This cute pencil case is easier to make than it looks. It is made by knitting a rectangular shape of fabric and folding it twice sewing the sides together to create the pouch, similar to the construction of the Little Knitted Pouch in my March 2009 blog entry. The pattern for the corsage will be given in a later blog entry.
So lets get down to the 'knitty' gritty...
To make this pouch you will need:
- 1 x 50g ball of DK yarn (colour of your choice)
- 1 pair of 3mm knitting needles
- 1 cable needle
- A piece of fabric for the lining approx. 25cm x 25cm
- 4 small wooden or plastic toggles or buttons
- Sewing thread (the same colour as your yarn)
- 1 sewing-up needle
- K = Knit
- P = Purl
- C2f = Cable 2 to the front. Slip next stitch onto a cable needle and leave at the front of your work. Knit the next stitch from the left-hand needle and then knit the stitch from the cable needle.
- C2b = Cable 2 to the front. Slip next stitch onto a cable needle and leave at the back of your work. Knit the next stitch from the left-hand needle and then knit the stitch from the cable needle.
- C4f = Cable 4 to the front. Slip next two stitches onto a cable needle and leave at the front of your work. Knit the next two stitches from the left-hand needle and then knit the two stitches from the cable needle.
- C4b = Cable 4 to the back. Slip next two stitches onto a cable needle and leave at the back of your work. Knit the next two stitches from the left-hand needle and then knit the two stitches from the cable needle.
- Alt. = Alternate
Here's how to make it:
Cast on 60 stitches and knit 8 rows.
Begin pattern:
1st row: K6, p2, c4b, k2, p2, k6, p2, k4, c2f, c2b, k4, p2, k6, p2, c4b, k2, k6.
2nd and every following alt. row: [P6, k2] 3 times, p12, [k2, p6] 3 times.
3rd row: K6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6, p2, k2, [c2f, c2b] twice, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6.
5th row: K6, p2, c4b, k2, p2, k6, p2, [c2f, c2b] 3 times, p2, k6, p2, c4b, k2, p2, k6.
7th row: K6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6, p2, [c2b, c2f] 3 times, p2, k6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6.
9th row: K6, p2, c4b, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, [c2b, c2f] twice, k2, p2, k6, p2, c4b, k2, p2, k6.
11th row: K6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6, p2, k4, c2b, c2f, k4, p2, k6, p2, k2, c4f, p2, k6.
12th row: [P6, k2] 3 times, p12, [k2, p6] 3 times.
Repeat these 12 rows 6 times more, or until work measures approx. 25cm.
Knit 8 rows and cast off.
Lining
Your piece of lining fabric should be slightly larger than your knitted fabric. The next thing you need to do is sew a 1cm hem all the way around your lining fabric and pin it to the knitted fabric so that there is a border of approximately 5mm of knitted fabric (see diagram below).
Now sew the edge of the lining to the piece of knitting using small stitches. When you have completed this, stretch the knitted fabric so that the two layers of fabric lie flat and then press with an iron.The next step is to fold the fabric from the bottom edge up, creating the pouch for your pencil case, remembering to allow about 4cm for the opening flap. Sew the two side seams together with the same yarn you used for the knitting.
Fastenings
The last step is to make the fastenings. For the toggles I have used cocktails sticks. I cut them into 1cm lengths and then filed down the ends and also the middle, creating a little notch (see pic below).
Alternatively you can use buttons. Sew them onto the front of the pouch and then sew some loops onto the flap making sure that they are a good fit with your toggles or buttons.The pencil case is now complete.
