How To Make A Basic Zipper Pouch
(*I just re-read this whole post, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think making a “basic” zipper pouch is actually quite complicated. I promise you, it’s not. I just wanted to include lots of pics and be very clear with the instructions because I’m a self-taught sewer and that’s what has helped me learn all my mad skills. If you want to learn how to make this, use this tutorial to show you how. If, however, you are rolling your eyes at me and my idea of “simple”, then you can always buy one from me. Turns out I make and sell pouches just like these! All the time! I even do custom orders! Okay, back to the regularly scheduled blog post…..)
For years, my sewing hobby began and ended with quilting. I was too intimidated to follow complicated patterns or tutorials, and anything with a zipper?! Fuggitaboutit. No way, Jose.
But eventually I tried it, and you know what? It’s pretty easy. And can I tell you a secret? I don’t even use the zipper foot that came with my machine! Too lazy! From what I can tell, you don’t really need it. But if you want to get your money’s worth by using all the random feet that came with your sewing machine, knock yourself out. Of course every machine is different, so maybe your zipper foot will help you sew a better zipper, but I’ve managed to go this long without using mine, so there you go.
A basic zipper pouch is super versatile. It’s also a great way to use a small amount of showcase fabric, or to use the stacks of fat quarters that you’ve collected over the years. (Don’t know what fat quarters are? Think of 1/2 of a 1/4 of a yard of fabric, only fatter. Yeah. I didn’t invent the name.)
I know there are many different ways to make a zipper pouch. I’m going to show you how I do it. Proceed fearlessly! You can do this!
BASIC ZIPPER POUCH
*(this tutorial will show you how to make a 4″ x 10″ flat pouch, which would be ideal for holding pens and pencils. Obviously you can make your pouch any size you want!)*
-exterior fabric
-interior lining fabric
-interfacing (like fusible fleece)
-1 zipper, at least 12″ long
Cut 2 pieces from the exterior fabric, 2 pieces from the lining fabric, and 2 interfacing pieces, all measuring 4 1/2″ x 11″. Like this:
exterior pieces, fusible fleece and zipper
interior lining piece
*A quick note on interfacing: There are several options here; it all depends on how you want your finished pouch to feel. If you want a thinner, crisper pouch, I’d use a thick stabilizer like Decor-Bond by Pellon. If you want a softer, thicker feel (think Vera Bradley), I’d use a fusible fleece like Thermolam Plus by Pellon. I’ve used both, and I like both for different reasons, but I tend to use the fleece more. Here’s what it looks like on the bolt:
!!
The “F” is for “fusible” (and is covered with a sticker for some reason), but it’s Pellon TP971F. No need to buy it by-the-bolt from Overstock.com; you can buy a very small amount of this at your favorite fabric shop for your project.
Next you’ll need to fuse your interfacing to the exterior pieces. Follow the directions that came with your interfacing; it usually involves pressing in place using steam.
pressing the interfacing to the exterior pieces
Now it’s time to add the zipper! Take a deep breath, you’ll be fine.
Take one of your fused exterior pieces and place it face up in front of you. Put your zipper FACE DOWN along the top edge of the exterior. Like this:
zipper face down, exterior face up
Now put one lining piece FACE DOWN on top of the exterior and zipper, making a little zipper sandwich. Like this:
Now clip or pin that sandwich together so you can sew it. Now you’ll have something that looks like this:
Bring that puppy over to your sewing machine! Using your zipper foot (or not, whatever, it’s cool) sew the layers together. I like to feed it through my machine with the fleece on the bottom; sometimes the lining piece can get chewed up if it’s on the bottom because it’s relatively thin. But that could just be a quirk of my machine. Do what you like. I’m not the boss of you.
Now you’ll open it up and press it, then fold it wrong sides together with the zipper sticking out of the top. Like this:
First half attached to the zipper! That wasn't so bad, right?
Okay, pay attention here.
