How to Sew a Quilted Box Zip Pouch with Ruffle Details

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to sew a quilted box zip pouch with a charming ruffle accent.

image of two ruffle zip pouches with scarf, and lip gloss on white table

This quilted ruffled zip pouch sewing pattern is perfect for travel and makes a beautiful handmade gift! Adding a ruffle detail around the zipper gives the pouch a charming, feminine touch.

The box is constructed with 1/4″ quilted foam, Which gives the bag a lot of “spring” and bounces back and holds its shape well, even with repeated use!

If you’ve been a long-time reader, then you know I love to sew zip bags! This is similar to a bag I designed and created for my husband years ago. That box zip pouch was made with canvas and leather. This tutorial’s zip bag (or dopp bag) features quilting cotton and a charming ruffle detail!

About the Box Zip Pouch

Pattern Details

  • SIZE: Approx. 11″ x 5″ x 5″
  • INTERFACING: Pellon Flex Foam
  • FEATURES: Fully lined with bound finished seams.
  • TECHNIQUES COVERED: Quilting Foam, Zipper Insertion, Ruffle Creation.
  • SKILL LEVEL: Confident Beginner
close up of two blue and green ruffle zip pouches on white table

Whether you’re an experienced sewist or just getting started, this step-by-step guide will help you create a beautiful and practical pouch you’ll love to use or share. Let’s get started!

close up of two blue and green ruffle zip pouches on white table

Supply List

Video Instructions

Our YouTube channel has a series of videos that walk you through the construction steps of this bag. This is a multi-part video series. Part 1 was posted today, and Part 2 will be posted next Friday.

thumbnail of a youtube video about sewing a zip pouch
image of two ruffle zip pouches with scarf, and lip gloss on white table

Quilted Ruffle Box Zip Pouch Sewing Pattern

Melissa Mortenson
Learn how to make a quilted box zip pouch with a ruffled edge with our free sewing pattern
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 1 hour
Active Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours

Equipment

supplies

  • 2 Fat Quarters Fabric 1 for Bag Outside and 1 for Bag Lining. Fabric is Tulip Cottage Collection by Riley Blake Designs
  • 1/2 Yard Fabric for Ruffles & Binding
  • 1/2 Yard 20” Wide Flex Foam
  • 1 Zipper at least 18” polyester, with dual zips

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Create a quilt sandwich with your flex foam and two fat quarters. The fabrics should have the right sides facing out, and the foam should be in the center. Quilt lines 1” apart. If you need additional help or instructions, follow our “How to quilt foam” tutorial.

Cutting

  • Cut the Quilted Foam Piece to 17” x 20”
  • Cut for Ruffles: 2 pieces 3” x Width of Fabric (WOF)
  • Cut for Bindings: 4 pieces 2 1/2” x Width of Fabric

Step One: Ruffles

  • Fold one of the 3” x WOF strips in half lengthwise with the right sides facing out.

Using a Ruffling Foot:

  • With the Ruffling foot installed on the sewing machine and the setting at 6, sew the folded strip of fabric. The stitching line will be 1/4” in from the folded raw edges.
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot

Using a Standard Foot:

  • Set your sewing machine on the longest stitch length possible (usually 5 or 6). Sew two lines of stitching (basting stitches) close to the raw edge of the folded fabric.
    hand sewing pink fabric under sewing machine foot
  • After sewing, pull up on the bobbin threads to gather the fabric. Gather the fabric to your liking. Note that you don’t need to use the entire length of fabric on the bag; just gather it to the point that you like it.
    hand sewing pink fabric under sewing machine foot
  • Repeat for the other 3” wide ruffle fabric strip.

Step Two: Attach Ruffle

  • Pin the ruffled fabric to the bag front along the 17” side. The ruffle’s raw edge will be even with the bag’s raw edge.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Sew the ruffle to the bag with a 1/4” seam allowance. Trim off the excess ruffle fabric at ends.
    TIP: if you have the ruffled fabric facing down the feed dogs of the sewing machine will help feed it evenly as you sew!
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot
  • Repeat with the second ruffle piece on the other 17” side of the bag.

Step Three: Bind

  • Fold one of your 2 1/2” wide binding strips in half lengthwise and press. The right sides of the fabric will face out.
  • Pin the folded binding piece to the LINING side of the bag (the ruffle was pinned to the outside of the bag) along the same edge as the ruffle. The raw edge of the binding will be flush with the raw edge of the bag.
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot
  • Sew in place with a 1/4” seam allowance.
  • Press the binding fabric away from the bag, then pull it around to the front of the pouch.
  • Use glue and binding clips to hold it in place.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • On the machine, topstitch the binding close to the folded edge of the binding. Remove any visible basting stitches.
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot
  • Repeat with the other binding piece on the other side of the bag.

Step Four: Zipper

  • Pin the ruffle/bound edge of the bag to the right side of the zipper. Make sure you don’t pin it too close to the edge of the zipper teeth.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Use a marking pen to draw a line across the zipper where the fabric meets the zipper at both ends, so that you can make sure that you pin the other side of the bag to the same spot on the zipper.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • You are only working on one side of the zipper at a time.
  • With a zipper foot on your sewing machine, sew the zipper to the bag, close to the edge of the binding on the right side of the bag.
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot
  • Repeat with the other side of the bag on the other side of the zipper. At this point, you may find it helpful to unzip the zipper.
  • After the other side of the zipper is sewn, test the zipper to make sure your fabric is not too close to the teeth and that the bag fabric is lined up properly on both sides.
  • Center the zipper on the pouch. At this point, you should have a big tube. You want to make sure that the zipper is at the center point of that tube.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • When you find the center, mark it with pins or a pencil on the other side of the bag.
  • Trim the excess zipper ends (only do this if you’ve purchased a polyester zipper).

Step Five:

  • With the bag lying flat and the zipper in the center, draw a 2 1/2” square in each of the bag’s four corners.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Cut out the square with sharp scissors.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Zip the zipper and turn the bag wrong side out. Make sure the zipper is on top of the center marks you noted on the bag.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Sew the two end seams with a 1/2” seam allowance.
  • Bind the raw edges using the same method used in Step Three.
  • Unzip the zipper about halfway.

Step Six: Corners

  • Cut a piece of binding fabric 6” long. Turn it so that the right sides of the fabric are facing and sew with a 1/4” seam allowance.
  • Turn right side out and press.
  • Top stitch along both sides of this piece. This is now your handle.
  • Feed the handle into the pouch at one end through the cut corner and pin just under the zipper. The handle’s raw edges will be even with the pouch’s cut corner’s raw edges.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • Pinch the cut corner on the four corners of the piece to create the “box” shape. Sew with a 1/2” seam allowance and bind.
    blue ruffle zip pouch in progress, pouch on blue cutting mat
  • When you bind, fold under the raw ends of the binding so you have a clean finish on the inside of your bag.
    hand sewing blue fabric under sewing machine foot

Finishing

  • Turn the bag right side out. If you don’t feel like the bag is your desired shape, use an iron with steam to “crease” the top and bottom edges to reinforce the box shape.
    close up of two blue and green ruffle zip pouches on white quilt

Video

PRINT
Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram
image of two ruffle zip pouches with scarf, and lip gloss on white table

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close up of two blue and green ruffle zip pouches on white quilt

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