Basic Zipper Pouch Tutorial

Hi there!  Today I am sharing with you a great zipper pouch tutorial that would be perfect for someone that has never sewn with a zipper before!  I have recently discovered zipper pouches, and decided to face my fear and sew something with a zipper!

 I was really scared to sew with a zipper, but I was pleasantly surprised after I finished my first pouch, that I was scared for nothing! These are not as hard as you would think!  I have sewn probably six or seven pouches by now, and I learn something new every time I sew one!

So I thought, I would share with you the most basic zipper pouch. I literally learned how to sew a zipper pouch through watching Youtube videos and looking at lots of tutorials! There are a ton of different ways you can make this your own.  You can add lots of different embellishments like ruffles, gathers, or even make it into a box pouch if you'd like!

Let's get started!

I made this pouch with a fabulous Riley Blake Chevron print.  You can find all Riley Blake Chevron in different colors here! Be sure to use the coupon code: crazyforchevron for 30% off all Riley Blake Chevron (44/45" width sale ends 5/2/2014)

Supplies: 

1- 7" Zipper

2 - 8.5" x 6" Front fabric (Riley Blake Chevron)

2 - 8.5" x 6"  Lining Fabric (Screen Print)

2 - 8.5" x 6"  Interfacing 

Matching thread

Zipper foot for your sewing machine

Step 1: Place one of the front piece fabrics on top of your interfacing (shiny side of interfacing facing wrong side of fabric)  I like to use interfacing because it gives the bag a bit of structure.  If you don't have interfacing on hand or want to try it without, by all means make it without!

Step 2: Place your zipper so the pull is face down and it is lined up at the top.

Step 3: Place one of the lining pieces right side facing down.  Pin securely, and then sew a seam from top to bottom.  The seam is about 1/4" maybe even less, you want to stay close to the middle of the zipper, maybe an 1/8" from the middle. Use your zipper foot, to help you with this.  You will have to stop before you reach your actual zipper pull, and unzip it a little so you can sew your seam.   Once you have the seam sewn, then set this aside.

Step 4:  You are now going to layer your interfacing and your other front fabric piece as shown:

Step 5: Now, you will place your already sewn pieces so that the zipper pull is face down and the right side of the lining fabric is face up:

Step 6:  Line all pieces up at the top.  Place your second lining fabric right side facing down.

Step 7:  Pin, and then sew another seam not quite a 1/4"--using your zipper foot.  Take your pins out as you get to them.

Step 8: This is how it will look when you lay it out:

Step 9: Give your pieces a good press.

Step 10: Top stitch on either side of the zipper about 1/8" from zipper.  This just gives it a more finished look.

Step 11:  Now you are going to place the lining fabrics so they are right sides together on the left side.  You will have all the interfacing and front fabrics to the right.  Pin all the way around.  You are going to sew a 1/4" seam all the way around except for a small opening so you can pull everything right side out.

Step 12:  Here is how it looks once you sew the seam all the way around (except for small opening)  You can now snip your corners, so when you flip it right side out, you will have crisper corners.

Step 13: This is how it looks when you flip it right side out.  You will then either hand stitch the opening shut, or you can machine stitch it shut if you'd like.  I chose to machine stitch mine shut. Once it is sewn shut, tuck the lining back into the pouch.

And there you have it! A completed zipper pouch!

Like I mentioned before, you can seriously dress this up a lot of different ways! :)
This pouch was inspired by I Heart Stitching!

I hope you this will inspire you to give zippers a try!

Talk to you soon,

Anything Goes by Stitch by Stitch* CraftOManiac Monday Made by You Monday 

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