Easy Zipper Pouch Tutorial
How to sew a DIY pattern fabric pouch
Making an easy zipper pouch is combining the creative with the practical. I’m sure that like me most sewing lovers have baskets of scrap fabric to use for fun crafts! Also, I’m always on the lookout for old and thrift store clothes made of quality fabric. The zipper pouch we’ll be making today uses both! Firstly, scrap linen fabric leftover from our Evangeline dress production. Then an old men’s shirt with beautiful pattern. Men’s shirts are my favourite and it only takes three to create a sustainable shirt maxi dress for the garden! Lastly, a zipper taken out of jeans used to make a DIY denim apron. Have you tried making one? Do, it’s so simple and looks amazing!
Practical zipper pouch
Zipper pouches are really practical and can be used for all sorts of things. The one we’re making today was part of the lovely painted pebble project to store farm animals. But a zipper pouch can also be used to carry coins, glasses or a phone. It’s great for packing cosmetics, storing pencils, craft tools and even snacks! Just decide the purpose, choose the fabric design and the best size and in under 15 minutes you can make an easy zipper pouch!
Don’t miss out on more fun crafts:
- Easy-To-Make Slip Dress
- Artisan Scrap Fabric Book
- Fabric Tulips
- DIY Fabric Brush/Pens/Make-up Holder
- Easy DIY Yarn
- Woven Necklace Tutorial
- Visible Mending Techniques - Peaceful Slow Stitching
- Handmade Bookmarks
Easy Zipper Pouch Tutorial
You’ll need:
- four fabric pieces of the same size - mine was 20 x 15cm (one side should fit the length of the zipper)
- a zipper (mine was 15cm)
- sewing thread
- zipper sewing foot
- sewing machine
Instructions
This zipper pouch tutorial is really easy! Firstly, cut out all the pieces you’ll use. These will be 2-4 panels of fabric, depending on whether you want single or double lining. We’ll be making double lining so the panels will be four. I used an old cotton shirt for the outer layer because it had a lovely texture and colour. For the inner layer I cut the pieces out of an old denim skirt. I also used the 15 cm zipper from the skirt. To decorate the pouch you can also use any nice looking labels from old denim clothes.
Take one panel for the outer piece and one for the inner piece. Pin a half-open zipper in between as shown on the images bellow. My fabric was the same from both sides but if you have a ‘right and wrong side’, make sure the right side is facing inwards. Stitch along the edge using a zipper foot on your sewing machine. Repeat for the other side of the zipper with the other two panels and spread the fabric with the zipper in the middle. Iron the fabric to make it nicely flat and pin the pouch with the right outer pieces facing each other. Make sure to open the zipper half way because once the pouch is stitched along the edges you’ll need to turn it inside out.
Final touches
Once the pouch is stitched all around the edges, trim the corners with scissors. This will help the corners look neater. Then turn the pouch inside out through the half-open zipper. Iron the pouch flat one more time and you’re done!
Garnishing
There are some simple ways to decorate your pouch. This could be some separate gathered fabric or a fabric bow. This will need to be pinned between the right sides before the second stitching along the edges. You can garnish the zipper with a little tassel or stitch some label to the right side of the outer zipper pouch panel before stitching it onto the zipper.
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