Striped Pencil Pouch Sewing Pattern

• Cut fabric as shown below.
  

Cutting:

• Cut 2 pieces of exterior fabric 9” X 5”
• Cut 2 pieces of lining fabric 9” X 5”
• 2 pieces of quilt batting cut to 9” X 5”
• Stripe fabric should be cut to 1 ¼” wide by at least 6” long- you will need 3

Create zipper pouch front:

• Take the front exterior fabric piece and cut it at an angle. I like to cut mine at 60* using the lines on my acrylic ruler, but it’s not necessary to be precise. I also prefer to have the stripes toward the right side of the zipper pouch front, but you can place them anywhere you prefer.
  
• Place the left piece of fabric on top of your quilt batting.
• Lay your first stripe fabric, right sides together (RST) lining it up with the cut angle. *note: the bottom of the stripe should be lined up with the edge of the fabric and batting, the top of the stripe fabric should extend off the top of the pouch front.
• Sew down the lined up fabric edges using a ¼” seam allowance.
• Press the stripe fabric away from the exterior front fabric.
• (insert add second stripe image)
• Place the second stripe fabric right side down on the unfinished edge of the first stripe.
  
• Sew down using a ¼” seam allowance.
• Press away from the first stripe.
• Repeat for the last stripe and then use the second piece of the exterior front fabric (with the angle cut in it) to cover the rest of the quilt batting.

Finish Exterior:

• Quilt the front of your zipper pouch using your favorite method. (I do not use a backing fabric for this, but if you like, you can)
  
• Place the back exterior fabric piece on your second piece of quilt batting and also quilt this piece as desired.
• Trim the front and back of the zipper pouch to 8 ½” X 4 ½”

Prepare Zipper for Pencil Pouch:

• *you can make the pouch using any method you prefer. This is how I added the zipper to my pouch. If you don't have a favorite method, use the steps below.
• Take a piece of fabric that is 1 ¼” wide by 2” long.
  
• Press the fabric in half on the 2” side (should now measure 1 ¼” X 1”)
• Open up the fold you just created and bring the raw edges in to the center crease. Press.
• Trim your zipper to just under 8” (I like to cut off the metal stopper at the closed end of the zipper to make sure it doesn’t get caught in any seam allowances.
• Slide the closed end of your zipper inside the two folded edges of your small fabric piece.
• Sew down the folded edges to enclose the zipper in the fabric.

Insert zipper into Pencil Pouch:

• Lay your pouch exterior front piece right side up in front of you.
  
• Place your zipper with the pull face down on top of the pouch front. The zipper should be centered, with the edge of the fabric tab just over ¼” away from the edge of the pouch front.
• Fold up the loose end of the zipper tape at 90* from the small metal clamp. Pin in place.
• Place the lining fabric right side down on top of the pouch front and zipper, line up the top edge so the zipper, pouch front and lining are all even. Pin well.
• Sew across the top of the zipper pouch using a ¼” seam allowance.
  
• Press the lining and pouch front away from the zipper.
• Top stitch across the top of the pouch.
• (insert add second side picture)
• Repeat the steps adding the back and second lining piece to the other side of the zipper. Make sure the front and back piece are lined up evenly on the zipper.
  
• Press away from the zipper and top stitch.

Finishing:

• Open the zipper a little more than half way.
  
• Pull the lining pieces away from the exterior pieces so right sides are together and pin the bottom edge together.
• Bring the exterior pieces right sides together and again, pin the bottom edge well.
• Pin the sides of the pouch together, when you reach the zipper, push the seam allowance toward the exterior of the pouch.
• Sew around all four sides of the pouch, leaving a 3-4” opening on the bottom of the lining to allow for turning.
  
• Turn the pouch right side out and push out all the corners.
• Fold under the seam allowance of the opening in the lining and sew closed with a top stitch.
• Push the lining into the pouch and press the pouch well.
• You can add a zipper pull using a leather tassel, beads, ribbon or a strip of fabric if desired.
• All that’s left is to fill and enjoy your pouch!