I love back to school time. Loooooove it. “I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” (First person who knows where that quote is from gets a fat ol’ virtual high five.) I have no school to go back to any more, and I don’t have kids in the back to school game, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream up some schooly-type projects. I’m kind of all about this little DIY woven pencil pouch right now! I keep switching out the stuff inside — pencils, makeup, receipts, whatever. It’s perfect! All the materials can be found at Michaels (in store or online), and if you’re a teacher you even get a bonus 15% off. And by the way — teachers, thank you for being teachers. Quite possibly one of the most difficult, thankless jobs in the world. So thank you!
Materials
- white canvas mesh
- waxed cotton cording
- one button (this one is from my vintage stash)
- scissors
- two binder clips
Make Time: 45 Minutes
Fold the bottom third of the mesh up toward the top and clip on either side with the binder clips. Be sure that you use the tiny squares to line up the mesh so that it’s folded up the same amount on either side.
Cut 24″ of the cotton cording. String it through the bottom of one side of the mesh. Even out the ends so that the center of the cord is at the bottom of the mesh. Take one end of the cord and string it through every other square on the mesh, in and out until you reach the top. Then take the other end of the cord and do the same, but weaving in the opposite in/out direction of the first end. When you reach the top, tie the two ends together with a double knot in the back of the pouch and snip the ends.
Repeat the weaving process on the other side of the pouch.
On the front bottom of the pouch, find the center point where you’ll anchor your button. Weave a length of cording through two squares from the inside of the pouch. String the cording through the button, back through the mesh, and tie off on the inside of the pouch. Double knot and snip the ends.
On the top of the closing flap, use the same weaving method you used on the sides to weave two lengths of cording, one from the left and one from the right. When they meet in the middle, tie them both off with double knots and leave the ends long. To close your pouch, just fold the flap down and wrap the cording tightly around the button.
Put all your goodies inside and rock it out! If you’re heading back to school, hope your preparations are wonderful! xoxo
Fantastic idea! And so much room to personalize and change up the colors or add patterns whenever! Brava!
Super cute! I think I need one to make one and bring it to my German class 🙂
AWWWW You’ve Got Mail!!! I LOVE that line and it’s SOOOO true.
Very cute idea!
We think alike! I purchased the mesh for the Michaels Makers project and decided last minute to make something else. I’ll be making it sometime in the future.
Brilliant. Love this project – this is the kind of sewing I can handle 🙂
This is so so so cute and a very practical idea. Love how easy it is to make, too!
How fun is this?! I love it, Chels. The vintage button closure is such a nice detail too.
YOU’VE GOT MAIL! That was played no fewer than 10 times during the prime knit/crotchet months of Oct-Dec in our townhouse, if I recall correctly, because either you or Gretchen or I would put it on! Love that movie. How much did I crush (Did? DO!) on Tom Hanks!?
Yessssss!!! Because it is one of the best movies ever for fall and winter. Le sigh. That caviar is a garnish.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Our grandchildren are homeschooled so they don’t get to have all the new cool stuff to start school with! I can make one of these for each of the grandchildren this evening!
Thank you again, thank you again, thank you again!
Cheryl (Gramma to 9)
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