Make Easy Zippered Pouches!

Happy New Year and Happy January!

I am writing this post at the request of a friend nearby who saw my pouch sitting about in my studio and she said:  "Why don't you do a blog post on that?"

This is for you Joan!

I am sure everyone will find it useful and lets face it totes, bags, pouches.... you can never have enough as they are so useful!

​It also just happens to be that time of the year to get organized and these little totes are very helpful.

What you will need:

​

2 pieces of lining fabric, 2 pieces of outside (main) fabric and 2 pieces of fusible lightweight interfacing

Note: your fabric can be any size you wish, pencil case sized, make up bag or a simple tissue tote size. You choose.

​You will also need......

A zipper slightly larger than the length of the opening of your pouch

Also required:
A zipper foot
Thread to match
An iron
Sewing Machine
Scissors

How to make it:

1. Fuse interfacing on the wrong side of the main fabrics.
2. Lay one piece of your main fabric right side against the right side of your zipper with the zipper pull section flush with the edge of the fabric, pull your zipper completely open and tape or pin it in place.  Sew with a zipper foot close to the zipper. 

     3.  Lay the right side of the other main fabric on the other right side of
          the zipper and sew it with a zipper foot

hard to see in the photo but one edge of the zipper is stitched and the other edge is temporarily taped ready for sewing with the zipper foot, Right side of the fabric against the right side of the zipper

   4.  ​Flip the whole project over and place the right side of the lining flush with the wrong side of the zipper and tape or pin in place.  Sew on the previously sewn line with a zipper foot. 

right side of the lining now sewn to the wrong side of the zipper on the same line as for the outside (main) fabric

   5.  Do the same as in 4 with the other right side of lining fabric on the
         other wrong side of the zipper. 

   6.  Trim your zipper if necessary and make a new zipper stop by
        zigzagging over the zipper end. Zigzag stitch all raw edges.

   7.  Press the lining and main fabric away from the zipper so that they look
        like the pictures below, trim all edges so your project is now square:

Outside Main Fabric

Lining Fabric

   8.  With your zipper open, line up the project with right sides (main fabric
        to main fabric and lining to lining together) and sew down the sides
        and bottom with a ¼” seam allowance. Zig Zag stitch your raw
        edges if you like. Your opening for turning will be your open zipper.

Showing back side of the pouch

   9.  Turn your project to the right side through the zipper, tuck your lining inside the zipper.

Top Stitch 1/4" from the top edge of the zipper all the way around once your pouch is turned.

   10.  Admire your efforts! Store pencils, pens, quilt markers, scissors,
​          makeup, nail polish, toiletries art supplies etc.

Get a head start on Christmas and gift giving in 2017 and make many of these handy pouches!!

Happy Tuesday, I hope the rainy weather (here in Waterloo, Ontario) is not affecting your creativity! 😊