On-the-Go Pouch Tutorial
These handy pouches come in two different sizes! Perfect for whatever you need to bring along.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to find and use the downloadable PDF pattern.
Video Tutorial:
Written Directions:
NOTE: Seam allowances are 1/2-inch unless otherwise stated.
Loop Tab:
1. Working with piece C, fold in half, matching long edges with each other. Press to hold fold.
2. Open and fold both long raw edges to the center crease. Press, then fold closed along the center crease and press again. The raw edges should be nicely tucked into the inside of the folded strap.
3. Topstitch along both long edges, starting and stopping at the same short end each time to reduce fabric twisting.
4. Set aside until step 23.
Pouch:
5. Working with the main fabric piece A, center zipper along one short edge with zipper teeth facing right side of fabric and top of zipper at the top of the fabric print (if your fabric print is a directional print). Pin with long edge of zipper tape aligned with short raw edge of piece A.
6. Pin the lining fabric piece A to the zipper, with right side of fabric facing back side of zipper teeth and all raw edges lined up with the main fabric piece A. If your fabric has a directional print, place so the top of the print is facing the top of the zipper.
7. Sew along the zipper teeth, on the outside edge of the zipper, to hold in place.
8. Open and fold all fabric pieces away from the zipper so that the wrong sides of the fabric pieces are facing each other. Press and topstitch along pressed edge, through all layers of material.
9. Fold the lining fabric piece A in half, with right sides of fabric facing, and align short raw edge with unsewn zipper tape. The right side of fabric should be facing the back of the zipper with the zipper centered on short edge of fabric. Pin in place.
10. Fold the main fabric piece A in half, with right sides of fabric facing, and align short raw edge with unsewn zipper tape. The right side of fabric should be facing the front of the zipper with the zipper centered on short edge of fabric. Pin in place.
11. Sew along the zipper teeth, on the outside edge of the zipper, to hold in place. Trim excess length from zipper bottom.
12. Unzip zipper and turn project right side out in order to be able to fold all fabric pieces away from the zipper so that the wrong sides of the fabric pieces are facing each other. Press and topstitch along pressed edge, through all layers of material.
13. Turn project back inside out and zip closed.
14. Find the center of main piece A along the long raw edges at the bottom of the zipper and place on center of zipper teeth with right sides of fabric facing and bottom raw edges of fabric piece aligned. Repeat with lining piece A on the other side of the bottom end of the zipper. Zipper should be sandwiched in the middle and in the center of the folded piece. Smooth the bottom of the project flat and pin through all layers.
15. Sew along pinned edge, then press along the folded sides to create a crease the length of the edges. Trim excess length from zipper bottom.
16. Open the zipper and reach into the lining to open one corner. Align the crease with the seam, smoothing flat. Pin in place on the seam allowance from step 15. Crease should lay along the same line as the stitching from step 15 and corner should be folded into a pointed triangle.
17. Reach into the main fabric piece and repeat step 16 on the same corner. The folded edges of the new corner fold should line up with the folded edges of the new lining folded corner.
18. Make a mark 3/4 inch away from the corner point along both folded sides of the main fabric corner, drawing a straight line across the corner between each mark. This will create a triangle. Sew along this line, through all thickness of lining and main fabric, reverse stitching at beginning and end.
19. Repeat steps 16-18 with the other bottom corner.
20. Turn project right side out, poking bottom corners out square and aligning top raw fabric edges with each other. From now on, treat these pieces as one piece along this long raw edge.
21. Close zipper, find center of top raw edge, and match center mark to center of zipper teeth, aligning all raw edges of fabric. Pin in place on both sides of the zipper tape, and open zipper.
22. Fold creases at side of pouch to the inside so that each crease touches the edge of the zipper tape. Smooth flat so that new outside folds on each side match each other. Pin in place along the upper raw edge.
23. Thread loop tab through key ring and fold tab in half, matching short raw edges. Pin tab on back of the top edge of the pouch, centered, with raw edges aligned and key ring pointed toward the bottom of the pouch. Pin in place.
24. Fold one long edge of piece B down 1/2 inch with wrong sides of fabric facing. Press to hold fold.
25. Center the long unfolded edge of piece B with wrong side facing up to the front side of the top raw edge of the pouch, aligning long raw edge to the raw edges of the pouch. Pin in place.
26. Fold short ends of piece B around behind the pouch top, tightly, with long raw edge still aligned. Sew along this top edge of the pouch, reverse stitching at beginning and end.
27. Turn piece B up and fold over to the back of the pouch. Arrange so long folded edge just covers the stitching from step 26 and tuck short raw ends under so that all raw edges are encased.
28. Topstitch along the bottom edge of piece B on the front of the pouch, through all fabric layers, to hold piece B in place.
Project PDF Pattern
Want a PDF pattern for this project? Click the button, below, to download the pattern and make even more--out of any fabric color you like!
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