So I finally completed one of my commissioned work, the crochet pencil case. I am very much delighted with the result. I guess it was the excitement I felt while working on the pattern that helped me finish this project in a span of 12 days! As promised, I am going to share the pattern for this crochet pencil case.
3.5 mm crochet hook
4 ply Monaco Acrylic crochet yarn (gray and pink)
Thread snipping scissors
zipper
Needle
I figured that the pencil case should be sturdy and hard enough to hold the pens and still should take the tubular form. One way to do this is to use the pelon cloth as lining on the inside of the pencil case. But I thought of using the thermal stitch instead.
I was too over excited while working on the pencil case so the process pictures I took while working on it was very few. So for the purpose of this pattern, I am taking pictures of the process on a different set of yarn. I hope I don't confuse you. Please bear with me.
Chain 44
Row 1
Double crochet stitch on the 4th chain from the hook but work on the back bumps. This way, the top view of the row will look exactly the same as the bottom view. DC across the remaining chains. Chain 3 then turn.
Row 3
DC on the first stitch, working back loops only. (BLO) Continue until the last stitch. Chain 3 then turn.
Row 4
Yarn over, insert the hook on the front loop of the first stitch and into the front loop of the first stitch on the previous row. Pull the yarn through the loops then do the double crochet as you normally would.
The front part should look like this:
The back part should look like the photo below. Notice that there is a sort of like a ridge on the bottom part where the first row is? That should be okay because that is the part of the pencil case where I attached the zipper on the latter part.
That stitch we just made is called the thermal stitch.
Row 5-6
Repeat rows 3 and 4.
Note: You may finish the entire pencil case using rows 3 and 4 until the end but if you'd like to add some highlights to your pattern, you may continue reading.
Row 7
Change yarn color. (Pink)
Yarn over, skip a stitch, insert the hook on the front loop of the next stitch and the front loop of the stitch right below it on the previous row. You've made a diagonal double crochet. Yarn over, insert your hook into the front loop skipped stitch and into the front loop of the stitch right below it on the previous row. Now you've made a thermal crochet stitch variation of the criss cross stitch. Do the same across the entire row. chain 3 and turn.
Row 8
Change yarn color. (Gray)
Repeat row 4 except do just 1 chain instead of 3. Turn
Row 9
Do a single crochet thermal stitch. That would be the same procedure as row 4 except you'll be doing a single crochet instead of a double crochet.
Row 10
Repeat row 4.
Row 11
Repeat row 7
Row 12-22
Repeat rows 3 and 4
Row 23
Repeat row 7
Row 24
Repeat row 8
Row 25
Repeat Row 9
Row 26
Repeat Row 7
Row 27-32
Repeat rows 3-4
That should leave you with a square of thermal stitches with edges for the zipper.
This is the back part or the inside of the pencil case.
Your next step is to crochet the side panels.
This is actually very easy as all you need to do is to crochet 2 circular panels. I used the magic ring for the first round. You may use sc of dc if you wish, depending on your preference. All you need to ensure is that the cirlces will match the circumference of the square you made once it is rolled.
You may use a sewing machine to attach this or you may hand sew it like I did. To make sure that the zipper is properly placed, I first used a temporary stitch to hold it in place before I went ahead and sew it using back stitch.
Note: For a more decorative effect, you may also opt to use the opposite color for your back stitch.
To add more pink highlight to the gray pencil case, I used the pink yarn to attach the side panels. I also got a little more creative with the panels itself, I slightly changed the yarn threads as I was working on it. :)
So there you have it! The very first self-made pattern I ever made myself. Woohoohoo! I got the ideas from so many other projects online. I came up with the designs and the techniques and combinations as I went through the entire process.
My beautiful client also wanted to have a headset pouch so I also made a version 2.0 of my previous headset pouch project. But that's another story. And I assure you that one's much less complicated compared to the pencil case.
