In an age of PowerPoint lectures and typed up notes, I always get weird looks when I tell people I prefer to write my notes by hand. I find that it helps me remember the material better, and being able to have colour-coded notes is just a bonus! When I saw this pencil case pattern, I knew I wanted to use it for my pens.

• 1/50 skein of Red Heart Soft – a worsted weight (4) yarn (above colour A: Really Red)
• 1/75 skein of Red Heart Soft – a worsted weight (4) yarn (above colour B: Charcoal)
• 1/40 skein of Caron Simply Soft – a worsted weight (4) yarn (above colour C: Bone)
• 1/75 skein of Caron Simply Soft – a worsted weight (4) yarn (above colour D: Black)
• Size H (5.0 mm) hook

Pattern by Adriana at Bowties and Fezzes
MODIFICATIONS by tick-tock hobbies

I knew I wanted to use the case for my set of Muji pens, so I knew the case didn’t need a very large diameter. After doing the increases in the first four rows, I did an additional five rows in Really Red, with twenty-four stitches per row. I did two rows with the Charcoal, and with Bone, I did fourteen rows before moving on to the pencil tip. At that point, I did six single crochets before chaining eighteen stitches and slip stitching back into the row. After that, I did a row of repeated *two single crochets, one decrease* to have eighteen stitches. I followed that with a row of eighteen single crochets. After that, I did another row of decrease, this time doing a repeat of *one single crochet, one decrease* to have twelve stitches. Again, I followed this with a row of twelve single crochets, changing colour to Black for the coming row. With the Black, I did a row with decreases all around to have six stitches, and then I did a row of single crochet to finish off.

I didn’t use a button or zipper for the closure as I had measured the pencil case to fit snugly around the pens. As a result, the pencil case was tight enough to grip the pens without needing an additional closure.

In the future, I would love to try this idea again, but I would want to work from the other direction so that the eraser is the lid, rather than the pencil lead. I think that this would lead to a better closure for the pencil case.

As a side note, I just wanted to do a little plug for Muji pens (completely of my own free will with no financial compensation) because I love the fine tips and colours that their pens have. My personal favourite are the 0.5mm tip gel ink pens! In addition, they write smoothly and don’t bleed through pages. When I heard they were finally opening a store in Canada, I was so excited! If you live in Vancouver, please hit up the store so that I can live vicariously through you!

Until next time, happy crafting!