Soccer Ball Pencil Case -- a tutorial

My daughter had another birthday party to go to at the weekend. I've been making personalised pencil cases for my kids' friends' birthdays recently, and when I asked what my daughter wanted for this particular friend she asked if I had any soccer themed fabric.  Unfortunately I didn't, but decided to try out a round pencil case, and this is what I came up with:

I'm really pleased with the result - as was the birthday girl!

Here's how to make your own Soccer Ball Pencil Case.

You will need:

White fabric for the main case

Black fabric for the shapes on the ball

A white zip

Iron on adhesive paper - eg: Vliesofix

Soccer Ball templates: Click here to download

Cutting out

Iron on the adhesive paper to the back of the black fabric, and then pin the black piece templates face down onto the paper:

You will need 2 of each piece (enough for both sides of the pencil case).

Cut out these pieces.

Also cut out 4 soccer ball circles from your white fabric, using the soccer ball template:

Making the soccer ball pieces

Separate your black pieces onto 2 of the white circles.

Then place the template under each circle in turn and place the black shapes in the correct positions (remembering to peel off the backing paper for the pieces to stick!)

Slide out the paper ball template from under the fabric, then following the instructions for your adhesive paper, iron the black pieces into place. (for Vliesofix you have to cover the fabric with a wet cloth and press for a few seconds)

Once you have stuck your black fabric pieces into place on both circles, then once again slide the template under the fabric and using a pencil draw in the lines:

Now if you have an applique setting on your machine, use that - otherwise you can just use a tight zig-zag.  Stitch around each black piece and along each line you have drawn.  I found it looked neater if I went over each line twice to make it look thicker.

Constructing your pencil case

Now you should have these pieces ready to put together:

First snip along both sides of your zip to make it easier to place it around the curved edge of the ball:

Then place the zip face down around the edge of the ball. It doesn't matter where on the ball you place it.  Put one of the plain white circles on top and pin through both layers of fabric and the zip:

Using your zipper foot attachment, stitch the zip into place around the curve.

Then pull the pieces of fabric back over the zip and top-stitch along the edge of the zip.

 (This will prevent the fabric from catching when you open and shut the zip)

Then lay the last white circle of fabric down  and the other side of the zip face up on that. 

Finally layer the other soccer ball circle face down on top and pin through the three layers again:

Stitch into place using your zipper foot..

And again pull the pieces of fabric back from the zip and top-stitch.

Finishing off

First make sure your zip is open - this is very important!

Now open up the fabric and place the two soccer ball pieces together (right sides together) and the two white pieces together:

Pin around the edges - leaving a gap in the white fabric to allow you to turn the case out when you're done.

Stitch all the way around - remembering to leave the gap!

Turn the pencil case right sides out through the gap, and pin the opening in the lining closed:

Hand stitch this small gap in the lining:

Push the lining inside the case and you're done!

Looks pretty realistic don't you think...? Next to a real ball...

Perfect gift for a sporting kid!

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

If you liked this tutorial - there are many more for all levels of sewing abilities on

 My Free Sewing Tutorials Page