If you want a smaller pencil case, you can use an empty toilet paper tube instead. You will only be able to keep small items in it, like erasers or crayons, however.
Choose a zipper color that matches or contrasts with your fabric. The zipper tape should be touching the cardboard, and the zipper teeth should be between the cut edges. You want to be able to open and close the tube with the zipper. If the zipper is too long, cut it from the top, then cover the cut ends with hot glue so that the zipper head doesn’t slide off.
Leave at least 1 inch (2. 5 cm) between the circles so that you can add the seams later. Canvas fabric will work the best, but you can use cotton too. You can use solid-colored or patterned fabric. If you use light-colored cotton fabric, be aware that the paper towel tube may show through it.
You won’t be sewing the case, but you still need the seam allowances in order to glue the circles down.
Don’t cut past the original circle lines that you drew, otherwise you will end up with holes in your case.
Repeat this step for the other end of the tube with the other circle. Use a low-temp hot glue gun for this step. This way, the glue won’t burn you through the fabric. Make sure that the front (right side) of the fabric is facing out, and the back (wrong side) is facing into the tube.
Use the same type of fabric as you did for the ends of the tube. You can use a different color and pattern, however. If you want to, you can even make the rectangle a little wider than your tube’s circumference; this will give you more room for error later on.
if you want, you can iron the edges first in order to have crisper seams. Do this before you hot glue them. Consider leaving 1 of the long edges unfolded and unglued. This way, you can adjust it when you wrap the fabric around the tube.
Make sure that the back (wrong side) of the fabric is facing the tube when you glue it down. The narrow side edges of the fabric should be aligned with the top and bottom edges of the tube. If you left the other long edge unfolded, be sure to fold it before you glue it down. You may need to fold it more than 1⁄2 inch (1. 3 cm) to ensure a good fit.
Avoid using a regular, sandwich-sized bag, as it may not be big enough for your pens and pencils.
For a more durable bag, overlap the strips by about 1⁄8 to 1⁄2 inch (0. 32 to 1. 27 cm). [11] X Research source Make sure that the strips are centered. You want to have about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of duct tape hanging off of the side edges. The duct tape can be solid-colored or patterned.
Do not cut the excess duct tape off. You want it to wrap around the side seams on the bag. This will make it stronger.
If you overlapped the tape for the front of the bag, you should overlap it by the same amount on the back too.
It does not have to be exactly 1 inch (2. 5 cm). It can be a little less than 1 inch (2. 5 cm), but it shouldn’t be more.
If you see any gaps, lay a strip of duct tape across the front and back of the bag, aligning the bottom edges. If there is any excess duct tape hanging over the side edges, cut it off.
If you used patterned duct tape for the body of the bag, consider using a solid color for the trim. If you used solid-colored duct tape for the body, you can use a contrasting color for the trim, or a nice pattern instead. For a fancier bag, you can decorate it with shapes cut from duct tape.
Make the rectangle about 1 to 2 inches (2. 5 to 5. 1 cm) longer and wider than your ID card. Cut the rectangle from another plastic Ziploc bag. Don’t use a solid-colored trash bag or grocery bag.
If your pencil case is too short to fit all 3 holes, make just 2 holes.
For example, you can cut 2 dark blue pieces for the outside and 2 light blue pieces for the inside. You can also use patterned or solid-colored fabric. Canvas fabric will work great, because it is nice and durable, but you can use cotton too.
The zipper can be the same color as your fabric, or it can be a contrasting color. Use a dress or garment zipper, not a separating zipper. You will end up with the zipper sandwiched between 2 pieces of fabric. The right sides of the fabric should be facing in, and the wrong sides should be facing out.
If you do not have a zipper foot, sew halfway across the edge, stop, move the zipper to the other end of the tape, and finish sewing. A backstitch is where you reverse the sewing machine for a few stitches. It prevents the thread from unraveling.
Use a heat setting suitable for the fabric that you are working with. In most cases, this will be the “cotton” setting. Fold the fabric enough so that it lines up with the stitching.
This will also help prevent the fabric from bunching up and accidentally getting caught in the zipper.
Fold your seam allowance and zipper tape against the lining fabric. Leave the zipper open halfway. This is very important, otherwise you won’t be able to turn the bag right-side-out all the way.
Remember to backstitch when you start and finish sewing, and the remove the pins. Change the thread and bobbin color as needed in order to match it to the outer and lining fabric. The 3 in (7. 6 cm) gap is important, because you’ll need it in order to turn the bag right-side-out.
You will be left with a bag that is 1 color to 1 side of the zipper and a second color to the other side.
If you need to, use a pencil, chopstick, or knitting needle to push the corners out further. This will make them nice and crisp.
