Hey everyone! Today we're making a handy holiday zip pouch, and you'll learn an easy, calm way to sew in a zipper.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric
This is the 12 Days of Christmas Stars Gray cotton, from Quilting Treasures.
It comes from the 12 Days of Christmas collection by Julie Lynch for QT Fabrics. The fabric is 100% cotton. It measures 44/45 inches wide.
The collection features holiday characters, elegant birds, florals, and ornaments. Stripes and stars round it out. The colors are rich and festive — teal, jade, and joyful red, with charcoal, gray, soft aqua, and touches of lime green.
This print is the stars design in the gray colorway. That soft gray keeps it calm. The stars still give you holiday sparkle. Oh my goodness, it is really really sweet for a small project. A little pouch lets every star show. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
The Project: A Handy Holiday Zip Pouch
Our project is a lined zip pouch. It finishes about 9 inches wide by 6 inches tall. That holds a phone, sewing notions, chargers, or gift cards.
Here's why this fabric suits it. Cotton holds its shape well with interfacing. The star print reads clearly at a small scale. And that gray goes with everything in your purse or tote.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. Two outer pieces, two lining pieces, and one zipper. That's it. Sew it in about an hour. Just like that, you have a gift that looks store-bought.
Materials
- 1/2 yard of 12 Days of Christmas Stars Gray cotton, 44/45 inches wide
- 1/2 yard of coordinating cotton for the lining
- 1/2 yard of light fusible interfacing for the outer pieces
- One 9-inch nylon zipper
- Matching thread, 50-weight for seaming and topstitching
- A size 80/12 universal needle, plus a zipper foot
- Rotary cutter, ruler, mat, clips, and an iron
Brief Steps
Step 1: Cut and prep. Press your fabric first. From the stars fabric, cut two pieces 10 inches by 7 inches. Cut two lining and two interfacing pieces the same size. Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the outer pieces, then let them cool flat.
Step 2: Sew the zipper sandwich. Lay one lining piece right side up. Lay the zipper right side up along the top edge. Lay one outer piece right side down on top, and clip the sandwich together. Sew with a quarter-inch seam, about 10 stitches per inch, using your zipper foot. Go slow near the pull. Stop needle-down, lift the foot, and slide the pull past. Slow down here or the needle can hit the teeth and snap.
Step 3: Repeat and topstitch. Press both sides away from the zipper. Topstitch an eighth of an inch from the zipper. Repeat the sandwich on the other side with the second outer and lining pieces. Press and topstitch again. Open the zipper at least halfway now — you need it open to turn the pouch later.
Step 4: Close it up. Pin outer to outer and lining to lining, right sides together. Keep zipper teeth pointed toward the lining. Sew around with a quarter-inch seam, leaving a 3-inch opening in the lining bottom. Box the corners if you like — mark 1 inch in, sew across, and trim. Completely up to you. Turn right side out, push out the corners, and sew the opening closed. Tuck the lining in, press, and you are done. Super duper cute.
Practical Tips From My Sewing Room
First tip: use a nylon zipper for your first pouch. The teeth are softer and more forgiving while you learn.
Second: clip, don't over-pin, near the zipper. Too many pins can wave that edge. A few clips hold it flat and honest.
Third: press every step. It feels slow, I know. But pressing makes a simple pouch look really really good.
And remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. A zipper a tiny bit wavy still works just fine. You're your own worst critic. Take your time, it's not a race. If a seam lands crooked, take it out and sew it again. Folks, we've all done that one.
Make one to keep, then a few to gift. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 12 Days of Christmas Stars Gray Cotton Fabric 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
