Back to School Sewing Tutorials

In the Northern Hemisphere it will soon be time for back to school for a new school year. Here in Australia, we're half-way through our school year, which is always a good time to check school supplies and see if our kids need anything replaced - like a new pencil case or lunch box.

Here are a few sewing tutorials for things you can make for your kids school life!

Personalised Drinks Holders

Times Tables Memory Games Pockets

Notebook Covers

Insulated Lunch Bag

Water Bottle Carrier

Upcycled Lunch Bag

And a whole selection of pencil cases to make!!

I hope this has given you some inspiration for things to make for your kids for school!

There are also plenty more sewing tutorials for making lots of other things on 
My Free Sewing Tutorials Page.

Carrot Pencil Case - a tutorial - Day 51 - Use What You've Got

One of my daughters had a birthday party to go to at the weekend so I asked what I could make as a gift for the birthday girl.

My daughter's first request was a pencil case in the shape of a guinea pig, which I really wasn't sure of, so she then suggested a carrot one!  That I could do!

I used fabric and a zip from my stash and my own zipped toiletry bag tutorial:

Instead of a cylinder shape for the bottom, I found a template to make a cone. I used this free downloadable Printable Cone Template, and just enlarged it a little to make it the right size.

I also added a layer of buckram (really stiff interfacing) between the inner and outer fabric to help the carrot keep it's shape.

For the carrot top 'leaves' I used dark green felt, which I just cut into random long shapes. Then for the top circle end, I cut a slightly larger circle which I then cut in half. I placed the green leaves in the centre of the two semi-circles (fabric right sides facing) and stitched them into place.

The cone bottom is simply the cut fabric from templates stitched right sides together with the 2 straight sides together. I left the opening in the inner fabric for turning the case right sides out after stitching! Then these cone pieces are used just as the bottom cylinder of the toilet bag.

I was very pleased with how it turned out.

And I'm told the birthday girl liked it too - which is the most important thing!

I also added a small stuffed carrot key chain as a little something extra!

I really enjoy making pencil cases and have made heaps as gifts for my daughters' school friends. 

I wonder what shape I'll be asked to make next!

For more of my sewing tutorials for all levels and abilities you can see my tutorials page:

100+ Free Sewing Tutorials

I'd also love if you followed along on my sewing and blogging adventures on Facebook or Pinterest!

Happy Sewing!

Pencil Case Tutorials - Day 24 Use What You've Got

I noticed the back to school posts are starting to appear, and so thought I'd do a little round-up of my pencil case tutorials.

I've got 7 different tutorials, shown below. 

They are a great thing to make for kids, especially as gifts. 

Apparently - you can never have too many pencil cases!

Here are the links to the tutorials

Giant Pencil Shaped Pencil Case Tutorial, 

Giant Twin Zip Pencil Case Tutorial, 

Soccer Ball Pencil Case Tutorial, 

Watermelon Pencil Case Tutorial,  

Monster Pencil Case Tutorial, 

T-shirt Sleeves to Pouches Tutorial, 

I've also made many personalised ones with names appliquéd on that have been a big hit! 

How many pencil cases do your kids have? Have you ever made them one? and do you have a favourite pencil case tutorial?