A straightforward pouch you can make from scraps

A chapstick holder is a small fabric tube that keeps a stick of chapstick from rolling around in your bag or pocket. You make it by sewing two rectangles of fabric together, turning it right-side out, and closing the opening. The whole project takes about 30 minutes once you have your materials, and you can use fabric scraps you already have at home.

The finished holder is roughly 4 inches tall and 2 inches wide — just big enough to slip a standard chapstick tube inside. You can make it from cotton, linen, fleece, or any fabric you have on hand. No special tools are needed beyond a needle, thread, scissors, and a sewing machine (though you can hand-sew it if you prefer).

Key Takeaways

  • Cut two rectangles of fabric 4 inches by 2.5 inches, then sew three sides together with a quarter-inch seam allowance.
  • Turn the pouch right-side out through the opening, then fold the raw edges inward and sew the opening closed by hand or machine.
  • Use a ladder stitch (also called a slip stitch) to close the opening invisibly if you want a polished look.
  • Fabric scraps, old t-shirts, or quilting cotton all work equally well for this project.

What you need before you start

Gather two pieces of fabric, each cut to 4 inches by 2.5 inches. You can use matching pieces or mix two different fabrics for a two-tone effect. Cotton quilting fabric, linen, fleece, or even an old t-shirt all work. If you do not have a ruler, you can measure against a chapstick tube itself — the fabric should be about twice as long as the tube is tall, and slightly wider than the tube's diameter.

You will also need thread that matches or complements your fabric, a needle (for hand-sewing the final seam), scissors, and access to a sewing machine. If you do not have a machine, you can sew the entire holder by hand using a running stitch, though it will take longer. A pin or two helps hold the fabric pieces together while you sew, but is not required.

Sewing the three outer seams

Place your two fabric rectangles with the right sides (the pretty sides) facing each other. Pin around the edges if you want, or just hold them steady. Using a sewing machine set to a straight stitch, sew along three of the four sides, leaving one short end open. Sew about a quarter inch from the edge — this is called a quarter-inch seam allowance and is the standard for small projects.

Sew down the first long side, across the bottom, and up the second long side. Stop when you reach the top. Leave the entire top short edge unsewn — this is where you will turn the pouch right-side out. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam to lock the thread in place so it does not unravel.

Turning the pouch and preparing to close it

Trim the corners of the sewn pouch at a 45-degree angle, cutting away the fabric about a quarter inch from the corner seam. This step is called clipping corners and makes the finished pouch lie flat without bulky fabric bunching at the corners. Do not cut into the seam itself — just trim the excess fabric beyond it.

Reach into the opening and grab the bottom corner of the pouch from the inside. Pull gently and steadily until the entire pouch turns right-side out. The seams are now on the inside where they belong. Use a blunt tool like a chopstick or the back of a spoon to push the corners out fully so they are crisp and square.

Once the pouch is turned, fold the raw edges of the opening inward by about a quarter inch on each side, and press them flat with your fingers or an iron. This creates a finished edge that looks neat when you close the opening.

Closing the opening with a ladder stitch

Thread a needle with about 18 inches of thread and tie a knot at one end. Bring the needle up through one of the folded edges from the inside, so the knot hides in the fold. The thread should come out right at the fold line.

Insert the needle directly across into the opposite folded edge, going in at the fold line. Slide the needle along inside the fold for about a quarter inch, then bring it back out. You are now on the opposite side. Repeat this process — go across, slide inside the fold, come back out — working your way along the opening. The thread runs inside the fold on both sides, so from the outside it is nearly invisible. After every inch or so, gently pull the thread snug so the opening closes. When you reach the end, tie off the thread inside the fold and trim the excess.

If the ladder stitch feels fiddly, you can also sew the opening closed with a straightforward running stitch or a machine stitch, though it will be visible from the outside. Either way works fine.

Testing and using your holder

Slip your chapstick into the finished holder. It should fit snugly but not so tight that you struggle to remove it. If the fit is too loose, you can take a small stitch or two on the inside of the seams to narrow the pouch slightly. If it is too tight, you may have cut the fabric too narrow — but you can still use it; the fabric will stretch slightly with wear.

The holder is now ready to use. Toss it in a bag, a pocket, or a drawer. You can make several in different fabrics and colors, or give them as small gifts. The same basic method works for holding other small items like a pen, a small flashlight, or a tube of sunscreen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sew this by hand instead of using a machine?

Yes. Use a running stitch (in and out, in and out) to sew the three outer seams, keeping your stitches about a quarter inch apart and a quarter inch from the edge. It will take longer than a machine — perhaps 45 minutes to an hour — but the result is the same. Hand-sewing the final closing seam is actually easier than machine-sewing it, so you may find hand-sewing the whole project more comfortable.

What if I do not have matching thread?

Use thread that matches your fabric as closely as possible, or choose a neutral color like black, white, or gray. The seams will be hidden inside the pouch except for the final closing seam, so an exact match is not critical. If the closing seam will be visible and you want it to disappear, use thread that matches the outer fabric color.

Can I add elastic or a drawstring to keep the chapstick from falling out?

You can, but it is not necessary — the snug fit usually holds the chapstick in place. If you want a drawstring, sew a small casing (a folded strip of fabric) along the top edge before closing the pouch, then thread a thin cord through it. This adds another 15 to 20 minutes to the project.

What size should I cut the fabric if I want to hold something other than chapstick?

Measure the length and width of the item you want to hold. Cut fabric rectangles that are about half an inch longer than the item's height and about an inch wider than its width. This gives you enough room to slip the item in and out comfortably. Adjust the measurements up or down depending on how snug you want the fit to be.