Need a place to keep all your tiny essentials on the go? These little baby boy zipper pouches are the perfect size to keep in your purse or help organize your diaper bag. There’s no such thing as having too many zipper pouches! Use fun fabrics your little one will love to look at (and probably want to open)! I have one that I keep little toys, a brush and other random kid friendly stuff in, and Des has more fun trying to open and close the zipper than pay attention to what’s inside!
The main fabric on the outside of the bag is Dwell Studio and the lining is from Heather Bailey’s Lottie Da collection. The contrasting fabric on the outside is waxed canvas. I love waxed canvas fabrics. The textured imperfections are just beautiful. I’ve been dying to make something out of waxed canvas for a while and wanted to start with something small. This little project was perfect. You have to be careful when sewing with this kind of canvas because it doesn’t feed as easily through a machine as regular canvas. If you choose to add waxed canvas to your project, make sure you use at least a size 16 needle and feed it carefully through your machine.
These instructions are for a 7 inch by almost 4 inch finished pouch, but you can make it bigger if you like.
To make a pouch like this one, you will need the following pieces of fabric:
2 – 8 inch by 4 inch pieces of main fabric
2 – 8 inch by 3 inch pieces of contrasting fabric
2 – 8 inch by 6 inch pieces of lining fabric
You also need a 7 inch zipper and coordinating thread.
Step 1: With right sides together, sew your main fabric to your contrasting fabric to make the outside panels of your pouch.
Step 2: Press your seams open. Note: Do not iron directly on waxed canvas! It will destroy your beautiful fabric! It’s best to not iron it all, but if you do, use a press cloth over your canvas.
Step 3: To attach your zipper, place your zipper and one of your front panels right sides together. Make sure to position your zipper so that the beginning and end silver stops of the zipper are centered on your fabric. You will want to use the zipper foot that goes with your machine. It will make the process a million times easier!
Step 4: I usually center the zipper foot between the teeth of the zipper and the edge of my fabric. Place your needle close to the teeth of your zipper, but it doesn’t have to be right up against the side of the teeth. It’s okay for there to be a slight amount of space in between the foot and the teeth. If you sew too close to the teeth, it will make it difficult to open and close your zipper. As you sew, you will need to move the zipper out of the way of your machine zipper foot.
Step 5: Now it’s time to sew the lining fabric to the zipper that goes with the main panel you just attached. Place your lining fabric on top of the zipper, so that the zipper is sandwiched in between the main panel and lining fabrics. The two fabrics should positioned with right sides together. You will not be able to see the zipper as you sew, so turn your project over so that you see the wrong side of your main panel. You should be able to see your stitches from where you attached the zipper to your main panel. Sew on top of those stitches through all 3 layers (main panel, zipper and lining). Make sure to hold the layers together as you sew to prevent any shifting.
Step 6: On the right side of your main panel, topstitch just below the zipper teeth through all three layers to keep your fabrics from catching in your zipper.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3-6 with the other side of your zipper and 2 pieces of fabric.
Step 8: On the bottom edge of to main panels, cut out a square that measures 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches. Repeat with the bottom edge of your lining pieces.
Step 9: With right sides together match the seams on the front and back main panels together and pin them.
Step 10: Open your zipper halfway. Lay your project out with the two main panels facing right sides together and your two lining pieces right sides together. Pin around all the outside edges except where you cut out the squares in each bottom corner. Sew with a 5/8 inch seam allowance down the two sides of your project. Be careful when you get to your zipper teeth. You will probably need to get as close to the teeth as you can and then lift your needle and pressure foot to move your zipper past the needle.
Step 11: Sew with a 5/8 inch seam allowance along the bottom edges to attach your main panels together. Repeat with the two lining pieces, but leave a 4 inch opening to turn the pouch inside out when you finish. Remember: Do not sew the edges of your “square.”
Step 12: Take one corner “square” and pinch it together so that the seam from one side and the seam from the bottom are lined up. Pin it and sew along the raw edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Repeat with the other 3 “squares.”
Step 13: Turn your pouch inside out and sew the opening in your lining closed by hand.
Woot! So darn cute 🙂