Pleated Pouch Tutorial

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This pleated pouch tutorial shows you how to make the perfect home made gift.  Slip in a gift card and it would make and extra special! Once you know how to put in a zipper think of all the things you can make!

How to make a zippered Pouch

Download pattern pieces and print with no scaling selected on your printer.  Cut out two of each piece from your favorite fabric. You will also need 1 – 7 inch zipper.

Pleated Pouch Pattern Download

Mark fabric from pattern where it should be pleated. Bring one mark over to the next. Pin.

Place outer top piece face down on pleated piece, line up edges and stitch across 1/4 inch from the edge. Open up and press. Repeat with other two pieces to make the other side.

Make a zipper sandwich. Place 1 piece of outer fabric face up, then the zipper and then the lining 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).

Bring lining and outer fabric to the same side.

Make another zipper sandwich on the other side of the zipper.

Open up and it will look like this. You can top stitch at the edge of the fabric along the zipper now, if you like (I didn’t).

Bring both pieces of lining to one side and both pieces of the 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.

Pinch zipper towards outer fabric, making sure it is laying nicely as you pin.

Using 1/4 inch seam stitch all the way around the pouch leaving a two inch opening in the bottom of the lining for turning.

Turn right side out. Hand stitch (or machine stitch) opening in lining closed.

Push lining inside the pouch and it is finished!

You might also be interested in this Zippered Pouch tutorial.

It is easy to make a matching tote for your pouch with this super simple tote tutorial!

You might also like these 10 Tote Tutorials.

Want to make your bag more personal? Try these easy applique monograms with free printable letters.