Nesting Pencil Cases We re Back to School in a couple of weeks, so why not get prepared a little early with our set of three nesting pencil cases? Of course, if school is no longer an issue for you, this fun set of boxed and zippered pouches is perfect for holding all sort of sewing notions and hand work.! The largest case (A) measures 9½ inches long x 4 inches high x 3½ inches deep. The middle case (B) measures 8 inches long x 3 inches high x 2½ inches deep. The smallest case (C) measures 4½ inches long x 2½ inches high x 2 inches deep. You Will Need: Small amounts of fabric for each case outer. We used fat quarters, but you can use smaller amounts of fabric. ½ metre/yard of fabric for the lining (for all three cases) ½ metre/yard medium weight fusible interfacing ½ metre/yard fusible pellon Zips Case A 15-16 inch length Case B 13-14 inch length
Case C 9 inch length * Note we used a regular inset zipper for B, and fancier zippers for A and C. Bag Construction: Please read all instructions fully before beginning. All measurements are in inches, and unless stated otherwise, a ¼ inch seam allowance has been used. Referring to the attached Cutting Guide, carefully cut the required bag pieces from the bag fabrics, interfacing and pellon as required. Fuse the interfacing on the wrong side of all pieces as indicated, then fuse the pellon to the wrong side of the outer fabric panels. Note piece the outer for case A first. Case B: Start with the middle sized case, as it has an inset zip. The other two cases are made in exactly the same way. Lay the case outer face up on a flat surface. Lay the zipper face down on top, and the lining face down on top of that, so you have sandwiched the zip between the fabric layers. Align the top edges and pin. Use your zipper foot to sew the zip in place. Open out the fabrics and fold them back as shown. Pin and topstitch along that seam to flatten it and secure the zipper in place.
Now sew in the second half of the zipper to the other ends of the case outer and lining. Bring the outer up to meet the zipper, and fold the lining the other way to meet the other side of the zipper as shown. Pin and sew. Turn the pouch through so the outer is on the inside, and the lining is on the outside of the tube. Open the zip partly, and flatten on your flat surface, so that the zipper is centred down the middle of the case as pictured. (You may choose to sew down each short edge first, but make sure the zipper pull is in the middle of the case.) For Case B, measure and cut away a 1½ inch square from each of the four corners.
One side of the case, with both corners cut away, and the ends sewn together. Now open out the corners and fold together across the cut edge, so that the seam is centred, and the seam allowance points down, away from the zip. Pin and sew across the corner to make the boxed edge for the side of the case. Repeat for the remaining three corners.
Turn the case right sides out, and you re finished and ready to make the next one! Cases A and C: Cases A and C are made in the same way, except that you need to piece the outer fabric panel for A first. As shown, sew the two contrast strips to either side of the centre outer fabric panel. Press, then add the interfacing and pellon to the wrong side. As we used a decorative zipper for this case, you do not need to insert it as you go. With right sides together, sew across each of the two opposite shorter ends of the case outer and lining panels. Turn right sides out and press.
Lay the zipper across the sewn end of the case as shown. Pin, so that the zipper teeth are off the fabric, then use your zipper foot to topstitch the zip in place. Open the zipper fully, then repeat to pin and sew the second half to the right side of the other end of the case. The right side of your case will look like this. Now repeat the steps from Case B above to form the boxed corners. Open the zip and turn the case inside out. Centre the zip along the top of the folded pouch, and pin and sew down the sides. NOTE With Case A, make sure the seams where the two outer fabrics meet are at each side of the fold. The contrast fabric strips should be on the top, either side of the zipper, with the centre panel flat on the bottom. Case A measure and cut away 2 inch squares from each corner, then open out, pin and fold so that the contrasting outer fabric seams meet, then sew together across the corners. Case C measure and cut away 1¼ inch squares from each corner before opening out, folding over and sewing the corners.
Nesting Pencil Cases Cutting Guide Cut the required number of each piece according to the measurements on each diagram. * Please note all measurements are in inches. Case A Contrast Strips Cut 2 contrast fabric Cut 1 centre fabric panel Case A Centre Panel Case A Lining Cut 1 lining Cut 1 pellon Cut 2 medium-weight interfacing
Case B Cut 1 outer fabric Cut 1 lining Cut 1 pellon Cut 2 medium-weight interfacing Case C Cut 1 outer fabric Cut 1 lining Cut 1 pellon Cut 2 medium-weight interfacing