HANDY ZIPPER POUCH

Instructions

1. Cut two pieces of fabric for the outer and two pieces of fabric for the lining of the pouch each measuring 31cm wide by 23cm high.
2. Cut two pieces of wadding measuring 22.5cm high by 31cm wide. Fuse wadding to the wrong side of the outer fabrics aligning the base and side edges with the gap in the wadding at the top. This will reduce bulkiness at the zipper.
3. Using a grid ruler, measure and mark a 5cm square (2 inch) on each bottom corner of each outer fabric piece and each liner piece.
4. With the right side of one of the outer pieces face up, and zipper right side down, align along the top long edge. Rather than centring the zipper aligning the beginning (top) of the zipper with the fabric edge. There will be zipper protruding beyond the edge of the fabric. Place one of the lining pieces face down aligning all layers together at the top. Pin and then sew together using a zipper foot on your machine close to the teeth of the zipper. The remaining zipper will hang over.
5. Repeat for the other side of the zipper and with remaining fabric pieces.
6. Pull fabric right way out, away from zipper and press flat. Top stitch fabric 3-5mm in from zipper edge.
7. Up-zip the zipper half-way and with right sides facing pin the two outer fabrics together aligning sides and bases. Repeat with the lining fabrics and pin together. Pin the teeth of the zipper towards the lining side.
8. With a 1cm seam allowance sew the sides and base seams leaving a 5cm opening at the middle base of the lining side. Trim wadding in seam allowance back to stitching. Clip corners and pressed seams open at corners and base.
9. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance the bottom edges and side edges of the outer fabric. Repeat for the lining fabric, leaving a 10cm opening along the liner bottom edge. Also be mindful of the side with the zipper tucked in, and sew those edges separately. This will help to keep that small gap for the zipper.
10. Pinch open a corner of the bag outer and flatten so the side and base seam sits on top of each other and single seam across the corner is created. Clip or pin and sew (1cm seam allowance). Repeat for remaining outer corners and both liner corners.
11. Turn out pouch through the opening in the lining. Press in the seam allowance along the opening and top stitch closed. Place lining back inside the outer pouch and push out each corner and press.
12. To make the tab, cut a piece of the fabric used for the outer to 7.5cm x 5cm. Fold the sides in 5mm and press. Fold in half to make a tab measuring 3.8cm x 4cm. Place just over the zipper stop. To secure, unfold and first stitch through the seam allowance only across the zipper then refold tab into position and topstitch around four sides.