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You are here: Home / How To Make / Purses & Bags / Zip-It-Up Pencil Pouch

Zip-It-Up Pencil Pouch

August 25, 2011 by Craft Passion 69 Comments

Purses & Bags, Crafts, Kid, Novice, Sewing

4.75 from 32 reviews:

zip it up pencil case
“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.

zip-it-up pencil pouch

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.

 

zip-it-up pencil pouch

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 pattern

 

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)

 

sew zip-it-up pencil pouchGet 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.

 

sew ribbon to zipperMeasure 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.

 

zip it up coin purseCome 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.

 

zip-it-up pencil pouchPress 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.

 

zip-it-up pencil pouchYou 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-up pencil pouchZip 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.

 

zip-it-up pencil pouch

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Comments

  1. Jones Murphy -

    April 11, 2020 at 3:22 pm

    such a creative idea. Your all articles are amazing. Thanks for sharing! Have a good day.

    Reply
  2. Michael Jordy -

    December 7, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    I’m sure My girl will love this. She just loves to draw, paint and she is so good at it.

    Reply
  3. Emily -

    August 14, 2017 at 11:52 am

    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

    Reply
  4. Lisa // Cucicucicoo: Eco Sewing and Crafting -

    July 16, 2017 at 11:59 am

    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

    Reply
  5. Emily -

    December 11, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      December 11, 2014 at 10:22 pm

      I don’t prohibit anyone to sell their own handmade at this moment, but the permission is subject to revise in future.

      Reply
  6. yana yatim -

    December 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    can you make a video? more easier for me to understand.

    Reply
  7. J -

    May 14, 2013 at 9:24 pm

    Did you sew the ribbon on by hand or machine?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      May 14, 2013 at 9:49 pm

      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.

      Reply
  8. J -

    May 13, 2013 at 8:50 am

    Can ou provide a website where one could get a zipper for this project?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      May 13, 2013 at 9:18 am

      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.

      Reply
  9. J -

    May 13, 2013 at 8:48 am

    Where would one get a zipper for this project?

    Reply
    • Mary -

      December 19, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      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.

      Reply
  10. Laurie -

    February 22, 2013 at 6:18 am

    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?

    Reply
  11. Ailing -

    October 7, 2012 at 12:38 am

    hi,i just want to ask abaut my zip pecil case that always look bigger on the top,can you help me ?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      October 7, 2012 at 8:45 am

      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.

      Reply
  12. Alice -

    September 4, 2012 at 7:06 am

    Absolutely wonderful!!! Although I was wondering if I should use a closed zipper or a open one, does it matter???

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      September 4, 2012 at 9:11 pm

      Alice, I don’t know what is closed or open zipper, please elaborate it a little more so that I can answer your question 🙂

      Reply
      • Aliceali -

        September 5, 2012 at 5:53 am

        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.

        Reply
        • Craft Passion -

          September 5, 2012 at 12:56 pm

          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.

          Reply
  13. mina -

    August 17, 2012 at 8:43 pm

    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! 😀

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 17, 2012 at 10:13 pm

      mind to share some photo with us? You can post them up at the facebook page. Can’t wait to have a look 🙂

      Reply
  14. Neha -

    August 8, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    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)

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 8, 2012 at 4:16 pm

      Wow… this is my greatest news of the day, hope I have a chance to see the pencil case 🙂

      Reply
  15. mila -

    August 4, 2012 at 3:03 am

    i don’t understand how to finish the top

    Reply
  16. A. Lemus -

    June 29, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    This is so COOL!!!!! I’m only 12, but I will totally try to make this!!!

    Reply
  17. cucicucicoo -

    April 4, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    this is so cool! i’m definitely making these for the kids in my life! thanks! 🙂 lisa

    Reply
  18. Shazeenah -

    February 16, 2012 at 10:18 pm

    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…

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      February 16, 2012 at 10:37 pm

      Definitely, Shazeenak, you can use fabric strips too.

