Press the top edge of the pencil pouch to find the top corners of a rectangular shape.
Mark both points on line A & B.
The point above the bottom-stop is the endpoint, whilst, the point above the start point is the pencil pouch top-stop with a ribbon loop (please refer the last step-by-step photo for a clearer picture).
Unzip the pencil pouch a little. Arch the line A zipper tape at the marking, the zipper ends should meet and intersect at the other marking on line B.
Place a ribbon loop on the intersection point of the zipper, pin & sew to join.
Trim off the extra zipper, crossed them and make a few stitches to stabilize the position.
Trim off the extra length of the ribbon and fold the raw edge of the ribbon, just like the start point, slip stitch to the tape.
Whipstitch the zipper edges at the back of the pencil pouch to complete it.
You may add a lining at the back of the pencil pouch. The lining will add some stability and aesthetic look to the workmanship of the pencil pouch.
Iron the lining strip by folding in both edges to form a 7/8″ double-fold tape.
Slip-stitch along the backstitch line to cover the stitches done for the ribbon. When you reach the curve of the start and endpoints, trim the ends to follow the curvature, fold in and slip stitch like you did the ribbon.
Zip it all the way up and you will get a pencil pouch.
Or, zip it all the way down to return it to a ribbon with edges full of zipper teeth.
such a creative idea. Your all articles are amazing. Thanks for sharing! Have a good day.
I’m sure My girl will love this. She just loves to draw, paint and she is so good at it.
Hi Joanne. Our readers will love this. I have included your fabulous Zip Up Pencil Case tutorial in our Crafty Like Granny weekly Craft roundup https://craftylikegranny.com/back-to-school-crafts 🙂 Cheers Emily
I love this and am intrigued by the idea of the zipper attaching to the ribbon. Can’t wait to try this out! Pinning and sharing! 🙂 Lisa
Hi! I have made this pencil case many times and love them! I was wondering if it is permissible to make and sell them in small amounts using this tutorial?
I don’t prohibit anyone to sell their own handmade at this moment, but the permission is subject to revise in future.
can you make a video? more easier for me to understand.
Did you sew the ribbon on by hand or machine?
I did it by hand but you can do it by machine on the long straight side and with little hand sewing for the corners.
Can ou provide a website where one could get a zipper for this project?
I bought it from local craft shop that sells sewing notion. You can try to find it in your local craft shop, it is quite common but some shop won’t display it.
Where would one get a zipper for this project?
I would go to my local Salvation Army or thrift shop. Kids sleeping bags are often just $3.50. Watch a movie and take the zipper out.
I have seen these more in a rectangle shape, and I shoulder strap. There are two tabs, ont that is straight across the top of the purse and the one that unwinds it all and that is included in the shoulder strap. Any ideas how to do that?
hi,i just want to ask abaut my zip pecil case that always look bigger on the top,can you help me ?
I can’t be sure what’s going wrong without taking a look on your pencil case, but I guessed that perhaps the zipper end is not perfectly matched. Please send me a photo or two, thanks.
Absolutely wonderful!!! Although I was wondering if I should use a closed zipper or a open one, does it matter???
Alice, I don’t know what is closed or open zipper, please elaborate it a little more so that I can answer your question 🙂
A closed zipper is a zipper with and ending to it so like the ones on jackets for example but an open zipper is a zipper without the ending.
Yes, you can use both zippers, I am using a cut-to-length zipper and it doesn’t come with any stop. If your zipper doesn’t has an end stop then you will need to make a few stitches so that zipper pull won’t slip it’s way out from the teeth accidentally when you open it too fast while sewing.
hey there! I would just like to say thank you so much for this tutorial, and the one with the coin purse! It’s so cute and so amazing! I finished making the pencil case today! Thank you again! 😀
mind to share some photo with us? You can post them up at the facebook page. Can’t wait to have a look 🙂
Hello, I made this pencil box using lace which is very Indian and this was made in almost one hour! (minus the inner lining). Everyone loved the idea and I am going to make some more as giveaways to friends.
