Sewing Tutorial: 3-Ring Binder Pen Pencil Pouch

Inside View

This pouch is not lined. I'm sure you're thinking, why does she have her color pencils in the box... in the pouch? Well, I want to be able to carry my color pencils with me, as this is what I use to fill out my calendar, but I don't want the pencils tips to break. I don't like broken pencils. "It's in a binder, the chances of it breaking is slim." ... well, that's a chance I don't want to take. :)

So, let's get started!

Materials & Tools:

1/4 yard (or 9" or 1 fat quarter) Heavy Weight Cotton Fabric

1" 72F Peltex Pellon Interfacing

(3) 1/4" or 1/2" Wide Grommet or Eyelets and Tools that you'll need for them*

9" Matching Zipper

Matching Thread

Sewing Needle

Sewing Machine (with standard sewing foot and zipper foot)

Iron & Ironing Board

*I used 1/4" wide Grommet since I'm using this pouch for my 1/2" wide binder. If you have a large binder with thicker rings, I recommend using 1/2" wide Grommet/Eyelet. I just don't like the sound of the Grommet/Eyelet clicking against the rings.  It's the little details, I know. :)

Some Terms/Lingo:
RST = Right Sides Together
WST = Wrong Sides Together
Seam Allowance: 1/4"

--------------------------

Step 1:

Cutting your 2 main pieces.

Cut (2) 7" x 11.5"*

*Optional Preference: if you want the pouch to be a little wider, you can cut the pieces 8" x 11.5"

Step 2:

Cut the 72F Interfacing

Cut (1) .5" x 10.5"

Step 3:

Place the 72F Interfacing

.25" away from one edge. See photo below:

Step 4:
Iron the 72F Interfacing.
Iron from the cotton fabric side.
Since 72F is double sided fusible, you'll want something to protect your ironing board (parchment paper works).

Step 5:
Cut 1.75" off of the panel with the interfacing. The other panel should still be 7" x 11.5"
Save scrap for the zipper.

Step 6:
From the 1.75" scrap, cut (2) 4"

Step 7:

Fold them and pin them in half like shown below and stitch .25" from the fold.

These are the zipper tabs.

Step 8:

Using your sewing needle and thread, stitch together the zipper like shown below:

Step 9:
Stitch the zipper tabs to the zipper with the fold toward the inside zipper. I placed them about 1/8" away from the metal and stitched 1/4" from the zipper metals.
Here you'll see 2 different stitches on the zipper tabs.

Step 10:
Place the zipper RST with the smaller panel, opposite side of where the interfacing is located.

Step 11:
Iron the fabric. Have the fabric fold over the zipper. And stitch.

Step 12:

Place RST of the zipper panel and the other panel. Stitch together.

Step 13:

Repeat Step 11 for the other side of the panel.

Step 14:

Pin the long edge of the panels RST.

Feel free to trim the tabs to edge of the panel before stitching.

Step 15:

Make sure your zipper is open more than half way so you can turn it right side out before stitching!

Stitch 1/4" along the edges. 

Stitch the short sides first, then the long side.

Step 16:

Trim the corners. 

You'll see that the stitching is right next to the interfacing.

Step 17:

Turn Right Side Out through the zipper. 

Move the seam to the edge as close as possible. Pin so it doesn't move around. Iron the interfacing from the non-zipper side, as well as ironing all 4 edges for a clean crisp look.

Ironed:

Here you can see the interfacing outline.

Step 18:
First, stitch 1" from the edge, you should be stitching on the inside of the interfacing.
Second, stitch 1/4" around the perimeter of the pouch.

Step 19:

Place your pouch next to your binder rings. Mark where you want the hole to be.

Then mark 1/2" from the edge to your first mark. This will place where the center of the rivet should be place.

Here is where the 2nd mark happens to make sure it's centered. 

Step 20:
Follow the directions to your grommet/eyelet setting tools.

All Done!!!

If you make one, I would love to see it! Tag me on facebook, twitter, or instagram!

Please use this for personal use. It may be a short project, but it takes hours to create this tutorial. Please honor my time by making this for your personal use.
If you plan on selling, please contact me and I will send you an invoice of $3.50 and a contract agreement that allows you to make and sell your handmade work of this tutorial.


It's also on Craftsy! You can save it to your patterns!