Zippy Project Pouch Tutorial

I have absolutely no idea why (I must be mad) but I thought I would try and blog again! Now I find this really difficult because I procrastinate so much a small simple blog post can take me a day to write but something came over me and as well as blogging I thought I would also make my first post a tutorial! All be it a very simple one but I learnt something new making this zippy pouch. I learnt that if you are quilting your bag outer panels and want that lovely quilty texture then you must always sandwich! So you have your fabric to be quilted on top, wadding next, then some cheap calico (you're not going to see the calico its hidden away!). I made the mistake of not doing this on my patchwork side and the texture is nothing in comparison.

Materials:

• 2 - 12" x 10" rectangles for the outsides
• 2 - 12" x 10" rectangles for the lining
• A zipper that is long enough so 12" would be perfect and you can cut it down 
• 2 - 3"x 1.5" rectangles for the tab ends (or whichever method or size you prefer I just used this method this time!)

Now I've not included instructions or pictures for piecing or quilting your outsides. I have one side pieced and one side plain. This is your pouch it's your decision. If you piece all you have to do is make your panel up to the required size. You don't have to stick to the same sizes as me either as long as you keep to the simple rules of making sure your zip will fit an extra or less ¼" or ½" doesn't really matter as long as it follows through all the pieces.

The only extra materials not listed would be the wadding (batting) I used 100% 4oz cotton and calico to make up your sandwich. Your wadding needs to be an extra ½" wide on all sides so if you panel is 12" by 10" your wadding will need to be 13" by 11" and your calico would be the same size as your wadding or slightly bigger. I use scrap pieces because I've managed to build up a collection and the edges are never straight but that doesn't matter because you will trim it down after quilting to the desired size.

Now the assembly starts. That zipper needs to have a little chop! Bye bye nasty metal bits and hello zig zag stitch securing! Now just secure the closed end to start with about ¼" from the edge. (I made the mistake of doing it in black but there is a photo with the zipper tabs on where you can see it as I used white in my bobbin!)

So if you fold over the zipper tabs by ¼" on both sides and place your zipper just into the tab then fold in half and sew across.

Now this is never easy because there is a zipper teeth in the way and the needle never falls straight but just try.

Now I didn't even manage to get mine on straight but all I'm going to do is follow the edge of the zipper and with a ruler and rotary cutter get it in line. You can even trim the folded edge off to make it straight.

So on to the other end! Your pouch is 12" long so I use a ruler and check out how much zipper is for the chop. 

Before I cut, I zig zag across the zipper. I did it in white this time so you can see it! Can you tell that half way through this project I decided to share!?!

And cut!

Just to prove its 12" along the ruler!

You can either pin or use clips! I like clips! No sharp pointy bits to stab myself with!

Ok so its now time to get the zip in and its all about lining up and layering. So on the bottom goes your panel making sure the top of the panel is where you place the zip! You don't want your pattern upside down!

Then the zipper. Make sure you face your zipper down towards your panel! (I might of managed to somehow not do that and had great fun unpicking! I have made countless pouches and this was the first time I managed to do it!) 

Then comes the lining directly on top.

Now this zipper foot! I could never get along with mine and then I finaly figured that the bit pointed to inn the picture is actually meant to sit on top of the zipper!

Just like that! Now do it through all your layers. I know it's not as easy as it looks but after a few goes it gets easier. Honest!

I start on the zipper about 2" along the zipper and come back and do the missed bit by flipping it over and starting from where I started initially. (I don't have a photo of that but I think you might be sick of photos by now! I know I am! Don't worry they are plenty more!)

Ok so now you should have something that looks like this!

Now iron it and topstitch about a ⅛ from the zipper edge! It's tiny I know! 

Now it's a little fiddly but do the same with the other side and after ironing it should look like this! 

(Can you tell I've had enough of messing with pictures yet! So we will be finishing off this tutorial with a lot less photos than I took!)

Now cut out all 4 corners through the panel and the lining at 1 ½ ". The yummy Warm Crochet scissors are there to hold it now. I used a rotary cutter too cut it out!

Sew around all 4 sides with a ¼" seam and leave a 4" gap in the bottom of the lining! You really need this to turn your bag the right way round! Now you realise that you have left the zipper closed so have to use your finger nails to prise it open. Maybe worth making sure its at least half way open before you sew round! 

Now for all four corners. Pinch them together and nest your seams. Or in other words make sure they go in opposite directions! I've tried to show it in the photo. Sew across with a ¼" seam allowance. 

Turn it the right way round. Push out the corners (don't forget the zipper tabs) and iron the lining seam so it is easier to sew closed.

Close the lining and sew it closed with a  ⅛" or smaller seam allowance.

It's finally finished!!! A bit like this blog post which has taken me a full day to put together! But it's kinda been a few years since I even opened blogger let along wrote a post! Oh and if you are wondering where they are at! I decided that I would start with a clean slate and just achieved them. Apologies if the font keeps changing and the size of the text. I'm sure it's getting smaller towards the bottom! I think I've worked it out along with adding photos but sometimes blogger as a mind of it's own.

So I am going to attempt to join those who have started furtling and join the gang.