Waldorf Lyra Pencil Holder Wrap

This pencil holder is based on lyra sized pencils (much fatter than regular sized colour pencils). However you could easily adjust the size and use the same technique for regular pencils or even other stationary like pens, textas, paintbrushes ect. The colours I used are specifically matching the waldorf pack of 12 Lyra Ferby pencils. I have just bought some cheap "jumbo pencils" for illustration puposes. 

Step 1: Choosing Colours

I have chosen colours that correspond with my chosen pack of pencils. The first step is to cut 1.5 inch strips between 14-17 inches long of all the central colours and 2.5 inch strips of the same length of the two end colours (dark brown and lemon yellow). I have made all of my strips different length because I like the almost skyline affect. However this isn't necessary so feel free to make them a uniform length as long as that length is in the 14-17 inch perimeter.

*Note: in second picture the 2.5 inch lemon strip is missing but should be there.

Step 2: Piecing

Now strip-piece the strips together ensuring any selvage is at the top edge and that the top edge is straight. When sewing together two strips of different length do not continue sewing past the shortest one as this will eventually show in the finished wrap. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance so that final space between seams is 1 inch. Secure your stitches at the bottom edge with a few stitches in reverse.

Step 3: Pressing

Press the seam allowances towards the darker colour gradient (away from the yellows). When a long strip follows a short one press a straight line down to keep the edge straight. Finally fold over and press about a centimetre (whatever covers the selvages) of hem at the top edge. 

Step 4: Backing

Now cut a length of your chosen backing fabric the same width as your final pressed strip piece and 28 inches long. Now with wrong sides together tuck it under your hem and straight stitch it in place. I have just used white thread throughout this wrap as finding coordinating thread for 12 different fabrics would be a nightmare not to mention the headache of re-threading so for me white was ok, but maybe it would look really nice if you used a thread coordinating with your backing fabric.

Step 5: Pinning

Turn the whole unit so that the colourful strips are face down with the hem at the top. Now flip the backing fabric up with the fold at 6 inches below the hem to create the pockets. In the photo I am pointing at the level of the hem. Leave the rest of the length of the strips hanging down so that you are only sewing through three layers (the strips, 2x the backing). Now straight stitch along all seam lines, try sewing just on the edge of the lower fabric so that the stitches can sit snugly in the seam. 

Step 6:

Once all the pockets have been created flip it so that the pockets are facing down with the excess backing fabric at the top. Now fold the remaining backing fabric down so it meets the bottom of the pockets. Flip up the rest of the strips and pin them in place. At this point just make sure that the shortest strip is definitely higher than the hem of the pockets on the other side.  Following the "skyline" of the strips now straight stitch or zig zag to secure them. You should only be sewing through 3 layers (the strip, 2x backing). Just remember you'll be able to see the reverse of this stitching on the inside of the wrap (as shown in picture). If it bothered you could change the bobbin thread to one coordinating with the backing fabric to make it less visible.

Step 7:

The main unit is now complete. The next two steps are to firstly make a "scrunchy" tie to keep the wrap wrapped up and then to bind the edges to make it nice and neat. You could if you wanted to save yourself some bother, just sew in a length of ribbon into the binding and it would work just as well.
The scrunchy is made with a strip of fabric, I've used a piece of the yellow because I had it sitting around but you could use any matching fabric, and about 6 inches of elastic but basically a comfortable fit around your bunch of pencils. I found it simplest to secure one end of the elastic in the end seam of the fabric tube you'll make and put a safety pin in the other end of the elastic to stop it from getting lost once the tube has been turned right side out. Secure both ends of your scrunchy to the edge of one end, put it on the outside (not the pocket side) ensuring that it can be pulled a good distance from the corner so that it can eventually be pulled over the pencils.

Step 8: Binding

To create the binding I used two strips of the backing fabric approximately 4 inches wide and 13 inches long. Draw a line the length of the wrong side of these strips a centimetre  from the edge. Now place these strips right side together with the pocket side of the main unit so that the line is 1 inch from the next seam line to create the end pockets. To check the accuracy of your placing you can pin on the line and fold back to check. Once it is accurate straight stitch along the line and repeat the process for the opposite end.

Step 9: Pressing the Binding

Press both of the bindings out. Then press the overhanging tabs in. To finish fold over the edge and tuck it into space created by the over hanging tabs. Press the whole thing then run a straight stitch to secure it all.

Step 10: Finished :)

So that pretty much it. This is how the end with the scrunchy should look like. Hope you make and love and enjoy these pencil wraps. I will have some of these and some other handmade lovelies on my etsy shop http://mARThagill.etsy.com or read about my other crafty exploits at my blog http://ikasihouse.wordpress.com Hope you make and love and enjoy these pencil wraps.