Kid’s pencil case
Packing away after a day of fun or study will be child’s play with this quick and easy pencil case from Amanda Berry
PENCIL CASE
Note Use the cable cast-on (p92) unless otherwise specified.
PENCIL TOP
Cast on 44 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn D.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Rows 2 and 3 Knit.
Rows 4 to 6 Purl.
Rows 7 and 8 Knit.
Break Yarn D and join Yarn B.
Rows 9 to 18 Starting on a RS knit row work in st st.
Row 19 K1, (k2tog, K5) 6 times, K1. [38 sts]
Rows 20 to 22 Starting on a WS purl row work in st st.
Row 23 K1, (k2tog, K2) 9 times, K1. [29 sts]
Row 24 Purl.
Row 25 K1, (k2tog, K1) 9 times, K1. [20 sts]
Row 26 Purl.
Row 27 K1, (k2tog) 9 times, K1. [11 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
PENCIL MAIN BODY
Cast on 44 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn D.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Rows 2 and 3 Knit.
Rows 4 to 6 Purl.
Rows 7 and 8 Knit.
Break Yarn D and join Yarn E.
Rows 9 to 54 Starting on a RS knit row work in st st.
Join Yarn A and work stranded colourwork.
Row 55 K4E, (K1A, K6E) 5 times, K1A, K4E.
Row 56 P4E, (P1A, P6E) 5 times, P1A, P4E.
Row 57 K3E, (K3A, K4E) 5 times, K3A, K3E.
Row 58 P3E, (P3A, P4E) 5 times, P3A, P3E.
Row 59 K2E, (K5A, K2E) 6 times.
Row 60 P2E, (P5A, P2E) 6 times.
Break Yarn E and cont in Yarn A.
Row 61 K2, (k2tog, K12) 3 times. [41 sts]
Row 62 and foll WS rows Purl.
Row 63 K2, (K6, k2tog, K5) 3 times. [38 sts]
Row 65 K2, (k2tog, K10) 3 times. [35 sts]
Row 67 K2, (K5, k2tog, K4) 3 times. [32 sts]
Row 69 K2, (k2tog, K8) 3 times. [29 sts]
Row 71 K2, (K4, k2tog, K3) 3 times. [26 sts]
Row 73 K2, (k2tog, K6) 3 times. [23 sts]
Row 75 K2, (K3, k2tog, K2) 3 times. [20 sts]
Break Yarn A and join Yarn C.
Row 76 and foll WS rows Purl.
Row 77 K2, (k2tog, K4) 3 times. [17 sts]
Row 79 K2, (K2, k2tog, K1) 3 times. [14 sts]
Row 81 K2, (k2tog, K2) 3 times. [11 sts]
Row 83 K2, (k2tog, K1) 3 times. [8 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
SETH SINGH, ART EDITOR
BODY LINING
Cast on 44 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn D.
Rows 1 to 58 Starting on a RS knit row work in st st.
Rows 59 to 81 With Yarn D, work as given for Pencil Main Body Rows 61 to 83. [8 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
TOP LINING
Cast on 44 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn D.
Rows 1 to 16 Starting on a RS knit row work in st st.
Rows 17 to 25 With Yarn D, work as given for Pencil Top Rows 19 to 27. [11 sts]
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Pull tight to fasten.
HINGE
Cast on 10 sts using 3.5mm needles and Yarn D.
Row 1 (RS) Knit.
Rows 2 to 4 Purl.
Rows 5 to 7 Knit.
Rows 8 to 10 Purl.
Rows 11 to 13 Knit.
Rows 14 to 16 Purl.
Cast off.
MAKING UP
1 Block pieces before making up and weave in all ends.
2 Pin the cast-on edges of the Pencil Top and Pencil Main Body pieces to each side of the zip tape. Sew the cast-on edges of the pencil pieces onto the zip tape using cotton thread, catching a stitch from the cast-on edge to the tape all the way along. Note that the knitted pieces are wider than the zip; this gap will be covered by the hinge piece later. Use mattress stitch and matching yarns to sew the side edges of each pencil piece tog to make the pencil shape.
3 To strengthen the case and keep the round shape, cut plastic mesh or cardboard pieces to place inside the pencil: one long tube 18.5cm long x 6.5cm diameter and a cone shape 7cm tall x 6.5cm diameter for the body, and a shorter tube 4.5cm tall x 6.5cm diameter and circle 6.5cm diameter in the top. Place these inside the pencil before sewing on the lining.
4 Use mattress stitch to sew the side edges of the top/body lining pieces tog and place inside the pencil with the WS of the pencil and lining facing each other. Use blind hem stitch and cotton thread to sew the cast-on edge of each lining piece onto the zip tape.
5 Sew the cast-on and cast-off edges of the hinge on the outside of the pencil to cover the gap at the end of the zipper.