When I first started making these I would overthink it and mess this part up all the time. You’re going to make a sandwich out of your sandwich. It’s like a club sandwich, if you will, except with a zipper instead of bacon and fabric instead of bread. Okay, that just got weird.
Anyway….
Here’s how you lay out your pieces, in order from bottom to top:
second lining piece, right side up
the zipper sandwich you just made, right side up (the two lining pieces will be right sides together)
second exterior piece, right side down (the two exterior pieces will be right sides together)
Here’s some pics to help you visualize:
Step One...
Step Two!
Clip or pin all those layers together and go back to your sewing machine. Sew all those layers together and press them open. Like this and this:
Clip or pin those layers together, then sew
Press open
This next step isn’t 100% essential, but I do it every time (well, every time I remember. Ahem.) Set your stitch length a bit longer (3.0 or 3.5) and top stitch the zipper in place on both sides. This will secure the layers and add a nice finished look. Like this:
Top stitch in place; I use the edge of my foot as a guide
See what I mean? Looks nice, right?
Remember at the beginning of this post when I said this process seems long and complicated? And then I promised you that it’s not? Do you think me a liar? Are you still with me? Hang in there, because we’re in the home stretch now, baby!
This next step is important. IMPORTANT!!! If you are breezing along and forget to do this, you will get to the very end and not be able to do the final step. Instead it will end with lots of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Ask me how I know.
UNZIP THE ZIPPER ABOUT 80% OF THE WAY OPEN. Do it. Like this:
JUST DO IT
Now you’re going to put all the right sides together. Put the two lining pieces right sides together and the two exterior pieces right sides together. Line them up as best you can where the layers all meet at the zipper. Like this:
See how the exterior pieces are lined up?
Pin or clip all the layers together, leaving a 4-inch gap at the bottom of the lining pieces. Your zipper tape will be hanging out the sides. Like this:
don’t forget the opening!
Sew all the way around using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, starting at one edge of the opening and ending at the other. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of your stitching to keep it from unravelling. Like this:
Look closely...can you see how the stitching starts and stops at the opening in the lining piece?
use your sharp scissors!
Here's a close-up of the notches; this help keep the corners from being too bulky when you turn it all right-side out
(Remember when I mentioned that you should unzip the zipper before sewing it all together? Here’s why. You’re going to reach into the opening at the bottom of the lining and pull the exterior through the lining so it will be right side out. If you left the zipper zipped, the exterior will be on the other side of that closed zipper. The only part of the zipper you can reach is the backside. Think you can just get that zipper to unzip by using your fingernail to scooch it open? Trust me, you can’t. Here’s where the tears come in. Yes, of course you can get your seam ripper and undo the exterior pieces, reach in, unzip, and then sew it up again. But have you ever tried to undo stitches on fusible fleece? It’s not my idea of a good time. Heed my advice and UNZIP BEFORE YOU SEW!)
Now, reach through that opening in the bottom of the lining and pull the exterior through so it’s right side out. It’ll look messy and lumpy, but don’t despair. Grab a blunt-edged tool (I use a chopstick; you can use your pinky finger in a pinch) and push out all the corners. Then take it back to your ironing board and press it nice and flat. Make sure you press the opening nice and flat, too, keeping that 1/2-inch seam allowance. Like this:
You are SO close to being done!
Now take it back to your sewing machine and sew the lining closed. I used to fuss about being able to see the stitches until I started looking closely at how store-bought bags are constructed; you can see these final stitches there, too. I bet you never noticed them before, right? You won’t notice these, either.
sew the lining closed
Push the lining back in the pouch and stick a fork in that baby, because it’s done! Or pencils. Yeah, pencils are probably better.
Ta-da!!!!!!! You totally rock!
If you make a zipper pouch using this tutorial, I’d love to see it! Send it to me or post it to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and be sure to tag me so I can find it. Happy Sewing!
