Turn your old jeans into a pencil case
Here’s an idea of what to do with that old pair of jeans lying around in your wardrobe. Denim is such a strong, durable fabric and it makes a great choice to make into a pencil case. This box shape design, means it’ll hold all your stationery essentials.
Note – if you don’t have time to make your own, I do have some ready-made in my shop: Pencil Cases
This step by step guide shows you how to make this box shaped pencil case. Add badges, buttons, beads or embroidery to personalise.
You will need:
- A pair of jeans
- Some cotton to line the pencil case (you could use an old shirt or a pillowcase)
- A 25cm zip
- Scissors
- Pins
- Needle and thread – the project is small enough that it could be hand sewn if you don’t have a sewing machine
Step 1 – cut out
First step is to cut the jeans and the cotton fabric out. You will need two pieces of each, measuring 31cm x 16cm.
Next you’re going to cut out 3.5cm x 3.5cm in each corner – on the jeans fabric and the cotton. Keep x2 of the denim corners (these will be the tabs at each end of the zip).
Step 2 – Sew in the zip
Lay the zip out with the zip pull to the left, right side face up. Lay the first piece of denim right side face down on the zip edge. Turn over and pin the cotton piece, right side facing down. Sew along the edge in place.
Open out the fabric and oversew along the zip edge as the picture shows below.
Repeat this process with the other piece of denim and cotton. Then open out the fabric with the zip in the middle. Open the zip and add the tabs (these tabs are optional). The two small squares of denim that you saved, can be folded in on themselves and with the raw edges facing outwards, sew into position at each end of the zip.
Step 3 – sew together
Open out the fabric with the zip in the middle. You’re going to sew the denim pieces together and the cotton pieces together as shown below. Leave a gap on the cotton, so that you can turn everything out later on.
Next, you’re going to sew the box corners. Open out each corner cut out and sew together as below.
Now sew the cotton and denim across the zip, to form the other box area (green arrows). Then open out/bag out using the gap you left in the cotton fabric (red arrow).
Once opened out, sew the cotton lining together and tie in loose ends.
Push the lining into the denim case and push out the box corners.
You’re all done! Add embroidery, badges, beads etc to personalise.
Here’s some I made earlier…
Don’t have time to make your own pencil case? Here’s my collection of ready-made pencil cases. All made from fabric offcuts, so they make a sustainable option to hold all that new-term-new-stationery!
Pencil Case
Handmade pencil cases. Made from fabric offcuts and salvaged fabrics. With zip opening and lined with vintage cotton. This box shape design will hold all your pens and pencils.
what do you think?
You must be logged in to post a comment.