What is charm packs ?
Charm packs are collections of 5" x 5" squares of fabric produced by fabric designers / manufacturers. The popularity of Charm Packs and other 5" square precuts stem from the fact they are affordable, easy to use, and a size commonly used in quilting.
Material List
5 or 6 pieces of square from a charm pack ( or scraps cut into 5” x 5” squares )
- ¼ yard of plain cotton / unbleached cotton / canvas for exterior
- ¼ yard of cotton for lining.
- ¼ yard of medium weight fusible fleece or batting
- ¼ yard of light-weight interfacing (optional - depending on the weight of your exterior fabric, you might want to apply interfacing to give your pouch more structure; canvas fabric is thick and sturdy, so for this project I forgo the interfacing / fleece )
- 14 inches long zipper.
- 10 inches cotton webbing or ribbon ( to make strap )
Tool List
Scissors, ruler, chalk, pencil , pins, paper clips, thread. A domestic sewing machine is adequate, though the home industrial sewing machine can handle thick areas easier.
Skill Basic / intermediate . Having basic skills in sewing and has completed a few simple bags.
STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL
Read the tutorial carefully and understand all instructions before you embark on this project.
Print pattern pieces on page 15-16. Use A4 size paper (8 ¼ x 11 ¾ inches or 21cm x 29.7cm). Set scaling to NONE. Use the 1 inch ( 2.5 cm ) testing square on page 15 to test the measurement accuracy.
Cut out the pieces - A and B. A ½ inch ( 1.25 cm ) seam allowance is included in the pattern. All the pieces are of actual size.
>> DOWNLOAD PATTERN
Sewing Instructions:
½ inch ( 1.25 cm ) seam allowance used throughout unless otherwise noted
From Pattern Piece A cut;
a :1 piece of exterior cotton fabric
From Pattern Piece B cut;
b : Back –1 piece of exterior cotton fabric
c : Lining - 2 pieces of lining fabric
d : Fusible fleece or batting - 1 piece
Optional : For a more structured look, cut and fuse 1 piece of light-weight interfacing to the Back exterior fabric.
Step 1 – MAKE THE FRONT PART OF THE POUCH
- Cut the charm pack pieces into halves or simply use your fabric scraps.
Measurement : 2 ½ inches x 5 inches.
- 6 pieces of charm pack halves are needed to make the front exterior bag. Arrange the pieces until you satisfied with the result.
1. Place the first piece of fabric ( right side up ) on the bottom left of the fusible fleece / batting ( fusible side is facing up ) .
Press firmly with warm iron.
2. Place the second piece of fabric ( right side down ) on top of the first one. Pin to avoid fabric from shifting.
3. Stitch along the right edge. Seam allowance is half an inch.
4. Then flip the fabric over and press.
5. Repeat the steps with the third piece. Stitch in a similar manner.
6. Here you can see the width of each finished pieces. The first and last pieces are 2 inches , the middle piece is 1 ½ inches.
7. Repeat the above steps until all the pieces are attached. Topsticth close to the seams to achieve neat and clean look. Press with
warm iron.
8. Then place the upper panel piece ( A) on the top of quilted piece. The right side is facing down. Stitch along the edge of fabric.
9. Flip the upper panel over as shown above.
Press firmly.
10. Double topstitching along the lower edge gives a neat tailored look. Or choose other deco stitching as you like.
Note : If you wish to add pocket at the back or inside the pouch, do it at this stage - before attaching zipper. (See Appendix A, Make pocket)
Step 2 : MAKE ZIPPER TABS
- 1 zipper – use a 14 inches zipper or if longer cut the zipper to a desired length. Big-teethed zipper gives more professional look to this project. However regular zippers are suitable too.
- 2 pieces of exterior cotton fabric ( from a charm pack )– 5”x 2” for bottom of zipper end and 4” x 2” for top of zipper end.
- 2 pieces of unbleached cotton/ calico for lining – same size as the exterior pieces.
Note : The length of fabric depends on how long you want the zipper tabs will be.
The width of fabric depends on the zipper’s width. So you need to adjust accordingly.
