Free Crochet Pattern: Back to School Pencil Case
By Rachel Choi – 43 Comments| In the spirit of “Back to School” season, here is a pattern for a simple pencil case! Feel free to mix and match colors. This is a beginner pattern, so color changing is not needed, but you can always change colors anywhere in the pattern to create stripes or ever make the flap or button a different color. This pencil case can also be used as a crochet hook case or even a glasses case. Let your imagination run wild! |  |
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Finished Size: 3″ (7.5 cm) wide, 8″ (20 cm) tall
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Materials: Medium Weight Yarn (approximately 90 yards) Crochet Hook G (4.00 mm) |
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Gauge: not very important. Make sure that your stitches are tight enough so that the pencils won’t fall out. You may also choose to line the pencil case if desired.
Crochet Pattern: Pencil Case
Round 1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook, place marker: 6 sc
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around: 12 sc
Round 3: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) around: 18 sc
Round 4: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) around: 24 sc
Round 5: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) around: 30 sc
Round 6 – 44: sc in each sc around: 30 sc
Round 45: sl st in next sc, ch 1, turn, sc in next 15 sc: 15 sc
Note: flap starts here. If you would like to change the color of the flap, change the color of your yarn here. Need help changing colors? Learn more about how to change colors in crochet.
Row 46 – 50: ch 1, turn, sc in next 15 sc: 15 sc
Row 51: ch 1, turn, (decrease, sc in next 3 sc) 3 times: 12 sc
Row 52: ch 1, turn, (decrease, sc in next 2 sc) 3 times: 9 sc
Row 53: ch 1, turn, (decrease, sc in next sc) 3 times: 6 sc
Row 54: ch 1, turn, (decrease, sc in next sc) 2 times: 4 sc
Row 55: ch 6, turn, skip 3 sc, sl st in next sc: 6 ch
Row 56: ch 1, turn, 6 sc in ch-6 space, finish off: 6 sc
Button
Round 1: ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook: 6 sc
Round 2: 6 sc in same ch (overlapping previous round), finish off: 6 sc
Align button with button hole and attach to pencil case.
If you need help crocheting this pencil case. let me know and I’ll be glad to help!
Be sure to visit the Crochet Spot Store for more back to school crochet patterns.
Hi Rachel! Now I’m a subscriber! Thanks for the robot pattern, i can’t wait to star with it. I love your site, thanks for sharing. Greetings from Mexico. XOXO (sorry bad english hehe)
Oo. I might use this pattern as a glasses case! I just got glasses again, had been trying contacts, but I’m back to glasses. And I need a nice case for one, so this would be nice. I’ll probably do some stripes 😀
I dont know if im just special or what but im going along and im not sure how this si going to come together its starting to look like a piza with a slice taken out is that right
Hi Jenn, Rounds 1 – 5 makes a flat circle. Rounds 6 – 45, makes it look like a cylinder. Row 46 – 56, creates the flap that folds over. Makes sure that when you do your rounds you are crocheting in a spiral, not turning after each round.
oh i think i get it now let me try this again lol thank you
Thanks for the pattern, I will make it to carry my amigurumi that I’ll be working on
These are beautifuuul color pencil cases. Great colors too.
I like this project a lot. But I thought instead of pencils I would use it for my crochet hooks and needles. Thought I’d shared that thought. 🙂
Rachel,
I am not sure, but I think I already sent this. I want to crochet the pencil case for my 3 pairs of eyeglasses. Can I use peachn’creme or sugarn’creme cotton yarn and if so what size hook should I use.
by the way do you have any halloween barbie doll patterns.
thanks in advance for your kind help,
roberta
yes, you use the cotton peaches n cream. I believe it is the same weight as the one specified in the pattern, so you would use the same hook size as well.
I don’t have Halloween barbie patterns, but I’ll keep it in mind.
Hi Rachel,
I am very new to crochet.I am not able to read the pattern for the pencil case.You say to make 2 chains..and then 6 sc..how do we do it when there is no chain stitch of the that length? where do we proceed to make the sc’s?
Hi Shirin, the 6 sc are all made into the second chain from your hook. So each time you go to make a single crochet, you will insert your hook into the same chain. This will create a small circle.
Thanks a lot for your reply Rachel! I never knew that a circle is made this way 🙂 I will deifinitely give this a try and let you know how it goes.
Good crochet hook case too!
I just finished making this and it looks great. The smaller hook size makes a very tight fabric so nothing falls out. I had to shorten rounds 6-44 because I didn’t have enough yarn, but it’s still big enough to hold my crochet hooks. thanks again.
Hi!
I have a problem with the row 56:
what does it mean: “6 sc in ch-6 space”?
I made 6 sc in the 6th space… but it’s wrong! 🙂
Marcia, read this tutorial about chain spaces: What is a Chain Space
The ch-6 space refers to the space created by chaining 6 in the previous row. So you are to insert your hook into the “hole” created when you made the ch 6.
