DIY Zippered Pouch

It's Day 4 of the PSCo 12 Days or Giveaways and today we have a DIY Zippered Pouch that puts the fun in functional!

Zippered pouches are incredibly versatile and can make wonderful (and quick) handmade holiday gifts. They can serve as makeup bags, pencil cases, travel organizers, or even used as a small gift bag to store your other handmade holiday items. The best part? You can customize them with your favorite fabrics, colors, and patterns. These pouches are also a fantastic way to use up the fabric scraps you’ve been saving (we all have them!) and transform them into something useful and beautiful.

In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we’ll walk you through each step, including mastering the art of zipper installation. Don’t let the zipper scare you—it’s easier than you think, and we’ve got tips to help you achieve a clean, professional finish. We have included two different styles- a Darted Zipper Pouch and a Quilted Zipper Pouch with downloadable print files!

Let’s get it!

Below is a list of all the pieces needed for each pattern.

You must print the pieces for the darted zipper pouch but you may use the following cut measurements for the quilted zipper pouch.

Main & Lining:

10.5" W x 8" L

Zipper Tabs:

4" W x 2" L

All seam allowances are included and are 3/8" (1cm).

*The Darted Zipper Pouch and the Quilted Zipper Pouch require different prep steps but the main construction is the same for both. Complete the Prep Steps for the version you are making and then skip to the section on Adding the Zipper.*

1. You will need 6 total pieces: 2 Main, 2 Lining, and 2 Fusible Interfacing (not featured in this photo. 

2. Trim out the dart legs from the interfacing piece and apply to the back of the main pieces using your iron to fuse. Using a fabric safe pen and the guides on your pattern pieces, mark the dart legs on the back of the lining pieces. 

3. Fold the piece along the dart legs with right sides together. Starting at the bottom of the dart, sew upwards along the dart leg using a small straight stitch. When you reach the top of the dart sew off the edge of the fabric and leave a 6" tail. Knot the tails at each end of the dart and trim any loose threads

4. Repeat for all the darts on the main and lining pieces. Skip to the section on Adding the Zipper to complete the Darted Zipper Pouch!

1. Start by cutting two 12" x 9" pieces of your main fabric and two 12" x 9" pieces of quilt batting. These will be quilted and cut down to size using the pattern piece provided. This helps to account for the shrinkage that occurs during quilting. You will also need two lining pieces cut using the pattern piece and 4 zipper tab pieces.

2. Place the quilt batting behind the main fabric with the main right side up and place a few pins to hold in place. Using a fabric safe pen, mark the design for your quilt pattern. You can do evenly spaced rows or columns, squares, diamonds, whatever pattern you decide! Remember that you may want your quilt lines to match up on the sides and bottom of the bag so plan your quilting lines accordingly.

3. Sew along the lines that marked to create your quilt pattern. Repeat for both main pieces.

4. Place the pattern piece on top of the main fabric and cut to size. Repeat for both pieces.

1. Sandwich the end of the zipper in between two of the zipper tab pieces. You will want to sew just before the zipper stop. Pin in place and sew across.

2. Trim off the end of the zipper and fold the zipper tab pieces wrong sides together and press. Topstitch in place. 

3. Mark .75" from each end of the bag. Mark where the zipper tab needs to end on each side of the zipper. 

4. Baste the zipper in place as shown. 

5. Add the alst two zipper tab pieces to the other end of the zipper. You will want to sew right over the place where you basted. 

6. Trim the ends of the zipper and topstitch. Trim the edges of the tab to be flush with the zipper tape. 

7. Matching the seams of the zipper tabs to the pins on your main bag, pin the zipper in place with right sides together with the main. 

8. Place the lining on top with right sides facing down. Sew across with a straight stitch. When you get to the zipper, lift your presser foot with the needle down and move the zipper to the other side and out of the way. 

9. Press the seam allowance toward the lining and topstitch in place.  Repeat steps 7-9 to attach the main and lining to the other side of the zipper. Unzip the zipper about 3/4 of the way across. 

10. With right sides together, match the main and lining sides of the bag. When you get to the zipper tabs, push the tab, folded in half toward the main fabric. 

11. Pin all the way around the bag and sew in place leaving a 2.5" gap along the lining to turn the bag right side out. You can leave this gap along the side for the darted version or along the center for the quilted version. 

12. Clip the corners or clip into the curves of the bag on both the main and lining sides. 

13. Turn the bag right sides out and press. Press the seam allowance toward the inside and sew the opening closed. 

14. Turn the bag right side out and press and you're all done!