Hand stitch the upper part of zipper to hold it in place.
- Fold ½ inch of the top sides of the fabric pieces as shown above.
- Start with the bottom part of zipper end.
- Place a piece of exterior fabric ( 5 inches x 2 inches ) on the right side of zipper.
- The zipper should be placed ½ inch above the bottom of fabric . Pin the zipper.
- Then cover the wrong side of zipper with a piece of lining fabric.
- Sew along the edge of the zipper. Use a regular foot as it can give some extra width to the zipper strip. Repeat with the other side in a similar manner.
Step 3 : ATTACH ZIPPER AND LINING
See Appendix A for instructions on making zipper tabs.
1. Place the zipper on the right side of quilted front. Secure with pin or clips.
2. The zipper pull MUST facing down.
3. You need to lightly clip the zipper to allow it to bend nicely along the curve. Sew with zipper or regular foot. Sew slowly and carefully, it is not easy especially at the curve.
4. Remember NOT to stitch the last half an inch at the ends of zipper.
5. The front fabric is now attached to the zipper.
6. Make sure the right side of the zipper strip is facing down.Then place a lining piece (right side facing down) on top of the front fabric. Pin.
7. stitch along the edge of the zipper ( which is hidden underneath the lining). use your fingers to gauge the zipper position. you will
probably need to stop and adjust the placement of the zipper pull so that you can sew right along the zipper edge . remember to leave half an inch unstitched at the both zipper ends.
8. Flip the lining over. This is optional, but you might want to sew the top of the lining just to make sure it won't be too puffy and in your way when you open the pouch. The quilted panel underneath the lining piece is NOT sewn.
9. The front part of the pouch is done – interior side view.
Piece B ( Back Piece )
10. The front side of the pouch is completed.
11. To attach the back piece ( B) , place it right side down on top of the completed front piece ( the zipper position is as in step 10 ). The edges of back piece and zipper strip are aligned. Pin.
Stitch on the zipper edge as shown above.
12. Flip the bag over and place the remaining piece of lining ( right side down ) to the bag.
13. Topstitch along the top edge of the lining ( back ). This can be quite tricky, so do it slowly and carefully.
14 Both front and back pieces are now attached. Next, attach a strap on the front piece. DO NOT sew on the lining. Strap can be made from the same fabric or use ready made cotton webbing or a piece of ribbon. Sew at least twice.
Step 4 : COMPLETE THE BAG
1. Separate the exterior pieces and lining pieces on each side of the bag ,so that you are matching the exterior fabrics right sides together, and the lining fabrics right sides together. With right sides together, pin both front and back panels together and do the same for the lining.
1. Pin or clip to secure the fabric position. Make sure the zipper is OPENED.
Sew around the LINING bag first as shown above. Leave 4 inches at the bottom part of the lining fabric unstitched.This opening is for turning out the bag later on.
Then sew around the EXTERIOR bag.
Be careful NOT to sew on the zipper tabs. When you reach the zipper tabs, sew as close as you can next to them without sewing through them.
2. Clip corners to reduce bulk.
3. Insert your hand through the lining opening. Slowly and carefully pull out the entire bag.
4. Turn the bag right side out. You need to tug firmly in order to pull it out
6 Stitch up the opening on lining.
5. Push the lining into the exterior bag. Press the entire bag with warm iron.
Fill it with your personal items. Your pouch is all ready to hit the town!
Idea : For a quick and easy project, you may use a single piece of fabric for the front part of the pouch. Use the pattern piece B as the template.
Appendix A : MAKE POCKET
- Use the remaining halves of the charm pack to make a pocket.
- Cut a piece of cotton fabric ( 4 inches x 4 inches ) for pocket lining.
- Place the right side of both lining and outer pocket fabric facing each other.
- Sew all sides except for the 2 inches opening.
- Clip the 4 tips of the pocket to reduce bulkiness.
- Turn out the fabric through the opening, then press firmly. The corners should be pointy and neat.
- Topstitch along the top edge, closing the opening.
- Center the pocket on the lining fabric . Secure with pins. Sew the sides and bottom.
Make two pockets if you want to have them both inside and at the back.
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