Thanks for wonderful website
Neha (Mumbai)
Wow… this is my greatest news of the day, hope I have a chance to see the pencil case 🙂
i don’t understand how to finish the top
This is so COOL!!!!! I’m only 12, but I will totally try to make this!!!
this is so cool! i’m definitely making these for the kids in my life! thanks! 🙂 lisa
Hey..im from sri lanka
thx so much for this tutorial and many more others
my mom learnt everything from just the pictures…
shes a professional seamstress so she found it much faster doing it on the machine for all the straight parts….
just an idea that instead of ribbon we can also use any beautiful fabric scraps (a bit wider coz will give a bigger purse) left over from other stuff
once again thanks a million…
Definitely, Shazeenak, you can use fabric strips too.
It looks so awesome but i dont know how to start the bottom how to make the curve can you give me some help please I’ll appreciate
Hi Yari, please go to another similar post, zip itself coin purse, you will have a better view of step photos.
thank you for the information..good luck in your career..
that means the zipper do not close at the end of 80” compare to others zip?
Your are right. It is a cut to length zipper, so both ends are open. You need to insert a zipper pull into the zipper (the shop should be able to do it for you). TO close the end of the zipper, simply sew it up across so that the pull can’t pass through.
Hope this help 🙂
u r from?
hello,
my name is adilah
wow..so cute n creative..where do you get that zipper.im still a student n i want to try it..
I bought it from sewing craft store in roll that cut into length, either by inch, yard or meter.
WOW ! this is soo fun and creative..I would like to give it a whirl..Is there a way to print this tutorial in PDF format ? Thanks for assisting
The print option will be available in my new web design which is still under progress. At this moment, please use the browser printing option. Thanks 🙂
I feel dumb because I cannot for the life of me understand how to do this one.
this looks great! i’m hoping to make it for a teacher gift…i cannot seem to find 80″ nylon zippers, though? am i just looking in the wrong place?
The zipper comes in roll and cut into your desire length. A craft store selling sewing materials should have it.
thank you! i see it now…i had no idea you could buy by the yard.
the ones i’m seeing are polyester not nylon…do you think that’s okay?
I think they are the same 🙂
Thanks for sharing your terrific idea and tutorial…I have posted about you on my Freebies blog.
Hugs Khris
Thanks, Khris, for the featuring 🙂
Fabulous idea!
A question for you: I’m confused on the construction of this, especially where and on which end to start sewing. Is this pretty much the same construction as the zip-it-up coin purse, just with a longer zipper?
For some reason I had an easier time understanding the coin purse instructions.
Thanks!
Hihi
Luv tis soo much..I know u can use tis method to make a small handbag for the girls..
Looking forward on ur new ideas…
You are right, Wira. Get a longer zipper and make a wider base and you will sew a small handbag 🙂
This is very nice. which zip no need to use this.. pls reply. wts ur website? Tns. Harini
Is 80″ correct for the length of the zipper? That is over 2 yards. Just checking before I try this project it looks great.
Yes, it is correct for this finished size, though you will have some extra after the project.
Is there an option to use a machine for this project? Is it simply easier to hand stitch it all?
You can machine sewn the zipper for the straight lines then hand sewn the curved ends and the lining.
If you are good with machine, then it is a lot faster than hand sewn 🙂
Wow! That is amazing!
I love it! And would definitely use this for school. It might take me a while to make since I just began sewing a few months ago. lol
try it and you will love it 🙂
I tried it and I agree with you! It is really addictive, you will not notice what time is it when you started to do this. Zip it all the way up! I really love this!
Exactly how I was when doing it!
Es increible la cantidad de bellas ideas que compartes!!!
Adore este proyecto es super lindo y original!!!
Muchas gracias 🙂
Besos
Translation (by Google):
It’s amazing how many beautiful ideas you share!
Adore this project is super cute and original!
Thank you very much:)
kisses
Thank you, Doris 🙂
That is so fun! I would so get in trouble for zipping and un-zipping it a million times!!
ha ha ha…. absolutely 🙂
Ah!!! I love it. It’s absolutely fantastic!!!
Thanks 🙂
Oh my goodness, you’ve done it again! It’s wonderful!!! And time-consuming, I bet. Wow, great work.
It is addictive…. I am in love with this concept, can’t stop thinking of other possibilities lol…
Oh, that is adorable! Kids would sure have fun showing it off! Love it!
Yup, Grandma G, and they can showing it off proudly!!!!