Quick and easy zippered pouch tutorial

There are numerous techniques for sewing zippered pouches, but I believe many of us began by sewing a basic pouch similar to the ones below.

The difference between these pouches lies in the technique used for inserting the zipper, which impacts the finishing of the pouch. Perhaps you already have a favorite technique that you consistently use for your pouches, or maybe you are still exploring to find the best method for you. I’d like to share with you my favorite approach.

Here, you can see the various appearances of the pouch’s top, which vary depending on how the zipper is inserted.

This is probably the quickest pouch, with a zipper from side to side, with the ends of the zipper stitched into the side seams.

Sometimes, you need a pouch for yesterday, so this technique helps!

The version below is more elegant –  with zipper tabs; the zipper stays out of the side seams. I’ll be providing a tutorial for this soon, so stay tuned! For some reason, I’m not particularly fond of this technique.

This is my preferred technique for inserting a zipper into a pouch: no zipper tabs are involved, and the zipper isn’t caught in the side seams, resulting in non-bulky seams.

Here are the instructions for this quick and easy zipper pouch tutorial.

You need:
– one panel for the exterior pouch: 11” x 15” (I used vinyl)
– one piece of lining: 11” x 15”
– zipper: 8” or longer.

Keep the lining wrong side up, with the longer edge oriented horizontally. Mark the center of the top and bottom edges (see the green marks).
Draw a (½’’ x 8’’) rectangle parallel with the short edges, exactly in the center (see the green rectangle).

Draw a line right through the center of the rectangle and two small “V” shapes (see the red marking lines).

Place the lining over the vinyl panel, right sides together. Keep the layers aligned with a few clips.
Stitch through both layers along all sides of the green rectangle.

Carefully cut down the center of the rectangle, and then clip toward the corners as close as you can without clipping the stitching (cut on the red lines in the image above).

This craft knife is ideal for precision cutting (the small cuts towards the corners).

Pull the lining through the hole you just cut to the wrong side of the vinyl panel.

Use clips to keep all the raw edges aligned as shown.  Press the opening, from the lining side. Make sure you don’t touch the vinyl with the iron.

Opening pressed- lining side.

Opening pressed- vinyl side.

Add double-sided adhesive tape on the zipper tapes; remove the paper backing.
Position the zipper behind the opening. Stitch all along the opening to secure the zipper in place (see the green marking line).

If your zipper is longer, trim off the excess.

OPEN THE ZIPPER COMPLETELY!
Separate the lining from the exterior panel. Fold each piece in half, keeping all the edges aligned.

Sew at 3/8’’ from the raw edges of the vinyl piece (see the green marking).
Sew at 3/8’’ from the three edges of the lining, leaving a gap in the longer edge (see the red marking).

Trim the seam allowances at corners as shown.
Turn the piece right side up through the gap in the lining. Close the gap in the lining. The pouch is finished.

Here are a few pouches made with this technique:

And the pouches of my latest pattern- AUDREY

I hope you will give this technique a try!