How to Make a Zipper Pouch with Boxed Corners

The is a simple and versatile zipper pouch with boxed corners that you can use as cosmetic bag, pencil case, or clutch.  It is beginner friendly, it doesn’t need a lot of materials (you can use your scraps) and it includes a custom tassel.

Materials & Supplies

Kits, Interfacing, and Tools available at the store

Exterior (quilting cotton or canvas) Fat Eight
Lining Fabric (quilting cotton)  Fat Eight
Vinyl/ Cork Small piece for tassel 3 1⁄2” x 4”
Interfacing  1⁄2 yd SF 101

1⁄4 yd Decovil Light
Zipper 12” #5 Nylon Coil Zipper Tape & 1 Hanging tassel zipper pull Row 5, Column 2
Hardware Handmade Label (optional)

 

Preparing the Pattern

Use a quilter’s ruler to cut the pieces according to table below. This tutorial includes photos for each step to guide you in the process of making the zipper pouch.  All pieces are all squares and are cut with quilting rulers.

 

Cutting Instructions

Primary Fabric 

  • Cut 2 Exterior – 10”W x 8”H
  • Cut 2 SF101 – 10”W x 8”H
  • Cut 2 Decovil Light – 9 1⁄2” x 7 1⁄2”

Lining 

  • Cut 2 Lining Fabric – 10”W x 7 1⁄2” H
  • Cut 2 SF101 – 10”W x 7 1⁄2” H
  • Cut 1 – 1 1⁄4”W x 2” H

Vinyl or Cork

  • Cut 1 – 3 1⁄2”W x 4” H

 

Abbreviations

DST – Double Sided Tape

RST – Right Sides Together

SA – Seam Allowance

 

Sewing Instructions

• Seam Allowances are 1⁄4”
• Recommended Thread: Polyester thread is stronger for bag making. Gütermann Extra Strong Thread. If your machine can handle the heavier thread, try using on the top only and use 40-50 weight thread on the bobbin.
• Recommended Machine Needle: Denim 100/16 or Microtex 90/14

Use 2.5-3mm stitch length for interior seams, 4.0mm stitch length for topstitching.
When stitching over vinyl, you may want to use a walking foot or a Teflon foot.

 

 

Interfacing Apply Interfacing to corresponding fabric
pieces
• 2x Exterior – SF101 & Decovil
Light
• Decovil Light is smaller than
exterior top. Center it to keep it
outside SA.
• 2x Lining – SF101

Prepare Tassel

 Prepare Tassel
• On the Wrong side of your tassel fabric (3 1⁄2”W x 4” H), Draw a line 1/2′′ from the top
• Cut 1/8′′ strips using a ruler and rotary cutter.
  • Roll the fabric to form the tassel
  • Insert into the zipper pull tassel cap and secure with a screw using a small screwdriver
Prepare Zipper

  • Fold ends of zipper in 90º and stitch or glue in place.
  • Insert zipper tassel pull.
  • Burn the raw edge of the zipper.
  • Draw a line on the middle of the back side of the zipper tab
  • Fold the short edges to the line and press
  • Apply DST to each side of the tab
  • Trim zipper to 8 7/8”
  • Place the Zipper in the zipper tab piece
  • Stitch across close to the edge (about 1/8” catching the bottom of the zipper tab)
Pouch Exterior

Cut 1 ¼” square on both exterior pieces and both lining pieces.
Zipper Installation

  • On the top edge, mark 1/2″ on the left side and 5/8″ on the right side.
  • Place your zipper over the Exterior Fabric, RS down, starting on the 1/2″ mark and aligning top edges
  • Stitch with 1/8” SA
  • Place one of the lining pieces on top.
  • Zipper will be sandwiched in between
  • Stitch accurately across the top with 1/4″ SA.

 

Note: Lining is ½” shorter than the exterior to have a tighter fit.
  • Pull lining and exterior pieces WST and topstich starting at the start of the zipper and finishing at the end of the zipper tab.

 

You may want to use a bobbin thread to matches your lining

 

I like to keep topstitching outside SA
  • Place other side of the zipper on the exterior back RST
  • Make sure sides of front and back are aligned.
  • Place 2nd lining piece on top of the other lining piece RST
  • Stitch accurately across the top with ¼” SA.
  • Pull the layers back away from the zipper and press.
  • Topstich starting at the start of the zipper and finishing at the end of the zipper tab
  • Pull the 2 lining pieces RST, and pull the 2 exterior pieces RST
  • Pin/clip
  • Stitch sides backstitching at the beginning and at the end.
  • Stitch bottoms leaving a 4” opening on the lining side.
  • To square the bottom of the bag, fold the corner so SA of base meets SA on the side
  • Nest the seams to reduce bulk
  • Stitch using ¼” SA
  • Gently push out all the corners with a point turner.
  • Turn the pouch through the lining opening
  • Pull the pocket lining out and edgestitch the opening close.
  • Push the lining in and press.

 

 

Congratulations, you are done! Admire your Monstera Zipper Pouch, take a picture and share it on Instagram with hashtags #monsterazipperpouch and #myhandmadespace.

 

Download PDF Version

 

 

 

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