Rachel,
May I know how to decrease sc in next 3sc? I got stucked at row 51…I’m new in crochet, need your help please. Thanks.
Hi Cherine, here is the link to the decrease tutorial: Single crochet decrease
After you do the decrease, you will sc in the next 3 sc.
Rachel,
Thank you so much! I just finished this pencil case, and it turned out just fine!! I made it shorter and added a few lines of different colors to that… I’m going to give this to my church member as birthday gift, for her to keep her glasses!! Thank you so much, I really appreciate your prompt answer… God bless!
i too, am stuck on row 56. i read your response to marcia and the chain space tutorial. i understand what the chain space is. in the case of this pattern, it is the button hole. i just do not understand what to do after chain 1, turn. you said to insert your hook into the hole created when you made the chain -6. what do you do after you put your hook through the hole? do you insert the hook under and through the hole or over and pointed down? where do you put the next 6 single crochet? i have tryed to crochet back into this row, and complete row 56 several times and ripped it out each time. it did not look right. do you have a stitch by stitch picture example of how to proceed with making this button hole? thank you. your site has helped me so much with learning how to read patterns. before i found your site i was ready to give up!
Hi Debbie, you make the 6 single crochets into the “hole”. Instead of inserting your hook into the loops of a stitch to make your single crochet like you normally do, you would insert your hook into the ch-6 space instead. When you inset your hook, you are going from front to back. So to make 1 single crochet you would insert your hook into the hole, yarn over, pull the yarn through the hole, yarn over, pull the yarn though the 2 loops on your hook.
thank you, thank you. i was able to finish this! i cant wait to give it to my niece for valentines day!
Oh dear, why does this pencil case insist on looking like a hat?
Thank you.
Hi Paia, make sure in rounds 6 – 44 there are only 30 stitches on each round. If more stitches are being added by accident, the sides will keep getting wider and wider so it may look like a hat instead of a pencil case.
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much. I am amazed and grateful that you answered immediately.
I’m still wrestling with the project and I am sure that I’ll get it right eventually…
Is it supposed to be puffy?
Hi Paia, it should be able to lay flat, like in the photo. I’m not sure what you mean when you say puffy. Are the stitches puffing out? Where is it puffy? If you can elaborate a bit more, I’ll try to help you figure out what the problem may be.
Rachel, I just finished it and it’s gorgeous!
Thank you so much!
Hi! I’m Alette and I’m having a bit of difficulties here.
Do I have to put an increase or do I just keep on going? Those 30 sc are really puzzling and I ended up keep on going till I had 44 rows. It looks great, but I just feel like I did sth wrong. Did I?
Hi Alette, yes it sounds like you are doing it correctly. There should be 30 sc on each of the rows from 6 to 44.
Hey Rachel,
How do you line the pencil case? I want to use it for my crochet hooks, but I’m afraid my tiny metal lace hook’s will fall out without a lining.
Julia
Hi Julia, try tracing the finished pencil case onto the fabric to get the shape of it. Then cut 2 of the shapes out from the fabric and sew the sides and bottom together to make the lining that will go inside the pencil case. Insert the lining inside the case and sew the very top of the lining around the top of the case with a sewing needle and thread. Let me know how it goes!
When I was making this pattern, it’s wasn’t as a spiral. It was sort of half, and I had to sew the two ends together. Is that bad? Also, this came out super long. I stopped in the middle of the 6-44 rows because it would be too big. I used a size H hook instead of a size I hook…did that effect it? Thanks!
For this pattern, don’t turn after each round, instead continue to work in the direction you are going in, that way it will be in a spiral and you won’t have to sew. This pattern calls for crochet hook G (4.00 mm), which is small than the hook you used. It probably explains why your project turned out a bit bigger. I wouldn’t worry about it too much though, since you made the proper adjustments to make it the size you want.
Thank you. I have another question: would it work if I put cardboard in the case to prevent pencils from falling/getting stuck?
Sure, you can use cardboard, I’m sure it will work. Some folks like to line the inside with fabric.
Oh, now I realize what I did. I didn’t join at the beginning because I didn’t know what you meant by place marker! If you don’t mind my asking, since I have done two posts already, what is a place marker?
Here’s a post that might help: All About Stitch Markers in Crochet
Check out the “Markers in the Round” section.
Hey, my rounds 1-4 comes out flat…but then when I start round 5 it starts looking like a sac instead of being flat. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Dana! It sounds like you are on the right track. The first few rounds are suppose to be flat, then it will start to curve and look like a bowl.
I’m already getting confused in the first round. Are you supposed to make a slip stitch somewhere to create the round?
Hi Kim!
No slip stitch is needed. You will follow the instructions as written, no need to add a slip stitch. Once you finish the first round, you’ll continue to crochet in the round like a spiral.
Hi,this is my first time following a written pattern and I found your pattern to be the more helpful than all the others I’ve looked at.I think your pattern is really cute too!