Monstera Zipper Pouch Tutorial

This tutorial is for an easy zippered pouch with a cute tassel – it has an interior zippered pocket that is constructed with hidden seams, it is sturdy and stand on its own. The exterior zipper is finished professionally with no zipper taps. It is perfect to carry your essentials! You can use it as a makeup bag or to carry your sunglasses, sunblock, lip-gloss, keys, phone, and other small items.

The sample features:

You can get a Monstera Pouch kit that includes all materials to make one Monstera Zipper Pouch.

You’ll Need

SHOP POUCH KITS

Exterior Fabric: Fat Quarter (cotton, home decor fabric, or canvas)

Lining Fabric: Fat Quarter

small piece of cork, leather or vinyl for the tassel

Interfacing for the exterior: Fat Quarter of fusible fleece or Decovil Light.

Heavy weight interfacing for base: 7 1/2″ W x 2″ H of peltex or Decovil Heavy

Interfacing for the lining: 1/2 yd SF101

Zippers:

Top Zipper: 12″ #5 Nylon Coil Zipper Tape (with hanging tassel zipper pull if making the tassel)
Interior pocket zipper: 8″ #3 Nylon Coil Zipper Tape

Instructions

Cutting – Cut the pieces listed below

W= width, H=height

Exterior Fabric: (2) 10″W x 8″H

Lining Fabric:

Bag Lining: (2) 10″W x 8H”
Pocket: (1) 8W x 12H

SF101:

Bag Lining: (2) 10″ W x 8″ H
Pocket bag: (1) 8W x 12H

Exterior Interfacing: (2) 9 1/2″ W x 7 1/2″ H

Base Interfacing: (1) 7 1/2″ W x 2″ H

Cork, Vinyl, or Leather:

(1) 4″ W x 3 1/2″ H (for tassel)
Zipper Pocket Overlay

Fusing Interfacing

Iron interfacing to the wrong side of the corresponding fabric pieces using the manufacturer’s directions.

Exterior pieces
Lining pieces
Pocket bag

Pocket

Fold the lining pieces in half and mark the center on top and bottom
Mark the center on the overlay
place the overlay 1 1/2″ down from the top edge alining center (you can hold in place using double sided tape)
Top stitch around the overlay close to the edge (about 1/8″) with stitch length of 4.0.- I like to start at the center and use a hand sewing needle to move the threads towards the wrong side and tie them)
Cut the lining around the opening. (lining should not visible from the right side)
set aside

Cut your #3 zipper exactly 8″ long.
Place the zipper on the pocket piece 8W x 12H (both facing up) and align it with the top edge .
Machine baste using 1/8″ seam allowance.
Fold the other raw edge of the pocket bag and align it with the other side of the zipper (also facing up).
Insert the zipper pull from the right side, Zipper should open from left to right.
Use double sided tape on each side of the zipper tape.

Center the zipper within the window of the zipper overlay and stick it to the lining.
With pocket bag up, Stitch the bottom side of the zipper opening close to the edge (1/16″ to 1/8″) with stitch length of 4.0..

Bag Exterior

Place the exterior pieces RST
Sew across the bottom and press seam allowance open.
Place the base interfacing and fuse in place (there should be 1 1/4″ on each side of the peltex)

Nautical Zippered Pouch

From the right side, topstitch along the bottom seam around 1/8″ form each side of the seam with stitch length of 4.0.

Nautical Zippered Pouch

Attach the zipper

Fold ends of zipper in 90º and stitch or glue in place and trim excess zipper off.
Do not insert the tassel zipper pull yet
On the top edge of each exterior edge, mark 1/2″ on the left side of the bag exterior 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
Cut around 1/8″ of the zipper from the 5/8″ mark to the left (about 1 – 1 1/2″) – you can burn the edges to avoid raveling.

zipper trimming

Align the zipper with the raw edge of the exterior to sew a straight stitch. Place beginning of zipper with 1/8″ above the fabric edge.
Stick with double side tape from the 1/2″ mark to the 5/8″ mark.
Use double sided tape to stick the lining (without the zipper pocket) RST aligning the top edges. Stitch from the left edge to the 5/8″ mark (the zipper will be sandwiched between both layers).

pressing foot against coil

Sew accurately across the top with 1/4″ SA stopping at the 5/8″ mark – To ensure even spacing along the zipper, place the left side of your sewing machine standard feet against the zipper coil.
Pull the layers back away from the zipper and press. Use a wooden clapper to crisp the seam
DO NOT Topstich yet
The begining of the zipper should be norrower than the middle.
Repeat for the other side of the zipper

Assemble the Bag

Separate the zipper completely for this step.
Pull the 2 lining pieces RS together, and pull the 2 exterior pieces RS together and pin/clip the left side only (beginning of zipper)
Finger press seam allowances open
Match seams and use double sided tape to hold in place.
Stitch the left side only.
on the top edge, Finger press side seam open.
Fold exterior side over Lining WST. Your seam should lay flat.
Press and starting at the 5/8″ mark, topstich zipper 1/8″ from the edge using 3.5 mm stitch (If using a different color for the lining, you might want to change your bobbin thread). You’ll top stich both sides in one go, stoping at the 5/8″ of the other side of the pouch.
Install the zipper pull
Pin Exterior pieces RST and Lining Pieces RST as before.
On the Right side match the lining seams. You can use double sided tape to hold in place. Stitch Lining Fabrics together
Repeat for the exterior.
To square the bottom of the bag, fold the corner forming a triangle, and sew close to the base interfacing (about 1″ from the corner).