Pocket Week - Pen Pockets - Always Expect Moore

The Ruby Rabbit has a fantastic Etsy shop, filled with all kinds of creative things. Several of them caught my eye, but one really caught my eye… a magnet made from a domino. She had glammed up this domino, and added the following saying, “Friends are like Pockets…you can never have too many!” Clearly, this magnet was made for me! Well, for me to be able to give to you, anyway… because The Ruby Rabbit is today’s sponsor!

She’s letting me give away two of these adorable magnets – one tonight to one of my followers! The other will be saved for the mega-prize-bonanza on Sunday, to someone who linked to the Pocket Linky, as we celebrate the end of Pocket Week!

This project is for pen pockets – I can never find a pen when I need one. Little Moore, however, can always find a pen when he wants to. Or a marker. Luckily, he writes on himself more often than he writes on the walls (easier cleanup).

To make finding pens easier when I’m out doing stuff – I made this zippered pouch that has elastic straps to fit over my binder. It would also work great for a sketch book, or small notebook (if the elastic straps were shorter. I added pen pockets on the front, so that I can always see if I’ve got a pen, and it makes the pen super handy. The zippered pocket can hold a cell phone, keys, a couple dollars, some gum… whatever else I need.

This project was inspired by Noodlehead’s Gathered Clutch (without the gathering) and this Binder Envelope over at Bolt Neighborhood, and I combined the two ideas and added a pen pocket (because you can never have too many pockets)!

Start by cutting out all of your pieces. 2 9×10″ pieces for the outside, 2 9×10″ pieces for the lining, and one 8×6″ piece for the pen pocket. Fold all pieces in half, making 4 9×5″ pieces, and one 6×4″ piece.

Sew around the 6×4″ pen pocket piece, leaving a hole for turning. Clip corners, turn, press flat.

Using a quilting pen, mark the lines for your pen pockets, 1 1/2 inches in on each side. Then pin the pocket to the front (still folded) piece, stitch around 3 sides (leaving the top open), and then down these 2 lines.

Pin the lining on the inside, and the front on the outside of the zipper (folded edge towards the zipper), then stitch on. Repeat with the other side. Using a zipper foot will make this much easier than using a regular foot.

Open the zipper. Put it in the middle, put both lining pieces towards one side, and both outside pieces on the other. this picture shows one outside piece lifted up, so you can see the zipper in the middle. Measure around your binder. Subtract 9″ for the pocket, and another inch or two for stretch (depending how stretchy your elastic is, and how big your binder/notebook is), and pin an end of each piece to opposite sides, tucking in all the elastic so it doesn’t get caught in the stitching.

Sew around all four sides, going slowly over the zipper ends, because there is a lot of fabric there. Leave a hole at the bottom of the lining pieces for turning. Turn everything right side out, sew up the hole, and you’re done! : )

Expect Moore… soon!