Pen Pocket Binder Sewing Pattern + Tutorial

Learn how to sew a pocket organizer for your pens to slide on notebooks or binders.

This pen pocket is the perfect teacher gift for teacher appreciation week! My son’s teacher needed binders for their class so I sized the pen pocket to fit on the front of a standard binder.

The pen pocket is equipped with elastic for adjustability and to keep it securely on. I love being able to combine a personal touch to a gift that meets a need!

Pen pocket in blue and grey fabric with coral feathers and fountain pens.

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You might also enjoy my Burlap Easter Basket sewing tutorial with step by step pictures and instructions!

Materials:

Fabric – fat quarters are perfect

9″ length of 1″ wide elastic

sewing machine, scissors, thread

Steps:

Long fabric, elastic and short fabric laid out.

Cut an 18″ by 5″ rectangle, a 10″ by 5″ rectangle (I used two coordinating fabrics for mine).

The 10″ rectangle will form your pocket.

Fold the short ends down 1/2″ and iron to crease. Fold them another 1/2″ to enclose the raw edge and iron to crease.

Sew the top fold closed (this will be the top part of your pocket, where you’ll keep your pens).

Leave the bottom fold unsewn, we’ll sew it on to the strap later.

Pin the pocket to the strap, about 6″ down from the top of the strap.

Sew the bottom of the pocket (that was iron in previous step) to the strap.

Grey fabric laid flat with blue stitched on one side.

Fold over the long edge (both strap and pocket where they’re layered) 1/2″ and iron to crease. Fold over another 1/2″ and iron to crease. Repeat with the other long edge.

Sew the long sides, which will attach the pocket to the strap.

Fold over the short end of the strap 1/2″ and iron to crease. Fold over 1/2″ again and iron. Repeat for other short end of strap.

Unfold the short end, tuck the elastic into it and re-fold it two times.

Pin the fold and elastic down. Repeat for other end.

Sew across the short ends.

Fold the elastic back, towards the end of the strap.

Sew a box to secure the elastic to the end of the strap. Repeat for other end/elastic.

Slip on to your binder and fill with your favorite pens!

White and blue feather pen pocket with pens on binder.

I filled mine with these Pilot Fountain Pens as part of their teacher gift. I love the colors they offered, and that I could divvy them up between the teachers.