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I made some quick and easy zippered pouches as thank-you gifts for my helpers at the Shenandoah Valley Crank-In. They are lined. If you use the following construction method, all the seam allowances will be invisible, inside and out, for a super tidy finish! Here's a step-by-step guide for making them.  Materials you'll need for one pouch: two 8" x 6" pieces of cotton woven fabric for the outside two 8" x 6" pieces of cotton woven fabric for the inside lining medium weight fusible interfacing for the outside fabric only thread to match one 12" zipper two 3" pieces of 1/4" grosgraine ribbon sewing machine with a zipper foot iron and ironing surface rotary cutter and mat (optional but helpful) Begin by cutting out your fabric pieces. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the two outside fabric pieces only.  If you want to embellish your bag with machine or hand embroidery, an applique, or any kind of decorative stitching, do that first. I used my Baby Lock Verve with a 4" x 4" hoop to create the embroidered frame and the words inside the frame. Since Verve has a memory function, I was able to save the design and use it repeatedly over several sessions of sewing.  Decide on the placement of your zipper, then slice off the top section of both the outside fabric and the inside lining. I sliced off 1-3/4".  Pin the zipper face down on the right side of the outside fabric piece, matching the zipper tape with the upper edge of the fabric. Let both ends hang past the fabric.  Place the piece of lining (of the same size) face down over the zipper, matching the edges. Re-pin securely. Now the zipper is sandwiched between the outside fabric and the lining.  Install the zipper foot onto your machine. Stitch a 1/4" seam from one end of the zipper tape to the other end, removing the pins as you come to each one.  Using steam heat, press both the lining and the outside fabric away from the zipper. Using the skinny pieces of outside fabric and lining (the ones you sliced off) repeat the above steps to finish sewing the zipper into the front of the pouch.  Give it another good pressing on both sides of the zipper on the outside and on the lining side. Optional: If you want to topstitch along the two fabric edges next to the zipper tape, now's the time to do it. It's not necessary, but you might prefer how it looks.  Fold one piece of ribbon in half and place it as pictured with the folded edge towards the center of the zipper. Using a wide zig-zag at zero stitch length, sew a bar tack (several stitches back and forth) within the seam allowance area. This will become one of the pull tabs for the zipper.  Open the zipper a couple of inches. Fold the other piece of ribbon and bar tack it in the same way at the other end of the zipper for the other pull tab.  The front of the pouch is all done now. You might want to trim it all around just to even up the edges. The zipper is secured at both ends so now you can slice off the parts of the zipper that were hanging past the fabric edges.  Open the zipper most of the way across the pouch. Place the two outside fabric pieces (the one you just finished and the other plain one) right sides together. Using a 1/4" seam allowance, stitch about 6" across the center bottom through both outside fabric pieces.  Flip the pouch over and use something round (the bottom of a thread spool is perfect) to mark rounded corners with a pen. The ends of each round corner should be 1/4" from the edge of the fabric because your seam allowances will be 1/4" wide.  Flip the pouch over and place the other piece of lining on top of it with right sides together. Sew a 1/4" seam around the pouch, starting and stopping at the two ends of the 6" stitching you already sewed. You will have a 6" opening at the bottom of the pouch when you finish this seam.  Trim the corners to 1/4" and clip almost to the stitching around the curves.  Turn the pouch wrong side out through the 6" opening. You will be looking at the inside lining at this point. Using a whip stitch or invisible stitch, hand sew the opening closed and press it lightly with the steam iron.  Since you left the zipper partially open you can now turn the whole pouch right side out through the zipper opening.  Give your pouch a good pressing on both sides with steam heat. All done! ~ Kathy
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Planning a BBQ or a party this summer? Here's a great idea for some cheerful placemats -- perfect for a Fourth of July celebration or anytime! Click on the picture for a supply list and instructions.  |
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