      Reply
      • yari -

        February 23, 2012 at 4:32 am

        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

        Reply
        • Craft Passion -

          February 23, 2012 at 7:48 am

          Hi Yari, please go to another similar post, zip itself coin purse, you will have a better view of step photos.

          Reply
  19. adilah -

    February 4, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    thank you for the information..good luck in your career..

    Reply
  20. adilah -

    February 4, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    that means the zipper do not close at the end of 80” compare to others zip?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      February 4, 2012 at 10:28 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  21. adilah -

    February 4, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    u r from?

    Reply
  22. adilah -

    February 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    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..

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      February 4, 2012 at 4:01 pm

      I bought it from sewing craft store in roll that cut into length, either by inch, yard or meter.

      Reply
  23. Easperee -

    January 30, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      January 30, 2012 at 2:23 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  24. Mimi -

    January 27, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    I feel dumb because I cannot for the life of me understand how to do this one.

    Reply
  25. elana -

    December 21, 2011 at 10:25 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      December 21, 2011 at 2:46 pm

      The zipper comes in roll and cut into your desire length. A craft store selling sewing materials should have it.

      Reply
      • elana -

        December 21, 2011 at 9:33 pm

        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?

        Reply
        • Craft Passion -

          December 21, 2011 at 10:10 pm

          I think they are the same 🙂

          Reply
  26. Khris -

    November 10, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    Thanks for sharing your terrific idea and tutorial…I have posted about you on my Freebies blog.
    Hugs Khris

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      November 10, 2011 at 9:11 pm

      Thanks, Khris, for the featuring 🙂

      Reply
  27. Paige -

    November 9, 2011 at 4:59 am

    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!

    Reply
  28. Wira -

    October 14, 2011 at 10:24 am

    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…

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      October 14, 2011 at 10:49 am

      You are right, Wira. Get a longer zipper and make a wider base and you will sew a small handbag 🙂

      Reply
  29. Harini -

    August 28, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    This is very nice. which zip no need to use this.. pls reply. wts ur website? Tns. Harini

    Reply
  30. Marlena -

    August 28, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    Is 80″ correct for the length of the zipper? That is over 2 yards. Just checking before I try this project it looks great.

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 28, 2011 at 8:04 pm

      Yes, it is correct for this finished size, though you will have some extra after the project.

      Reply
  31. Jeannie -

    August 28, 2011 at 6:36 am

    Is there an option to use a machine for this project? Is it simply easier to hand stitch it all?

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 28, 2011 at 7:29 am

      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 🙂

      Reply
  32. Liz -

    August 26, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    Wow! That is amazing!

    Reply
  33. Vicki -

    August 26, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 26, 2011 at 5:51 pm

      try it and you will love it 🙂

      Reply
  34. clothing tags -

    August 26, 2011 at 11:27 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 26, 2011 at 5:42 pm

      Exactly how I was when doing it!

      Reply
  35. Doris -

    August 26, 2011 at 5:35 am

    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

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 26, 2011 at 5:39 pm

      Thank you, Doris 🙂

      Reply
  36. Lorie -

    August 26, 2011 at 2:25 am

    That is so fun! I would so get in trouble for zipping and un-zipping it a million times!!

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 26, 2011 at 5:32 pm

      ha ha ha…. absolutely 🙂

      Reply
  37. Cassandra -

    August 25, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    Ah!!! I love it. It’s absolutely fantastic!!!

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 26, 2011 at 5:30 pm

      Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  38. Jessica Jones -

    August 25, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Oh my goodness, you’ve done it again! It’s wonderful!!! And time-consuming, I bet. Wow, great work.

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 25, 2011 at 10:41 pm

      It is addictive…. I am in love with this concept, can’t stop thinking of other possibilities lol…

      Reply
  39. Grandma G -

    August 25, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    Oh, that is adorable! Kids would sure have fun showing it off! Love it!

    Reply
    • Craft Passion -

      August 25, 2011 at 10:43 pm

      Yup, Grandma G, and they can showing it off proudly!!!!

      Reply

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