Quirky Pencil Clutch

This project shows you how to make a small clutch out of felt and a bundle of pencils. You need only few items and about 2 hours to make it.

• 30-40 blunt pencils (or colored pencils), I used 32, but you might want more for a bigger bag
• thick felt (the type you find in a fabric store, not cheap craft felt)
• fabric glue (optional)
• superglue
• magnetic bag snap
• embroidery thread and needles
• regular thread, color matched to the felt
• drill and tiny drill b (1.5mm - 1.7mm)

You want your felt to be of good quality and thick, not stretchy and able to keep its shape. If you can't find a tick felt, you can use felt from a craft store, but you will most likely have to double down. Either glue two sheets together or sew them at the edges.

Match your felt color to the color of your thread, you will have to hand saw the sides of the clutch.

Instead of magnetic clasp you can use a zipper.

Use a pen to mark where you want your holes to be and drill two on each pencil, all the way through.

The closest the holes are to the centre of the pencil, the more gaping there will be later on. I have a specific purpose in mind and so, I needed mine to be done this way. To make a normal looking purse, you have to drill the holes closer to the edges.

Cut a rectangle of of the felt. Size is up to you, the longer it is, the longer the clutch will be.

Mine is 12 inch long and 7.5 inch wide. Pencils are just under 7.5 inch long, so they are very close to the edge.

Use chalk or a sliver of white soap to mark lines on the felt sheet.

Mark middle points on both ends and use small scissors to cut holes for each clasp. Secure the clasp with pliers or your fingernails.
Fold 1/2 inch off each side to cover the back of the clasp. Use fabric glue or thread and needle to secure it in place.

Now that both sides are folded, the length of the felt is 11 inches.

Thread two needles with embroidery thread.

Thread each needle through each pencil hole, tighten it and thread the needle under the pencil. Then, thread it back up under the other side of the pencil and finish off by threading it into the hole again. This is the most secure way of sewing the pencils to the felt sheet.

Continue until the whole felt sheet is covered in pencils.

If you have trouble keeping the pencils in place while sewing, you can put a drop of superglue to the middle of the pencil and press it into felt. It will keep it secure for a while and allow you more flexibility while sewing.

Cut two additional felt rectangles to create the sides.

My felt length was 11 inches now, and I wanted 2inch thick sides, so I cut two, 2 inch x 4.5 inch rectangles [11in-2in= 9in ; 9in : 2= 4.5in].

I pinned them in place and hand sew them, starting with the base. After that, I pinned and sew the sides.