Pen Case
=====================

.. only:: html

   .. contents::

.. figure:: pen_case.jpg
   :align: center

This is a simple pen case, of the kind typically used for fountain pens,
designed to be made in a non-fraying material such as garment-weight
leather or felt.

Materials
---------

* A piece of leather, leather-like material or thick big enough
  to fit the two pattern rectangles (see below);
* strong sewing thread, ideally waxed.

Pattern
-------

For each case you need two rectangles, a base and a top, as in the
patterns below, plus a strip about as wide as the top and 1 - 2 cm thick for
the strap.

:download:`base_2.svg`
   base piece for a 2 pen case;
:download:`top_2.svg`
   top piece for a 2 pen case, with slightly narrower slots;
:download:`base_3.svg`
   base piece for a 3 pen case;
:download:`top_3.svg`
   top piece for a 3 pen case, with slightly wider slots.

the size of the slots will depend on the material used, you may have to
experiment a bit; using relatively thin leather imitation the wider
slots are more than enough for a Platinum Plaisir.

Instructions
------------

.. figure:: 0101-marked_pieces.jpg
   :align: center

Cut the pieces and mark the holes for sewing as in the pattern.

.. figure:: 0102-central_seams.jpg
   :align: center

Starting from the top, sew the central vertical seams with a saddle
stitch, backstitch and cutting the thread when you've reached the
bottom.

.. figure:: 0103-first_side_seam.jpg
   :align: center

Starting again from the top, sew one of the side seams inserting the
strap after two stitches, backstitch and cut the thread again when
you've reached the bottom.

.. figure:: 0104-second_side_seam.jpg
   :align: center

Again from the top, sew the first two stitches of the last seam, adjust
the length of the strap so that it just fits, insert it in the seam and
continue until the end of the seam, without backstitching.

.. figure:: 0105-bottom_seam.jpg
   :align: center

Continue sewing into the bottom, gathering the excess material from the
top into the distance of the base; backstitch and cut the thread.

.. tip:: depending on the material you're using, wetting the bottom edge
   may help in getting a neater gathering.

.. note:: for symmetry, I've backstitched the whole bottom seam and up
   on the side seam at the same distance as the other vertical seams,
   but it's a purely a matter of looks.

Gallery
-------

.. figure:: 2_pen_case.jpg
   :align: center

   An older prototype with two slots (and the excess pen that will go
   into the 3-slots version).