Learn how to sew this easy zipper pouch with lining and flat bottom. Once you know how, you can easily sew up 1 or 100 zipper pouches in no time!
This past February, I showed you how to create an embroidery pattern using an image file from The Summery Umbrella. Well, I used that embroidered design to create a zipper pouch with lining and flat bottom.
It’s been a long time since I’ve done any hand embroidery, but I was pretty pleased with the way my “Always Stay Humble & Kind” embroidery project turned out. I knew I wanted to include this hand embroidered piece in a zippered pouch. So, I’m pretty pleased to be sharing this tutorial with you today.
I just love how everything comes together. First, we learned how to create an embroidery pattern, then we embroidered the design and now we’re learning how to incorporate that embroidered piece into a zipper pouch. Pretty cool stuff!
Learn Hand Embroidery
Well, I’m not sharing with you how to actually embroider the design, but I did think it would be nice if I pointed you to some tutorials in case you’re interested in learning how to hand embroider. Here are a few I found online:
- Knots & Needles has an entire video series on YouTube called Learn Hand Embroidery.
- Bluprint offers tons of videos and tutorials on how to hand embroider. (Bluprint used to be called Craftsy and is a subscription based craft site.)
- Creativebug is another place where you can find a lot of tutorials on hand embroidery. (Another source for online art and craft course.)
- DMC, the makers of DMC embroidery floss, also have a lot of great tutorials to get you started.
- Leslie, at The Seasoned Homemaker has put together this little guide about learning about hand embroidery.
- Jessica from Cutesy Crafts has a lot of embroidery tutorials and a new eBook entitled Sweet Home Embroidery. Plus, she shares some clever tips about hand embroidery that I never knew! I discovered Jessica on Instagram a few months ago and have been following her work ever since.
Hopefully, those resources will help you to get started learning about hand embroidery. As I find more resources that I think will be of interest or beneficial to you, I’ll update this post. So, you might want to bookmark it. Or better yet, subscribe to The Birch Cottage newsletter so you’ll know right away when I’ve added relevant content. You can sign-up below:
Tools & Equipment
Of course, there are a few tools you’ll want to have before you begin this project, such as:
- sewing machine
- zipper foot
- scissors
- self-healing rotary cutting mat
- rotary cutter
- acrylic ruler
- iron / ironing board
- pins or clips
- point turner
Supplies
- main fabric for pouch outside
- lining/contrast fabric for pouch inside and zipper stops
- zipper
- 1/2 yard Pellon Shape Flex Interfacing
- 1/2 yard Pellon Fusible Fleece Interfacing
- 10″ or longer polyester zipper
- matching thread
Zipper Pouch Cutting Instructions
Cut List:
- Main fabric: 2 pieces each 8″ x 10″
- Lining fabric: 2 pieces each 8″ x 10″
- Zipper stops from lining fabric: 2 pieces each 2″x2″
- Flex interfacing: 2 pieces each 8″ x 10″
- Fleece interfacing: 2 pieces each 8″x10″
Zipper Pouch Sewing Instructions
Step 1: Cut Fabric
As you’ll notice from the above cut list, from both the main fabric and the contrast fabric, I cut two pieces each 8″ x 10″ (or any size you want). My main fabric is the striped patterned piece and the embroidered piece you see below. The contrast or lining fabric is the polka dot fabric.
I actually took my embroidery piece and attached a 3-1/2″ piece to the top and a 3-1/2″ piece of the main fabric to the bottom. I chose 3″ because my embroidery piece was 5″. Allowing for 1/2″ seam allowance on the embroidered piece made it 4″. Allowing for 1/2″ seam allowance on the main fabric made them 3″ each, for a total of 10″. Of course, I trimmed my seams to 1/4″ and pressed them towards the printed fabric.
Step 2: Cut Interfacing
You will also cut two 8″x10 pieces from the flex interfacing and two 8″x10″ pieces from the fleece interfacing.
I chose fusible flex interfacing for the front of my pouch because I wanted to add some stiffness to the pouch. I chose fleece because I wanted the softness. You can use whatever interfacing you want, just keep in mind how you want the finished pouch to be – stiff, soft, thick, etc.
Step 3: Fuse Interfacing
Iron the shape flex interfacing following manufacturer’s instructions onto the wrong side of the zipper pouch main (outside) fabric pieces, both the front piece and the back piece.
Iron the fusible fleece onto the wrong side of the two fabric lining pieces.
Step 4: Trim Corners
Cut a 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ square out of the bottom corners of each (all four) fabric piece.
Step 5: Prepare Zipper Tabs
If you haven’t already cut your zipper tabs, you’ll want to cut two 2″ squares from either your lining or main fabric. I chose to cut mine from the lining fabric.
Fold the squares in half, wrong sides together and press. Open up the fold and fold the edges in to meet the center fold. Press.
Trim zipper to 8″ or desired length. Open folded zipper tab and align one short end of the zipper with the fold in the zipper tab. Stitch across zipper tab close to the edge.
Sew the tab on both ends of the zipper.
Step 6: Attach Zipper
Lay one of the main (outside) fabric pieces face up on the table or your work surface. Center the zipper face down with the pull on the left.
Place one of the lining pieces face down on top of the zipper. Use clips to hold pieces in place. Using a zipper foot, sew all of the layers together.
Turn the lining piece to the back (right side out) and press in place.
Repeat step 6 with the other side of the zipper. Again, place the main fabric (outside pouch fabric) face up on the table and center the long edge of the zipper across the top edge of the fabric. Place the other contrast (lining) piece on top of the zipper face down. Use clips to hold pieces in place. Using a zipper foot, sew all of the layers together.
Open up the pieces so the lining fabric is folded back away from the zipper and the outside main fabric pieces are also folded away from the zipper. Press flat.
Top stitch close to fold along long edges of zipper opening.
Step 7: Assemble Pouch
Bring lining pieces together and pin or clip edges. Bring main fabric pieces together and pin or clip edges. Make sure your zipper is unzipped.
Sew along long edges and short edges using a 1/2″ seam allowance and leaving an opening in the lining section, as shown below.
To make the flat bottom, we are going to box the corners. Fold one corner of the pouch (right sides together) with seams matching and pin or clip in place.
Stitch corner with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Follow this procedure for all four corners.
Turn pouch right side out through the opening in the lining.
Sew the opening closed using a blind stitch by hand or a narrow machine stitch.
And there you have a finished zipper pouch with a flat bottom. Of course, if you don’t want a flat bottom, you would simply not cut the notches out of the corners (step 4) and sew the corners as usual (step 7). Just be sure to still leave an opening for turning your pouch.
There are other ways to sew a zipper pouch, but this is my favorite because it products such a “neat and tidy” pouch without any seams showing.
Purchase Ad-Free Instructions on Etsy
If you would like an ad free version of these instructions, you can purchase the pattern in my Etsy shop. The instructions are all neatly typed, complete with step-by-step photos and combined into one 15 page PDF document. Simply CLICK HERE to visit my Etsy shop. Thank you, in advance, for your patronage to my small business!
Once you purchase the instructions, you can download the PDF to your computer or smart device and save for later or print to your printer. I like saving documents and recipes on my iPad. It makes it so handy!
Share Your Work!
If you make one of these zipper pouches, I’d love it if you’d share a picture with me. You can share it on social media and tag me #thebirchcottage or #ahandmadehome. You can also share your work over on A Handmade Home Facebook Page.
Happy sewing!!
