People who know me, know I keep lots of lists. I’ve tried several notebooks, yellow pads, 3×5 notecards and had a hard time keeping track of everything, until I started using a Bullet Journal. With each new journal, I’ve been making a DIY pen holder for notebook, to keep my different color pens handy.
How to Make a Pen Holder for a Notebook
Always have the right pen handy with a custom pen holder for your notebook or journal!
I like to use different colors in my notebook. I'm not much of a doodler, but I do like to use a different color for the different parts of my life. With this pen holder, I have the right pen, at the right time!
Materials
- Two (2) pieces of fabric, each 4-1/2 inches by 13-inches. This fits a standard Leuchttrum journal.
- Two (2) pieces of 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch elastic 8-inches long
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Iron
- Pressing surface
Instructions
- This makes a pen holder for a notebook that holds four (4) pens. See the notes below if you want to make one to hold fewer or more pens.
Cut out your fabric.
- Cut out your elastic. Layer the fabrics right sides together and put one edge of the elastic about 3/4-inch from each edge on one of the shorter sides of the fabric
- Starting at the opposite shorter side of the fabric, start sewing about 1-inch from the corner, towards the corner and all around the fabric, ending about 1-inch from the opposite corner on the same edge. Basically, sew all around the fabric sandwich, leaving an opening. The opening should be at least 2-inches.
- Turn the rectangle right side out through the opening and press. Topstitch along the edge with the opening, closing the gap.
- The top is where the elastic is in the seam. The bottom of the pen holder does not have the elastic secured (yet). Turn the bottom of the rectangle up 4-inches. Pin the other edge of the elastic to the bottom fold, on the opposite side of the fabric layer, about 1/2-inch in from the sides (aligned with the top placement). Pin or use quilter clips such as Wonder Clips.
- Topstitch all around the outside edge, making sure to catch the elastic with the bottom fold.
- Here is a close up of the elastic pinned on the fold.
- Next we'll sew the channels for the pens. With four pens, it's pretty easy. Sew a line along the 'pocket' right down the middle.
- Then sew in the middle of each of the two pockets that were formed with the step above. And, voila, you are done! You've made a DIY pen holder for your notebook!
- And the finished back.
- And, on my notebook.
Notes
Your notebook a different size? No problem. Measure the height of your notebook, and then estimate how deep you want your pocket to hold the pens in, but make them accessible. Add those measurements together PLUS 1/4-inch for seam allowances and that is the height for your fabric.
Want to hold more or less pens? You have wider or narrower pens? To determine the width, lay your pens out side by side with just a little bit of breathing space between them. Measure the width of your pens. Add 1/4-inch for seam allowances. This is the width for your pen holder for a notebook.
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Your pen a totally different size? Measure it to see how high the fold should be for the pen pocket. See why I picked 4-inches for the pocket height? Long enough to hold the pen but still be able to get to it easily.
Here is how I use my pen holder for a notebook:
A new year, brings a new pen holder with a new notebook. I use a different color pen for the different parts of my life, so it is easy to see at a glance what I need to get done, different parts of my day.
I make a monthly calendar in a 2-page spread, where the calendar is on the left side page, and a list of things I want to get done in the month are on the right hand side. I use the different color pens to easily identify my personal, work and side business goals.
Each week gets a 2-page spread, too. With the days of the week on the left, and to-do lists and status reports on the right. At the bottom of the to-do list, I make notes on major accomplishments for the week, and what things I want to make sure to get done in the future.
I love the reposition-able Ultra Tabs from Avery. If you are into making notes in books or keeping track of information in notebooks that the page changes, these are for you! They are so sturdy and truly are reposition able! Now I can easily flip to today’s list, the weekly list, and other areas of my bullet journal that I want to refer to.
I use index cards for my shopping lists. To always have the latest lists handy, I’ve adjusted these directions over the year and now make a pocket for the inside to hold index cards. Just sew two (2) pieces of fabric together to make a pocket and then sew the pocket to the elastic so that it is on the inside of your notebook.
Below is one of my previous pen holders. Over the years, I’ve increased the number of colored pens I want with me, as my life and activities have evolved. One is for my paying job, one is for Create Whimsy tasks or ideas, another for a volunteer organization I work with, one for my personal tasks and then the last color are for sewing, quilting, diy, craft projects I want to accomplish. I can quickly look at my to-do lists and see what I want to get done by the color of the task!
More examples of pen quivers:
And, here is another one I made for a friend.
Here is a quiver made by Bobbie, and how she made them as gifts with covered composition books for her friends.
“I picked hot pink with a pretty paisley print that makes me smile. The instructions were easy to follow and I had a pretty quiver in just a few minutes! It took me longer to set up the sewing machine that it did to make the quiver. I only had white elastic in the house and did not want to go out. I may get some black elastic later and make a new one. I don’t really like the white showing on the front.”
Pen holders with notebooks make a great gift for co-workers. Purchase composition books with fun covers and have fun matching fabric pieces from your collection and thinking about the sweet people who will be the recipients. A fun (and easy) project!
Browse through more organization tips and techniques on Create Whimsy.
