Here is a quick little tutorial for making a zippered pouch with a lining. It isn't that hard and I always feel like I have really accomplished something when I am finished ---and they make great gifts!
I was a mentor for one of the youth at our church. At Confirmation they are each given a different bible verse, special to them, to mark the occasion.
I wanted to give my Confirmand (the sweetest girl) a gift with her bible verse so I decided to make a little zippered pouch with the bible verse sewn inside. I printed the verse onto printable fabric (purchased on a roll from Joann's) and sewed onto the lining before stitching the pouch together. I also covered the lining pieces and the piece with the scripture with iron on vinyl before I sewed. I wanted her to be able to use it for make-up etc.
Another bonus was that it doubled as the "gift bag" for this beautiful handmade cross .
Zippered Bag Tutorial
To make a pouch begin with 4 pieces of fabric (two of outer fabric, two of lining fabric) all cut the same length as the full length of your zipper and any width you choose.
Make a zipper sandwich. Place 1 piece of lining fabric face up, then the zipper and then the outer fabric right side facing down. Line up the three edges.
With a zipper foot sew across the top between the edge of your zipper sandwich and the zipper teeth (closer to the zipper feet).
When finished and you pull fabric back it will look like this. Repeat this for the other side(edge) of the zipper. Oops the fabric should go all the way to the end of the zipper.
When both sides are completed it will look like this. Hopefully you will have pinned before sewing and all of your edges will match up beautifully (unlike mine). You can top stitch along the zipper now, if you like.
Bring both pieces of lining to one side and both pieces of your outer fabric to the other side. Un-zip zipper at least halfway so you can turn it once it is stitched. If you forget to un-zip the zipper you won't be able to turn your pouch right side out.
The zipper teeth should be pinned toward the lining side. I lay the zipper ends on top of each other with teeth facing the lining side and pin.
Sew all the way around 1/4 inch from the edge. Make sure you sew on the outside of the metal parts on each end of the zipper, this will be easy to do if you cut your fabric the total length of the zipper. Leave a two inch opening at the bottom of the lining side. Clip corners.
Turn right side out. Stitch opening closed by machine or slip stitch by hand.
Push lining inside and you are finished!
These would make cute Valentine's Day gifts with a little love note printed inside!
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This is a great idea. However, I’ve been collecting all the zippered pouch tutorials I can find. I still have trouble with the zipper ends on the finished pouch. I make them out of denim with a cotton/polyester lining. The end with the zipper pull doesn’t come out flat. Could it be because the denim is too bulky, or do I not position the zipper tape right? I never know whether to make the material longer, shorter, or the same length as the zipper, including the tape ends. Please help me. It would be very helpful to have a closeup illustration of this zipper placement. In fact, I’d consider it a miracle if I ever got this straightened out, because I’ve been fooling with this for a longer time than I can tell you. Thanks for this chance at help. Vivian
I love your website! It was such a blessing to see your Bible Verse inside the zippered pouch…Plus the how-to make a zippered pouch! You made it look easy and I can’t wait to try it! Thank you sew much for sharing and God Bless!!
I have two purses half done, but I keep putting them on the back burner simply because I haven’t been satisfied with how my zippers come out. I’m heading to my sewing room right now to see if I can finally finish these bags. I really need a new purse!
This is adorable and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this easy to read tutorial. I’ll be trying it out soon, aiming to duplicate a cute coin bag I got at a thrift store. I just couldn’t visualize how to do the turning right side out, but you helped me out. Also, saying to line up the fabric edges with the zipper ends is very useful.
Lovely site you have here. Thank you!
Hi there. I have been sewing for years (uh, have a successful handbag and design business), and never braved a zipper. It’s sad, but true. Just used your tutorial, and can’t believe I hadn’t done it before. Thanks so much!
I wanted to thank you for your tutorial. I just made both of my girls their school supply pouches for school with your instructions. It was quick and easy and they turned out great.
Awesome! Thanks! This was super fun and easy!
I just wanted to comment on the instructions. So easy to read and understand along with the pictures, they are close enough so you can see what your sewing and where you need to be..Thanks for the super easy instuctions…Easy Christmas gifts this year..
Thanks for the tute! I had to bring my w-i-p to the pc and compare what I was doing with your fab photos twice. I managed to make the pouch just in time for a birthday party gift. I personalized the bag using t-shirt transfers (ink jet iron on’s). I first printed the photo and lettering. Then I ironed it to an old t-shirt and cut it out. Then, I appliqued it to the outer fabric and constructed the bag. I decorated the front with matching buttons and made a matching zipper pull. It was a hit! I think I’ll make more of them real soon. Thanks a bunch!
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Great tutorial! Looking for YKK zippers for your pouch? Check our website http://www.kandcsupplies.etsy.com.
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What a great idea! I have been looking for a cute idea for my nieces for Christmas and this looks perfect. I haven’t used the printable material before, but with some riff-raff around the edges it should be perfect.
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I made one! I blogged about it here: http://mamabeefromthehive.blogspot.com/2009/12/zippers.html
thanks for the great tutorial!
What a great little pouch…I just made two tonight. Thanks so much.
Thank you VERY much for this tutorial. I am adding a zippered lining to a handbag and it’s not in the pattern…this saved me so much time!
[...] How to make a lined zippered pouch and this one I picked because these are such wonderful staple items to make and she added a great touch with a personalized patch that she made with printable fabric. What a great gift giving idea! [...]
That is just the cutest thing ever! I’ve always been afraid of zippers but you made putting one it look so easy! I’m going home to try this one tonight. My daughter is desperately in need of a new pencil bag! Thanks! Jenn