How To Make A Gathered Zippered Pouch
Materials needed:
- 1/4 yard each of three coordinating fabrics (you’ll definitely have scraps leftover)
- 8″ zipper (you can always purchase a longer zipper and shorten it, just follow the directions on the package
- scraps of medium weight fusible interfacing
Cutting the pieces:
For the main exterior, cut two pieces, one 5.5″ tall by 9″ wide, and one 5.5″ tall by 13″ wide (this will be the gathered front)
Pieces of medium weight fusible interfacing for exterior pieces of clutch: (2) 5.5″ tall by 9″ wide
For the front band, cut one piece 4″ tall by 9″ wide.
For the lining, cut two pieces 5.5″ tall by 9″ wide
For the zipper end covers: two pieces 1.5″ tall by 2.5″ wide.
Optional Parts:
For the divider pocket, cut one piece 8″ tall by 9″ wide (apply interfacing to half, you’ll need at 4″ x 9″ piece)
For the card holders, cut one piece 7″ tall by 9″ wide (apply interfacing to half, you’ll need at 3.5″ x 9″ piece)
Take the front band piece and fold it in half the long way (right sides together) and sew together using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
Turn tube right side out and press with seam in the middle. Set aside.
Grab the 13″ wide main exterior piece. Sew two lines of gathering stitches down the middle, about 1″ apart.
Pull the top threads to gather, pull until the length is 9″ long. Press the gathers in place.
Take the front band and pin it in the middle of the exterior piece you just finished.
Top stitch along each side of the band. Take the 5.5″ tall by 9″ interfacing piece and iron it to the WRONG side of the gathered piece. This makes all the gathering and stitching stay in place nicely. Set aside.
Make the divider pocket:
Fuse interfacing to half of the piece.
Fold fabric in half with WRONG sides together, press. Topstitch along folded edge and then add another line of topstiching about 1/4″ below the first line of topstitching. Set aside.
Make the card holders:
Fuse interfacing to half of the piece. Fold fabric in half with WRONG sides together, press.
Topstitch along folded edge and then add another line of topstiching about 1/8″ below the first line of topstitching.
Take one piece of the lining fabric and line up the card holder with raw edges together, one on top of the other baste along side and bottom edged of card holder (the plaid fabric).
Grab your credit card or driver’s license and mark with a pin how far you want your card to stick up from the slot. Sew a line across the lining/card holder piece where you marked with the pin. Sew one line of stitching down the center of the card holder.
Take your card again and mark with a pin where the edge of your card is (you can leave a little wiggle room, but it’s nice to keep it pretty snug to hold your cards in place). Sew a line for the side of the card, repeat for other side. Now you should have two card holders! Set aside.
Making the end tabs for the zipper:
Fold the piece of fabric in half width wise, turn down each raw edge to the center crease and press (the pic above doesn’t show it pressed in far enough). Repeat for other end tab.
Take your zipper and sandwich the fabric around the zipper, just poking over the little metal bits.
Topstitch a line straight across the zipper with a very small seam allowance being careful not to hit those metal parts! Repeat for other end. Trim the fabric tabs to the width of the zipper. IMPORTANT! The length of the zipper with the tabs on should measure about 8.5″ end to end.
Baste the card holders to one piece of lining and the divider pocket to the other piece of lining, aligning the raw edges at the bottom.
Almost done!
Assembling the clutch:
Place your gathered exterior piece RIGHT side up (whoops!, had it wrong in the pic, don’t worry, just get out your seam ripper and start again). Put the zipper teeth side down with the pull tab to the LEFT. Then put the lining piece WRONG side up. Pin in place.
Using your zipper foot sew along the edge of this zipper sandwich. Flip pieces so the WRONG sides are together.
Grab the other exterior piece, place RIGHT side up. Put the zipper teeth side down with the pull tab on the RIGHT this time. Place the remaining lining piece WRONG side up on top of the zipper. Pin in place, sew. Flip pieces so the WRONG side are facing eachother. Press!
Put your regular sewing foot back on and sew a line of topstitching on either side of the zipper.
Now open your zipper about halfway, don’t forget this! I actually forgot to do this on all three clutches, don’t worry, you can still wiggle the zipper open if you carefully pull at it through the fabric.
**Update** If you don’t add the divider or card pockets, I would recommend adding a layer of fusible fleece or even canvas as interfacing, it will make the clutch more sturdy.
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Thanks so much for sharing. This is super cute and I can’t wait to try it.
Sweet!
Will be making this one!
These purses are adorable and how very nice of your to share these wonderful tutorials. Thank you so much.
I have made this (LOVE anna’s blog!!) It’s so easy to do if you follow her tutorial! I love this pattern, i have made so many as gifts!
super creative!!!
Super Cute.
I’m totally making this! I love it! I’ve made similar ones in the past but the ruffles are stunning!
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I may make one tonight! Thanks for posting!
This is one of the best sewing tutorials I have seen and the clutches are darling.
Really cute. Great for so many things. I’ve been wanting to get into sewing for quit some time now, this could be a simple project to try and tackle.
Darling! Thanks so much!
This is SO cute! I am going to a wedding in a few weeks and I am making myself a fancy new dress. I think I will make this clutch out of the scraps so I can be all matchy!
This is so cute, but zippers terrify me! Someday…
OMG!!! this is so cute!! My girlies would totally love this for a pencil case too! Thanks so much for sharing all your talent with us!