SUPER QUICK Gift

Today is the 19th, so I feel sure that many of you are like me, looking for quick gift ideas for friends!!

Last week, I wrote about my “Sewing Machine Cleaning Kit”….

https://francesquilts.com/2023/12/12/quick-gifts-for-quilters/

….but didn’t give you the instructions for making the super easy pencil case.

Well, here you go…..

Cut two pieces of fabric the width (plus 1/2-inch) that you want the case to be, and 3-times as long as you want the case to be. I actually added 1/2 inch to this measurement and then cut it off later……

My cut dimensions were 10.5 x 13.0

Place them right sides together and sew across the top…..

Press the resulting seam open….

….and fold over so that the wrong sides are together….

At this point, I trimmed the long edge to a number that was easily divisible by three (12.75-inches in this case)….

Now comes the miracle part!!

Place it so that the inside fabric is on top and mark the 1/3rd point (4.25-inches in my case)……

Mark it on BOTH the right and left side!!

Now, fold the inside fabric along this imaginary line between your marks…..

I ironed it in place!!

Turn it over and it should look like this…..

Next….fold the top fabric up…..

…..until the edges line up, right sides together…..

Check to be sure that all edges are straight.

Now sew, starting on the top edge and working your way around each of the corners. Stop sewing about 3 or 4 inches from where you started, leaving a hole……

Clip the corners….

….and “birth” the case thru the opening…..

Use a point turner to push out the four corners…..

Turn under 1/4-inch on each side of the opening…..

Now we need to switch gears and make the strings and, honestly, this part took longer than the rest.

First, decide how many strings you want to use……I chose to make one and fold it in half.

For each string, cut a piece of fabric 1.5-inches wide and approximately 42 inches in length.

Fold one edge of the fabric to the middle of the strip and iron in place…..

Do the same thing to the other side…..

Now fold in the center and do a final iron…..

Head the sewing machine and start sewing at one end. Stitch across the end several times…..

….and then sew closely along the long edge…..

Finish the end in the same manner as above.

Fold the strap in half and place the fold inside the opening. Sew around the ENTIRE piece to finish it nicely…..

Fill as desired and wrap the cords around the case several times….tuck into place….

It honestly took longer to write up these instructions than it did to make the case!!

Give them a try and surprise your friends!!

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