Zipper Pouch Tutorial : Step by step instructions to make one easily

Would you believe it if I said that I wanted some zippered pouches to carry my diamond jewelry? I wish! Actually, a part of it is true, except the diamond part. Zippered pouches are great for storing and carrying jewelry and many other things and sewing a lot of these in one go is a sewing project I really enjoy – you can too, if you follow my tutorial.

This particular instance, I wanted some pouches to carry my imitation jewelry, and keep them safe in my bag without them rubbing into each other; the zippered pouch that I will be making are ideal for this – they are very lightweight and can be stacked together and stored flat in the suitcase between clothes and they can be closed securely with the zippers.

How to sew zipper pouch

Step by step tutorial to sew a pouch with a zipper.

Step 1 – Gather the supplies – fabric for outer pouch, lining and zipper

2 lining pieces and lining and zipper for the zipper pouch

You need 2 main outer pieces (for front and back) ; 2 lining pieces of the same size as the outer pieces & a zipper.
I have taken a 11 inch by 8.5 inch piece. If you are joining fabric pieces, remember you will have to add at least 1/4 inch seam allowance on both the pieces along the edge where you will be joining
If you want some structure to the pouch, attach interfacing to the outer fabric pieces. Use satin for lining – it is the best for storing jewellery.Cut out the pattern pieces.

Add embroidery to the outer fabric

Embroidery
If you are doing embroidery, do this before cutting out the pieces – or leave a large margin. You need to hoop the fabric and additionally when you work the fabric will start fraying along the cut edges.
Mark the bag pattern and then the embroidery design and do the embroidery.
I have made a rose design and embroidered the whole thing with long and short stitches so that there is a shaded look to each petal

Start filling the design

Use long and short stitches to fill the inside of the rose design. More references of how to embroider a rosehere.

Use different colored thread

If you use different colored embroidery thread it can add depth to the design.

Finished rose embroidery

Add stem and leaves and more blooms if you want to. Refer more flower embroidery stitches.

Step 2 – Keep the front piece right side (face) up.

keep zipper face down on the main fabric of the zipper pouch

On top of this keep the zipper face down as in the picture

Place lining piece for the front, face down.

Now on top of this, keep the lining piece for the front, face down. So now the zipper is sandwiched between the outer front fabric and lining for that side, both of them right sides facing each other

Sew them together

Attach a zipper foot to your machine. Stitch very close to the zipper teeth, keeping all the layers together at all times

Now bring the zipper outside

So that the piece will look like this.

Step 3 – Lining of back piece placed below

Now to sew other zipper edge to the bag pieces, keep the lining of the back piece right side facing you, in front of you.Keep the finished side of the bag with the zipper right side up on top of this lining

Keep the back outside fabric on top

Now keep the back outer piece on top of this – right side (face side) down. Effectively the zipper is sandwiched between the lining and outer fabric.

Step 4 – Sew the top edge

With the zipper foot, again stitch along the zipper teeth edge.

Open the pieces.

the lining and the outer fabric of the zipper pouch placed to either side

Now open up the whole thing and you will have the front and back sides on both sides of the zipper.

Bring lining to one side and main pieces to other side

Change sides – i.e bring the lining pieces to one side and front and back piece to the other side of the zipper. You have to do two things now – open the zipper half way & bring the seam allowance of the zipper to the lining side (hold this as you stitch or to be more secure pin and stitch). These are important steps.

Step 5 -Sew outer edge

Sew the whole edge of both the sides leaving some 3 inches opening unstitched on the lining bottom edge ( this is for turning the bag rightside out)
Trim/Cut out the extra zipper edge, and extra seam allowance along the zipper if any. This is important to get a good look along the top edge for your zippered pouch.

Step 6 – Turn the lining and the outer bag through the opening and the zipper opening.

bring the zipper pouch rightside out through the hole

Turn the lining and the outer bag through the opening and the zipper opening.

Step 7 – Sew the opening shut.

close the hole in the zipper pouch lining shut with hand stitches

Close the opening with some easy hand stitches – like a slip stitch. Insert the lining into the outer bag and tack stitch the lining into the outer bag.
Done.

You can also check out these posts on making similar but different styles of pouches : Other ways to make a pouch with a zipper – Make makeup pouch : 2 sewing tutorials ; Make pencil pouches : 4 types.

Make a phone pouch : 3 easy ways

Other related posts : How to sew a fabric purse

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