I Want to Eat My Marker Roll

Because it looks so yummy.

I first saw the gorgeous patchwork colored pencil rolls in back around Christmas time, I think...

How long it can take something to stew in one's head before it comes to fruition: This doesn't follow the book's instructions step-by-step, but back when I read it I studied it until I figured out how the most striking construction elements worked, and so I imagine that my own marker roll has some very close similarities.

In particular, I copied the idea of the matching color patchwork-- --and the up-and-down, back-and-forth quilting: I like this, in particular, a LOT better than the other ways I've seen discussed of constructing crayon rolls, which is to sew up only to the edge of the pocket and then backstitch to hold the stitch, and then move over to the next place the pocket needs to be sewn and sew up to the edge there, etc. When I made my own crayon rolls with that method, I was bored by the constant stop and start, and I disliked the look of the obvious backstitch.

This quilting method is quicker and cleaner looking.

I figured out the width of each pocket by measuring the length it took for a fabric tape measure to go from the tabletop, over the marker, and then back to the tabletop, adding a half-inch seam allowance. I measured the length of each piece as twice the length of my marker, then folded the whole thing up at the bottom to form the pocket, leaving space between the top of the marker and the top edge of the marker roll.

The marker roll's only flaw, as it pertains to my personal method of crafting, is that it requires some pretty specific color choices. Crafting primarily with recycled materials, I'm very used to working with what I already have or can cheaply obtain second-hand or from the recycling center. I'm NOT used to buying new fabric, and frankly, I was a little uncomfortable with it--consumerism isn't really the goal of my work, you know, although maybe you wouldn't know it if you saw all this fabric I bought just for these rolls:
I am going to look for some cotton button-down shirts at Goodwill tomorrow (50%-off storewide sale!) to use for this type of sewing, but I did make my peace with the new purchases a little by choosing that my outside fabric for these rolls be recycled blue jean denim. Makes it extra sturdy, I think.

Next up--a Micron pen roll, just for me!