Zola Pen Case: free sewing pattern for a Japanese-Inspired Zippered Box

Sew a cute organizer for your pens, pencils, markers, or craft supplies with the free Zola Pen Case Sewing Pattern!

I can’t stop making these!!! My version of this Japanese pen case is so much fun. I gave myself the chance to use a bunch of different fabrics by adding a bound zipper that makes a cute snappy handle – it’s the cutest little case in the house. Well, they all are – and they are great for lots more than pens!

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Zola Pen Case Pattern is included in the blog post below and is free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

When the Zola Pen Case is unzipped, it opens all the way so you can see all your stuff!

When it is zipped, it makes a cute little rectangular box. The end of the zipper snaps to the bottom of the case to make the handle.

Are you ready to sew your own Zola Pen Case?

DOWNLOAD THE ZOLA PEN CASE PATTERN TEMPLATE.

The full tutorial with step-by-step photos is below.

Zola Pen Case {free sewing pattern}

Finished size: approximately 8” x 2” x 2” (not including the handle)

You will need:

• 1/4 yard fabric total (I used lots of different quilting cotton prints)
• 1 zipper, 18” or longer
• 1/8 yd Peltex72F double sided fusible ultra firm stabilizer
• 1 snap (my snap and snap setter are from Kam Snaps)
• Also, I found that Wonder Clips were much easier to work with on this project than pins. It’s worth having a nice big box to use on projects like this.

Cutting:

From all your favorite fabrics, cut:

• 4 from the Zola Pen Case side pattern (2 interior & 2 exterior)
• 2 squares 8 1/2” x 8 1/2” (1 interior & 1 exterior)
• 2 zipper binding strips 2” x 17”
• 1 zipper tab rectangle 2” x 3 1/2”

From the double sided fusible stabilizer, cut:

• 2 strips 1 3/4” x 7 3/4”
• 2 strips 2” x 7 3/4”
• 1 square 1 1/2” x 1 1/2”

Make the sides:

1/4” seam allowance included.

1. Place 1 side exterior and 1 side interior piece right sides together. Stitch around all sides, leaving a 1 1/2” opening at the bottom. Clip the corners.

2. Turn the side piece right side out and press flat. Press the edges at the opening to the inside. Topstitch along the top (angled) edge.

Repeat to make 2 sides.

Bind the zipper:

1. Fold the zipper binding pieces in half lengthwise and press. Open and press the long edges to the center. Fold in half and press once more.

2. Cut the ends of the top of the zipper to get rid of the metal stoppers and the part without teeth.

3. With the zipper open and the teeth facing up, insert one end into a binding strip about 1” from the end.

4. Start sewing at the end of the binding strip and continue until you sew over the zipper teeth (inside the binding). Then stop with your needle down and re-adjust so that the zipper runs down the middle of the binding with the teeth about 1/4” out.

Note: These pictures above show different stages from both sides of the zipper. Also, this is not the same zipper on the case shown in the tutorial – I re-sewed this step to get better photos. 🙂

Repeat on the other side of the zipper.

Note that the zipper teeth go down inside the binding about 1” from the end. Make sure this is the case or your zipper pull will come off. Un-pick and re-sew if needed.

5. To prepare the bottom end of the zipper, stitch back and forth across the teeth 1/4” before the end of the binding (this makes your own zipper stop). Then cut off the extra zipper tape past the binding.

Make the zipper tab:

1/4” seam allowance allowed.

1. Fold the 2” x 3 1/2” zipper tab piece in half with the short ends together, press. Place the 1 1/2′ x 1/2′ piece of stabilizer along the line. Carefully turn it over and press lightly to fuse the stabilizer to the fabric without fusing the stabilizer to your ironing board.

2. Fold the short ends together (right sides together) and sew the sides – not the end opposite the fold.

3. Turn the zipper tab right side out. Fold the raw edge of one side carefully around the stabilizer, and press it to make it stick. Then turn the other raw edges to the inside and press the whole piece.

Make the body of the case:

1/4” seam allowance allowed.

1. Place the 8 1/2” squares right sides together and stitch all the way around, leaving a 4” opening along one side. Clip the corners.

2. Turn the square right side out and push out the corners. Press it flat.

3. Start by inserting the two narrower strips (1 3/4” x 7 3/4”). These two go at the top and bottom because they will be next to the zipper. Work them all the way up and down against the edges, and press to fuse.

4. Then insert the slightly wider (2” x 7 3/4”) strips. These will fit in the middle (but trim them down a bit if they don’t lay flat). Smooth out the fabric and adjust the center pieces until they are equally spaced. Then press both sides to fuse.

Fold the raw edges of one side around the interfacing and press to make them stick.

When the whole square is pressed, you will be able to see creases in between the stabilizer strips.

5. Stitch the opening closed 1/8” from the edge.

6. Topstitch lines in the creases in between the stabilizer pieces. If you can’t see the creases, fold the case a few times until you do.

All your pieces are made! Now it’s time to assemble them.

Sew on the Zipper:

1. Open the zipper. Clip or pin one side to the exterior of the case at the top edge.

The edge of the binding should run along the edge of the case so that the zipper sticks up 1/4”. Note that the end of the zipper aligns with the end of the case and the binding sticks out 1” past.

2. Stitch the zipper to the case, sewing on top of the stitching on the binding.

3. Topstitch along the bottom edge of the binding too, all along the case.

4. Close the zipper and fold the case around to help you put the other zipper tape in the right spot. Pinch the zipper in place, open it, and then clip the opposite zipper tape across the the other side of the case.

5. This is what it should look like. If you followed step 4 above – the zipper won’t be twisted.  Stitch the second zipper tape in place the same way as the first.

6. Fold the extra inch of binding on both sides around to the inside and sew it in place 1/8” from the edge. Trim away the extra binding about 1/4” from your stitching (you can go back and trim more when the pouch is finished, if desired).

Attach the sides:

1. Clip or pin one side piece against the inside of the case – center the side piece in the middle of the case. The interior fabrics should be together.

1. Start sewing on the edge of the side piece, about 1/8” from the corner. Sew 1/8” away from the edge.

2. Sew until you are 1/8” from the opposite corner – stop with your needle down.

3. Lift the presser foot and tug the side of the case around until the corner reaches the top edge of the zipper binding. Wiggle it around until it fits. Then continue stitching until you reach the top edge of the binding.

4. Clip or pin the remaining edge of the side piece in place and stitch, starting at the top corner and sewing until you meet your previous stitching.

One side is attached – yay!

5. To make a little pleat on the side of the case (which makes the sides fold inwards when it’s zipped) – turn the case inside out and fold the side in half right sides together. Stitch for about 1”, 1/8” away from the edge.

Turn the case right side out again and repeat steps 1-5 above again to attach the other side of the case.

Attach the zipper tab and snap:

Almost done!

1. Insert the zipper inside the zipper tab about 1/2”.

2. Stitch around the square 1/8” from the edge to secure it.

3. Attach the male side of the snap to the zipper tab, with the smooth part on top.

4. Attach the female side of the snap to the bottom of the case on the center topstitching, with the smooth part on the inside.

All done! Now make some more. 🙂

Happy Sewing,

Now try one of these other 11 Free Sewing Tutorials to Make you More Organized!