BERNINA Corporate Blog -This decorative wall hanger was the ideal image to sew a pen case out of banner. I saw the hanger in a thrift shop and did not hesitate for a moment. It’s mine and I will reuse it! And of course my projects are realised with the sewing machine. The colorful pencils of the banner are great for storing markers.
Why did I set this project as suitable for an intermediate level? This kind of banner isn’t meant to turn inside out, what you should do when sewing a pen case in fabric. That’s why I finished the seams with biastape and I describe for you how it works. The material is stiff and rather hard to handle.
At first I need to take away the banner from the frame. I cut it to a size 26 x 33 cm.
Supplies to sew a pen case out of banner:
- 26 x 33 cm banner
- biastape in matching color
- Mettler Seralon sewing thread in matching colour
- A long zipper (mine was 54 cm).
- Binder Attachment for Pre-Folded Bias Tape #87 (I use it with unfolded tape)
- Your label (if you have on)
- Non fringing material like faux leather to finish the cut ends of the zipper
How to sew the pen case out of banner
Start to finish the long edges of the banner with biastape. I think Open Embroidery Foot #20 is a great help, with needle position -2.
Sew the zipper and the short edges together with biastape. Leave a 7 cm of the zipper on both sides (mine was a bit shorter at the start of the zipper).
Close the pen case and check the right matching point on the other part of the zipper. Then, open the zipper and sew the second end to the case.
Because of the long zipper, you can easily open the case to continue the sewing:
Topstitch the zipper with the Edgestitch Foot #10.
Fold the bottom fold to create extra volume in the pen case. My overlapping was 1.5 cm (on both sides).
Close the side seams. Stitch in the stitched line of the bias tape.
Cut the zipper tails to app 7 cm and finish with a patch of non fringing faux leather. Do you have a label? You can add it here.
This is what it looks like on the bottom side:
I’m very pleased with my new pen case!
Words fail me, surly someone at Bernina can think of something better than this.
I’m sorry you don’t like it Liz. I liked the picture and thought this would be an excellent material to sew a pen case you don’t need to turn inside out in the proces of making it. I’m always triggerd by unusual fabrics and material. Luckily there are so many other fun projects, I hope you will find something you like.