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You are here: Home / Sewing / Learn to Sew Series: Stitch an Adorable Zippered Pouch

Learn to Sew Series: Stitch an Adorable Zippered Pouch

225 · Jun 8, 2018 · 4 Comments

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This tutorial for a zip pouch with a flat bottom is a part of my “learn to sew series”. A series of simple sewing projects aimed at helping you learn how to sew or improve your sewing skills!  These zippered pouches are my “go to” handmade gift, and were one of the very first bags I learned how to sew. They stitch up quickly and are a great way to use up fabric scraps!

I’ve made A LOT of zippered bags over the years. I love that the pattern is pretty simple and can easily be modified or customized depending on what you want to use the bag for! You can stitch it out of laminate fabrics to make a cosmetic bag, make it small enough to hold chapstick, or large enough to hold a hairbrush! It’s up to you.

A few Sewing Tips Before you Begin:

-You can make this bag ANY size that you want. Just make sure that your zipper is longer than the width of your fabric. Customize and resize away! This bag is about 9″ x 1 1/2″ x 6 1/2″

-You need to use a polyester zipper for this technique.  Do not use a metal zipper (that’s another tutorial)

-You can use a zipper that is longer than what you need, you will just cut it to size during the construction process.

-Take the time to make sure your interfacing is the same size as your fabric pieces, extra bits of interfacing hanging over the edge of the fabric may throw you off as you’re sewing.

-All seam allowances are 1/2″, except the zipper seam allowance, it’s 1/4″

Zip Pouch with Flat Bottom Sewing Tutorial:

Supplies Required:

Fabric shown is from the Derby Day Line by Riley Blake Designs

1 Fat Quarter of Fabric for Bag Outside

1 Fat Quarter of Fabric for Bag Lining

1/2 yard Pellon Shape Flex Interfacing

1/2 yard Pellon Fusible Fleece Interfacing

10″ or longer polyester zipper

Basic Sewing Supplies

Zippered Pouch Cutting Directions:

fabric and zippers on cutting mat

From Pouch Outside Fabric Cut:

2 pieces each 8″ x 10″

From Pouch Lining Fabric Cut:

2 pieces each 8″ x 10″

From Shape Flex Cut:

2 pieces each 8″ x 10″

From Fusible Fleece Cut:

2 pieces each 8″ x 10″

Construction Steps:

Iron the Shape Flex interfacing on to the wrong side of the pouch outside pieces.

Iron the Fusible Fleece interfacing to the wrong side of the pouch lining pieces.

cut fabric on cutting mat

Cut a 1″ x 1″ square out of the bottom corners of all fabric pieces.

zippered pouch tutorial in progress on cutting mat

Pin the right side of the pouch outside front piece to the right side of the zipper, the right side of the zipper will be facing the right side of the zipper. Pin the right side of one of the lining pieces to the wrong side of the zipper. Using a zipper foot, stitch.

zipper pinned to fabric piece

zippered pouch tutorial in progress on cutting mat

Repeat for the other side of the zipper.

zipper pinned to fabric piece

Press the fabric away from the zipper and top stitch along both sides of the zipper. I like to use a longer stitch length (like 3.5 when I’m topstitching).

Next, unzip the zipper 3/4 of the way.

zip bag during construction on cuttin gmat

Pin the two zip pouch outside pieces right sides together and the two lining pieces right sides together. Fold the seam allowance of the zipper towards the lining pieces.

Stitch with 1/2″ seam allowance, skipping the corners. Leave a 2″ opening in the center of the lining pieces so that you can turn the pouch right side out.

hand holding corner of zip bag

Next, pinch the corners (where the squares are cut out) so that the raw edges are even and the seams are lined up on top of each other. Stitch in place with 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat for all 4 corners.

Cut off the extra zipper (do this ONLY if you bought a polyester zipper, don’t do this for a metal zipper).

Turn zip pouch right side out.

Finishing:

Using a hera tool or other “pointy object” (not your scissors, they may poke thru the fabric), push the corners of the bags out until they are crisp.

Using your iron and lots of steam, press the zip pouch well, don’t skip this step, it will be one of the things that give you a nice smooth finish on your bag.

Stitch (by hand or machine it’s up to you) the opening in the lining closed.

If you’d like more ideas for Zip Pouches to Sew, then check out some of these other tutorials!

Seersucker and Leather Zippered Clutch

Embellished Zip Pouch Tutorial

40+ FREE Zip Pouch Sewing Tutorials

 

title image for zipper pouch tutorial

 

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Learn how to sew a simple zippered pouch with the free tutorial. #simplesewingprojects #sewingtutorials #sewing #zippouchtutorial #smallsewingprojects #giftstosew
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Melissa Mortenson

Melissa Mortenson is the author of the Polka Dot Chair blog which has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love”. Her first fabric line “Derby Style” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs. It was followed by 5 other fabric lines in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

Comments

  1. Sheila Perl says

    June 8, 2018 at 3:33 PM

    Great tutorial, Melissa!! I don’t usually use interfacing on my pouches, I’ll have to give it a try!

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    December 16, 2018 at 11:05 PM

    Hi Melissa! Thank you for this tutorial. Question, The first time you talk about pining fabric to the zipper you say, “the right side of the zipper will be facing the right side of the zipper.” I’m new to this sewing thing so could you explain what you mean? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Melissa Mortenson says

      December 21, 2018 at 11:39 AM

      It should say right side of the zipper should be facing the right side of the fabric. sorry

      Reply
  3. Judy says

    February 13, 2019 at 9:34 PM

    Hi Melissa, love your zipper pouch tutorial. I’m wondering if you could advise the best way to press a pouch with a base on completion as I always find it difficult to avoid press ‘ lines’ forming in the base area ( if that makes sense!) thankyou, Judy

    Reply

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