How to Sew Back-to-school Pencil Rolls

Aug 8, 2022

Hello‌ ‌fellow‌ ‌makers,‌ 

It’s‌ ‌that‌ ‌time‌ ‌of‌ ‌year‌ ‌again‌ ‌where‌ ‌we‌ ‌get‌ ‌to‌ ‌send‌ ‌the‌ ‌little‌ ‌ones‌ ‌back‌ ‌to‌ ‌school‌ ‌again!‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌‌ quilter,‌ ‌we‌ ‌look‌ ‌for‌ ‌any‌ ‌event‌ ‌(even‌ ‌if‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌not‌ ‌a‌ ‌holiday)‌ ‌as‌ ‌an‌ ‌excuse‌ ‌to‌ ‌get‌ ‌to‌ ‌our‌ ‌sewing‌‌ machine.‌ ‌What‌ ‌better‌ ‌way‌ ‌to‌ ‌sew‌ ‌something‌ ‌up‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌kids‌ ‌that‌ ‌they‌ ‌can‌ ‌use‌ ‌every‌ ‌day‌ ‌and‌‌ bring‌ ‌a‌ ‌smile‌ ‌to‌ ‌their‌ ‌face,‌ ‌knowing‌ ‌you‌ ‌made‌ ‌it‌ ‌just‌ ‌for‌ ‌them.‌
On‌ ‌the‌ ‌blog‌ ‌today,‌ ‌I‌ ‌created‌ ‌this‌ ‌quilty‌ ‌pencil‌ ‌roll-up‌ ‌that‌ ‌would‌ ‌keep‌ ‌your‌ ‌little‌ ‌one’s‌ ‌colored‌ pencils‌ ‌and‌ ‌other‌ ‌school‌ ‌supplies‌ ‌organized!‌ ‌The‌ ‌best‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌project‌ ‌is‌ ‌that‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌fast‌ ‌and‌ ‌easy‌ ‌to‌ ‌put‌ ‌together,‌ ‌so‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌make‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌one‌ ‌for‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌kids‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌life.‌ ‌I‌ ‌couldn’t‌ ‌resist‌ ‌but‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌more‌ ‌than‌ ‌one‌ ‌for‌ ‌this‌ ‌project.‌  

Pencil Rolls - Final

The‌ ‌first‌ ‌pencil‌ ‌roll‌ ‌features‌‌ ‌‌Jessica‌ ‌Swift’s‌ ‌collection‌‌ ‌‌Pollinate‌,‌‌ ‌‌Windscatter‌,‌‌ ‌‌Nectarlove‌‌ ‌and‌ print,‌ ‌combined‌ ‌by‌‌ ‌‌AGF‌ ‌Pure‌ ‌Solids‌,‌ ‌Lemonade‌ ‌and‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌second‌ ‌pencil‌ ‌roll,‌ ‌I‌ ‌decided‌ ‌to‌ feature‌ ‌our‌‌ ‌‌AGF‌ ‌Serenity‌ ‌Fusion‌‌ ‌fabric,‌‌ ‌‌Sauvage‌ ‌Sky‌ ‌Serenity‌,‌ ‌combined‌ ‌with‌‌ ‌‌AGF‌ ‌Pure‌ ‌Solids‌ Ocean‌ ‌Fog,‌‌ ‌‌AGF‌ ‌Decostitch‌ ‌Element‌,‌ ‌Cloud‌ ‌and‌ ‌from‌ ‌our‌‌ ‌‌Denim‌ ‌Studio‌ ‌Collection‌,‌ ‌Afternoon‌ Sail.‌ 
Let’s‌ ‌get‌ ‌started‌ ‌and‌ ‌follow‌ ‌along‌ ‌with‌ ‌me‌ ‌on‌ ‌how‌ ‌I‌ ‌made‌ ‌this‌ ‌project!‌ 

Fabric for Pencil Rolls

Fabric Requirements

Pencil Roll 1:

  • Fabric A   PLN-94505   FQ
  • Fabric B   PLN-94508   Fat 8
  • Fabric C   PLN-94503   Fat 8
  • Fabric D   PE-416           FQ

Pencil Roll 2:

  • Fabric A    FUS-SE-2107   FQ
  • Fabric B    PE-500             Fat 8
  • Fabric C    DSE-700          Fat 8
  • Fabric D   DEN-S-2003   FQ

