Patchwork Zipper Pouch Tutorial

 

 The zipper is not actually sewn into the side seam – the tab encases the ends of the zipper. Then the sides are sewn with the lining in place – there’s no stuffing the lining inside the pouch. Seam binding covers the raw edges for a neat finish.

Before you start, you will need:

• fabric for outside of pouch – one fat quarter or assorted scraps at least 10″ wide
• fabric for lining – one fat quarter or scraps at least 10″ x 8″
• interfacing – 10″ x 16″
• nylon coil zipper 11″ or longer
• basic sewing supplies

Preparation:

Cut all of the following 7 ¼” x 9½”:

    (2) outer pouch fabric ∗
    (2) lining fabric
    (4) interfacing

Cut two squares 2″ x 2″ for the zipper tabs
For seam binding, cut from lining fabric a strip 1 1/8″ x 18″
Fuse interfacing to the outer pouch pieces and the lining pieces.

∗FOR THE PATCHWORK VERSION, cut the following and sew together with ¼” seam allowances. Then fuse the interfacing to the pieced section.

Now you are ready to sew. I thought a picture-tutorial would be useful for this so that you can see every step:

ATTACHING THE ZIPPER:

SEWING THE POUCH:

BEFORE THE NEXT STEP, OPEN UP THE ZIPPER ABOUT ONE INCH. THIS ENSURES THAT YOU CAN OPEN THE ZIPPER AFTER SEWING THE SIDE SEAMS.  ALSO, CHECK TO BE SURE THAT YOUR PATCHWORK SEAMS ALIGN IN THE SIDE SEAMS.

BINDING THE RAW EDGES:

Cut the seam binding pieces from the 1 1/8″ x 18″ strip you cut from the lining fabric.

Turn the pouch right side out. Push the corners out with your fingers and gently roll seams to press. You are done!!