Pinwheel Pencil case

Hello again, I thought it would be nice to do some patchwork this week and decided to use the smallest half-square triangles to make a pencil case -

 

 

 

You will need –

5” x 20” in 2 co-ordinating fabrics, 1 light and 1 dark, for the pinwheels

6” x 40” navy fabric for the outside and lining of pencil case                                                                               

1 x 10” navy zip

Big Shot™ Machine  http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660200/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-white-gray or Big Shot™ Plus machine http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660020/sizzix-big-shot-plus-machine-only-white-gray

Sizzix® Bigz™ Die Half-Square Triangles, 1” finished 659983 http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659983/sizzix-bigz-die-half-square-triangles-1-1-2-assembled-square 

Using the Big Shot machine and the die cut 40 triangles out of each of the patterned fabrics.

Stitch 1 light and 1 dark triangle together to make a square, repeat with all the triangles.

Press the seams together towards the darker colour

Stitch 1 pair of squares together – see photo below.

 

Press the seams and then stitch 1 pair of rectangles together to make a square, taking care to match the points in the middle.

Join the squares together in 2 sets of 5 to make 2 strips.

 

Cut the navy fabric into 2 pieces 2 1/4" x 10 1/2", 2 pieces 4" x 10 1/2" these 4 pieces are for the outside, and 2 pieces 6" x 10 1/2" for the lining.
Stitch a 2 1/4" and 4 " piece either side of a pinwheel strip, and press. Repeat to make the 2nd side.
To put the zip in - lay it across the top edge of one of the outside pieces -

lay a lining piece on top, matching the edges, and stitch, with a 1/2" seam - when opened to the right side it will look like this -

Repeat with the other side of the zip. Now open the zip at least half way.
Lay the outside pieces, right sides together, pin, matching the raw edges.

Stitch around the 3 sides, back stitching at each end to secure the seam.
Repeat with the lining - but leave a 5" opening in the bottom edge.
Trim off the extra length of the zip at both ends.
Turn the pencil case right side out -

Stitch the open edges together, and tuck lining inside the pencil case.
Not quite such a quick project as I thought it would be - but still fun, and if I start now I might make enough for all of the grandchildren for September term at school.
I'm off now to enjoy a cup of tea in the garden, while the sun is still shining.
See you next week.
Angela