Additional Materials to Sew the Pencil Rolls:

Cutting Instructions

Pencil Roll 1:

  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 10 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A.
  • Two (2) 6 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric A.
  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 10’’ rectangle from fabric B.
  • One (1) 8 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangle from fabric B.
  • One (1) 6 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric C.
  • Two (2) 6 1/2‘’ x 2 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric C.
  • One (1) 4 1/2‘’ x 2 1/2‘’ rectangle from fabric C.
  • One (1) 6 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric D.
  • One (1) 6 1/2‘’ x 2 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric D.
  • Two (2) 9 1/2’’ x 3’’ strips from fabric D.

Pencil Roll 2:

  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 10 1/2’’ rectangle from fabric A.
  • Two (2) 6 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric A.
  • Two (2) 6 1/2‘’ x 2 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric B.
  • One (1) 4 1/2‘’ x 2 1/2‘’ rectangle from fabric B.
  • Two (2) 9 1/2’’ x 3’’ strips from fabric B.
  • One (1) 8 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangle from fabric C.
  • Two (2) 6 1/2‘’ x 4 1/2‘’ rectangles from fabric D.
  • One (1) 16 1/2’’ x 10’’ rectangle from fabric D.

Now, let’s get started on how to construct one of the pencil rolls!

Steps to Sew a Pencil Roll

Step 1:

Bring one (1) 16 1/2” x 10 1/2” rectangle from fabric A and one (1) 16 1/2” x 10” rectangle from fabric B.

Place lightweight interfacing on the wrong side of fabric A.

Fold fabric B rectangle widthways and press.

Then, place it on top of fabric A and pin the sides and bottom in order to hold your pieces.

I decided to base stitch the three sides of my piece in order to prevent my fabrics to shift while making my slot.

Step 2:

Mark lines for the pencil slot at about 1” starting from one of your edges. Then continue marking in order to have about 14” slots for the pencil.

Stitch along each of these lines to create your slots. I backstitch on each one. Using the Reverse pattern foot #1D, I was able to make a perfect stitch line.

Press your piece once you’re done making the slots and set them aside.

Step 3:

Now, bring two (2) 6 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangles from fabric A, one (1) 8 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangle from fabric B, one (1) 6 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangle from fabric C, two (2) 6 1/2” x 2 1/2” rectangle from fabric C, one (1) 4 1/2” x 2 1/2” rectangle from fabric C, one (1) 6 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangle from fabric D, one (1) 6 1/2” x 2 1/2” rectangle from fabric D and organize the fabric placement following the picture below.

We are going to start by columns, so start sewing the first column at a 1/4” seam allowance.

Sewing back-t-school pencil rolls

Step 4:

Sew your three columns together at a 1/4” seam allowance.

Step 5:

Place batting fabric on the wrong side of the assembled piece. I wanted to quilt something fun, so I decided to use the #4 wavy decorative stitch. I marked diagonal lines at a 1” distance from each.

Step 6:

To make the ties, take two (2) 9 1/2” x 3” strips from fabric D.

Take one (1) strip and fold it in half lengthwise to create a crease in the center.

Then, open the strip and fold the edges towards the center crease. Fold the folded edges.

Stitch right on the edge and then sew at the other side of the handle piece. Using the Reverse pattern foot #1D, I was able to make a perfect stitch line.

Fold one of the edges on the strip twice and topstitch to secure it.

Repeat the same for the other strip.

Sewing Pencil Rolls

Step 7:

Center the ties on of the edges of the pencil roll case, one on top of the other.

Then place the pencil case slot piece on top of the main piece and ties, right sides facing together.

Step 8:

Pin all around and sew at a 1/4” seam allowance leaving about 3” of opening on one side of the piece.

Step 9:

Trim your corners, turn the piece inside out, and press the edges.

Step 10:

Topstitch the edges making sure you backstitch at the beginning and end of each line.

Pencil Rolls

Now you are ready to add your pencils, roll them up, and you’re done!

Pencil Rolls - Complete

Sew Pencil Rolls

Repeat the same process for the other pencil roll and you have a cute set of back-to-school pencil rolls!!!

Pencil Rolls - Final