Crochet Pencil Holder Cover – Free Pattern

A Wonderful Crochet Gift for a Teacher

With the end of the school year approaching, I wanted to give my six year old’s teacher something special and handmade. I wanted whatever I made to be relatively easy and quick to make but also thoughtful and appropriate for a teacher.

So I designed this Crochet Pencil Holder Cover, which I think is an absolutely perfect Christmas gift or an end of year gift for a teacher.

If you are looking for other gift ideas for teachers, this Coffee Cozy also makes a great gift.

Super Cute Desk Decoration for Kids

While I designed this pattern as a gift for a teacher, the moment my six year old saw it, she wanted it for her own desk! A number of my testers also said their kids instantly claimed the finished pencil holder cover for themselves.

So if there is a child or grandchild in your life, I can speak from experience that it’s a crochet gift for kids that will be on point! (Pun totally intended)

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may receive a commission for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Get the PDF!

Purchase the printer-friendly PDF of this pattern that you can instantly download! It includes everything from this free pattern but you can easily save, print and access it anytime!

You can also purchase it on Etsy or Ravelry.

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Crochet Pencil Holder Pattern Details

Skill Level

The skill level for this pattern is easy (simple stitches and colorwork) but if you are new to colorwork, I recommend reading my guide or watching my video tutorial on How to Crochet with Two Colors.

Size

Completed size: 9.5” wide and 3.75” high (plus the top of pencils, which are 1”). It is designed to fit a pint-size mason jar that is 10” around, 4.75” high, the top width is 3.25” and the bottom width is 2.75”.

Gauge

4” x 4” = 15 sc and 16 rows

Materials

Yarn: Any worsted weight, medium (4), 100% acrylic yarn. I used Impeccable by Loops and Threads, Solids in the colors: A) Main/Background = “Fern” (35 yds), B) Eraser = “Arbor Rose” (4 yds), C) Ferrule = “Pale Grey” (4 yds), D) Pencil Body = “Sunny Day” (14 yds), E) Collar = “Heather” (8 yds), F) Tip = “Black” (4 yds).

Crochet Hook: F/5 (3.75mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. You may want to go up one hook size for the starting chains.

Other Materials: Pint-size mason jar (see exact size above), 3 x 15mm buttons, sewing needle, thread, yarn needle, scissors and measuring tape. 

Terminology

This pattern is written for right-handed crochet using standard US terminology. 

Abbreviations

ch = chain
st = stitch
sts = stitches 
sk = skip 
sl st = slip stitch 
sc = single crochet
YO = yarn over 
RS = Right Side
WS = Wrong Side

How to Crochet with Multiple Colors

Pattern Notes

• Each row has 35 stitches.
• Ch 1 and turn after every row. 
• Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
• Always work in the 1st st (the st attached to ch).
• Catch your float of the main/background color in the middle of each pencil (the 3rd stitch) (learn how to catch/trap floats here). 
• Stretch your work wide after each row.
• Ensure all strands are always kept on the wrong side of the work.
• Add/switch color when you have two loops of the old color on the sc stitch BEFORE the new color stitch.
• When the instructions say: “repeat *B x 5, A x 3* across,” what this means is: B x 5, A x 3, B x 5, A x 3, B x 5, A x 3, B x 5, A x 3. 

Color Legend

I’ll be honest, I had to look up the anatomy of a pencil for this pattern! Did you know that the metal “thing” above the eraser was called a Ferrule?! Here is the Color Legend:

A) Main/Background Color
B) Eraser Color
C) Ferrule (the metal “thing” above the eraser) Color
D) Pencil Body Color
E) Collar (the beige section between the tip and pencil body) Color
F) Tip

You can also purchase it on Etsy or Ravelry.

Crochet Pencil Holder Cover Written Instructions

(Chart is below)

If you crochet tightly, you may want to go up a hook size for the starting chains (only) to ensure you can work more easily into the back ridge loop on Row 1. 

Chain/Foundation Row: With A (Main/Background Color), chain 36.

For Row 1 (only), work into the back ridge loops. 

Row 1 (RS): (Continue using A for all of Row 1 & 2) In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. Sc in each ch across. Reminders: each row has 35 sts. Ch 1 and turn after each row.

(Work in both loops from now on)

Row 2 (WS): Sc in each st across. 

Note About Colorwork Instructions: 

In the next row, you will begin changing colors. Every stitch is a single crochet (sc). The pattern does not say to sc because it gets too jumbled. Instead it says something like: A x 3, B x 5 which means: using A (Main Color), sc for 2 sts, add B (Eraser Color) yarn on the last (the 3rd) st. Using B, sc for 4 sts (remember to catch your float on the 3rd st), on the last (the 5th) st, change back to A.

Row 3 (RS): A x 3, repeat *B x 5, A x 3* across. 

Row 4 (WS): Repeat Row 3. Fasten off B. 

Row 5 (RS): A x 3, repeat *C x 5, A x 3* across. 

Row 6 (WS): Repeat Row 5. Fasten off C. 

Row 7 (RS): A x 3, repeat *D x 5, A x 3* across.

Rows 8 –  14: Repeat Row 7. Fasten off D. 

Row 15 (RS): A x 3, repeat *E x 5, A x 3* across. Fasten off E. Do not turn. 

Button Straps

Test out the cover on your mason jar before making straps. To make the straps smaller or bigger, make fewer or more chains. 

After completing Row 15 (ensure you have not turned), still with A (Main/Background Color), ch 6. Sl st into the same st.  Sc evenly down the side until the halfway point. At the halfway point, ch 6. Sl st into the same st.  Sc evenly down the side until the last st. At the last st, ch 6. Sl st into the same st.  Fasten off A and weave in all loose ends. 

Buttons

Test out the the cover on your mason jar to ensure proper button placement before sewing them on.

Sew on buttons at the top, middle and bottom on the opposite end from the button straps. Place button approximately 0.5″ away from end (placement spot may change depending on the size of your work – ensure strap fits over the button before sewing).

Pencil Tops

Complete all rows for one pencil top before moving on to the next. 

Row 1 (RS): With the RS facing you, insert hook into the 1st sc of E (Collar Color) stitches (the st furthest right). A) Place a new strand of E yarn on hook, B) pull through a loop and C) sl st. 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts. Sl st into last st. Ch 1 and turn. 

Row 2 (WS): Sk the 1st sl st. 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts. Sl st into last st. Fasten off (pull end of yarn through loop to close). 

Row 3 (RS): With RS facing you, insert hook into the last sl st made with E (the st furthest right). A) Place a new strand of F (Tip Color) yarn on hook, B) pull through a loop and C) sl st. 1 sc in next 2 sts. Ch 1 and turn. 

Row 4 (WS): Single crochet the 3 sts together (here’s how: insert hook into 1st st, YO and pull through loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook into 2nd st, YO and pull through loop (3 loops on hook). Insert hook into 3rd st (the sl st), YO and pull through loop (4 loops on hook). YO and pull yarn through all 4 loops. 

Fasten off and weave in all loose ends. Repeat instructions for each pencil top.

And now you have a new pencil holder cover! 

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Pattern Chart

Chart Legend

• White square = sc with A (Main/Background Color) 
• Light grey square = sc with A (Main/Background Color) on wrong side rows
• Pink square with circle = sc with B (Eraser Color) 
• Dark grey with plus sign = sc with C (Ferrule Color)
• Orange square with black border = sc with D (Pencil Body Color) 
• Beige square with upside down V = sc with E (Collar Color) 

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And now you have a new crochet pencil jar cover!

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