Pencil Holder Cover – Free Crochet Pattern

Crochet Pencil Holder

With the end of the school year approaching, I wanted to make my six-year-old’s teacher something thoughtful, useful, and handmade — but also quick enough to finish amid the busy season. That’s how this Crochet Pencil Holder Cover came to life.

It’s a charming, practical gift that looks adorable on any teacher’s desk and adds a cheerful handmade touch to the classroom. It also makes a wonderful Christmas gift, end-of-year present, or appreciation gift any time of year.

What surprised me most is how much kids love it too! The moment my daughter saw the finished pencil holder, she asked for one for her own desk — and many of my pattern testers said the same happened in their homes.

Whether you’re making it for a teacher, a child, or your own workspace, this crochet pencil holder cover is a fun, cute, and functional project that’s sure to be “on point.”

Use the Table of Contents below to jump to any section of this pattern or keep scrolling down for all the details and the written instructions. 

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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

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Pattern Instructions

Pencil Holder Body

(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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