I mentioned my latest knitting venture in an earlier post: knitting a pencil case for my Nephew for the new term. Here's the pattern - just right for Handmade Monday. It looks quite wordy, but there are pictures too, and I have tried to give really clear instructions - so don't be put off by the amount of text!
“Barton”
Knitted Pencil Case Pattern
Final
measurements: width = 24.5 cm (hence 23 cm zip) and
height = 17 cm.
You
will need: less than
100g of DK in two colours, pair of 3.25 mm knitting needles; sewing needle, tacking
and sewing thread, pins, zip of about 23 cm - BUT, if possible, buy the zip
once you have knitted the case. This will make it much easier to fit the zip if
your tension differs from mine. A piece of material for lining, measuring at
least 27 cm wide and 34 cm long.
To
make:
First, you will knit a long, stripy oblong.
Take one of your colours (Colour A) and cast on 48
stitches. Work in stocking stitch for 6 rows, beginning with a K row. Don’t cut
Colour A! Just leave it hanging by work.
Row 7: Join in Colour B by simply using it to knit
the first stitch. Use Colour B to do this Knit row, and the following 5 rows.
Leaving Colour B attached to work, work six rows
in Colour A. Twist the two colours together once or twice at the side of the
work to keep them neat.
Work in this way until the piece measures 36 cm.
In the last band of colour, work 5 rows in stocking stitch and then, for row 6,
cast off.
(I had, at 36 cm, 8 grey stripes and 8 blue
stripes.)
Now,
you will work on the seams and the lining:
Putting right sides of the knitted panel together,
tack the pencil case into shape. As in the picture below, make an envelope shape
by folding over about 1”, or one stripe, at the top, then bringing the bottom edge
up to meet it. Tack into place.
Then, measure your pencil case. Cut the lining
fabric to size by measuring the width of your pencil case. That is how wide
your fabric will need to be, with a small seam allowance. Then, measure the
height of the pencil case and times it by two (to allow for front and back). Then
add 2 cm for seam allowance. So, for mine: width of knitted panel = 25 cm + 2 for
seams = 27; height of case when tacked into shape = 16 cm. 16 cm x 2 = 32, plus
2 cm seam allowance = 34 cm.
Now fold the lining into the same shape and tack it
into shape along the two ends. I ironed mine,
too, to keep it in shape. Turn the tacked knitted panel the right way out and tuck
the lining into the case, making sure that the wrong side is against the
knitting.
Now: measure the gap where the zip will go - & get your zip. NB: It is far easier to
sew a little of the gap together if your zip is a little short, that it is to
fit a zip that is too long.
Open your zip and pin it between the edge of the
knitted panel and the lining: the zip should be in a fabric sandwich. Tack it
in place. This is your last chance to make adjustments...
Sew it all into place. I sewed the knitted panel into
shape using wool, and the lining & zip using sewing thread. Use a little
scrap of each colour wool to make a tassel in the zip fastener.
Ta-Dah!
Cram with your pens and go back to school with pride.
Oh, I really, really like it! Unfortunately my knitting isn't my greatest skill so I shall leave it to others! Welcome to Handmade Monday x
ReplyDeleteLooks like a clear, detailed tutorial. I shall have to keep this in mind for the future :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great pencil case. I guess you could create all sorts of patterns too. I'm going to bookmark this page.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Would love to see variations on the pattern. People have had very industrious Mondays! I hope I can keep this up ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat pencil case!
ReplyDeleteNow why haven't I thought of this before? I was sent to a shop today by my son to find the perfect pencil case although I do not think such a thing actually exists! Will show him this and see what he thinks! Thanks.
ReplyDelete