If you are like me you’ve got all kinds of little things you want to put in your purse or take when you travel and it’s nice to have little pouches to keep all the things together! This makes it so much neater in your purse or when you travel. Those little zippered bags can be so expensive and often times not the colors, shapes, or style you like. Well, now, with this How to Sew a Lined Zipper Pouch Tutorial you can make your own pouches!
These pouches are super versatile! You can make big ones and small ones. You can mix and match fabrics to coordinate with purses or handbags, or you can make ones that are simply your style and favorite colors. These are also great for kids! Make ones to use for toys, crayons, or even little trinkets. Plus these lined zipper pouches can make a great gift as well.
Supplies for Sewing a Lined Zipper Pouch Tutorial
- Fabrics of your choice (Cotton and heavier duck-type cloth are great choices!)
- Coordinating Thread
- Nylon Zipper (my bigger bag was 9″ and the smaller bag was 7″)
- Sewing Pins or clips
- Coordinating Thread
- Scissors
- Optional: Rotary cutter and mat
- Iron/Ironing board
- Sewing Machine
The size of the lined zipper pouch can be chosen as per personal preference. I made two pouches and the measurements are as follows:
LARGE – All fabric pieces 9.5” x 8” and 9” zipper
SMALL – All fabric pieces 7.5” x 6” and 7” zipper
How to Sew a Lined Zipper Pouch
To start any sewing project it is important to wash, dry, and iron your fabric. It is tempting to skip this step, but with any project that has the potential to need washing it is imperative that you prewash and iron the fabric before starting sewing. This lined zipper pouch tutorial has many steps, but be patient with yourself, if this is a little harder than other projects you’ve done, you will get through, and I’m certain you will enjoy your finished product! Now let’s get started on this sewing project.
The first step in how to sew a lined zipper pouch tutorial is you’ll want to cut your fabric. You will need two 9.5″ x 8″ rectangles of outer fabric and two 9.5″ x 8″ rectangles of inner lining fabric.
Take one piece of outer fabric and lay it face up in front of you (the 9.5” sides should be on the top and bottom). Stack the zipper along the top edge of your rectangle with the zipper pull face-down. It will be easier for the fabric to feed through your machine if you start with the zipper pull on the right side. Use some scotch tape (instead of pins!) to tape the zipper down to the fabric.
For this zipper pouch you’ll want to make sure you are using the specific foot that came with your sewing machine that is designed to sew zippers.
Using a zipper foot, stitch on the right side of the zipper teeth to secure the zipper to the rectangle of the outer fabric. You’ll want to stitch about 1/8” away from the zipper teeth. This will make sure you have plenty of room to use the zipper without the fabric getting caught. Also, once you get about halfway to 2/3 across the zipper, stop stitching and ensure your needle is down into your fabric.
Make sure you are stopping with the need in the down position. This will hold your place.
Raise the presser foot and unzip the zipper past your presser foot to a point you’ve already stitched.
Then, lower your presser foot and continue to stitch to the end of the zipper. Then you won’t have to deal with stitching past the foot. (This will be easier to do each time you sew along the zipper line if possible.) Remove the tape.
Now flip your zipper over, but not the fabric. It should remain right-side up. Then place your second piece of outer fabric on top of the zipper (teeth and pull should be facing upwards!) with the right side of the fabric facing down.
Essentially, the right or “pretty” sides of the fabric should be touching at this point. Ensure the fabric lines up with the edge of the zipper fabric, as well as the edges of the first piece of outer fabric you’ve just sewn.
Using tape again, secure the second piece of fabric to the zipper. You’ll need to wrap your tape around the edge to grab both objects.
If needed, unzip your zipper at your starting point (you should be sewing on the underside of the zipper) before stitching and re-zip after you get a few inches down. Stitch with the same seam allowance as before (about 1/8” away from the zipper teeth) along the whole length of the zipper. Next, remove your tape.
Now, you have attached your zipper to both sides of your outer fabric, you are well on your way to making your Lined Zipper Pouch!
Lay your fabric out in front of you with the zipper going vertically in between the two pieces of outer fabric.
To continue with this zipper pouch tutorial, take the right bottom corner and pull it over the left piece of fabric. You’ll want to go past it just enough that the zipper is laying flat face down on the right side.
In this step make sure that the zipper is laying flat, face down on the right side.
Now, take a piece of lining fabric and lay it FACE DOWN over the “wrong” side of the outer fabric as well as the face down zipper.
Line up the edge of the fabric with the right-most edge of the zipper. I chose not to pin or tape here because I was able to hold the fabric together as a sandwich. However, if you wish to tape or pin, go ahead now.
Stitch the lining fabric down to the zipper. You won’t be able to see the zipper, but feeling it through the fabric should be sufficient. Also, you’ll want to stitch a tad bit farther away from the zipper than with the outer fabric – again to ensure the fabric doesn’t get caught when using the zipper.
Remember to unzip/re-zip the zipper as needed to allow for easier sewing!
Now that you are about halfway done with sewing a lined zipper pouch, take the lining fabric and fold it back to the right. Also, fold the outer pieces of fabric underneath the zipper to the right. You’ll be left with the zipper on the left side and 3 layers of fabric on the right.
Take your second piece of lining fabric and line it up with the left edge of the zipper. The zipper should still be face down at this point. Choose to pin/tape now or not.
Stitch this piece of lining to the zipper with the same seam allowance as with the other lining piece – just a bit farther away from the zipper than with the outer pieces.
Hang in there! The hardest parts are almost over with this How to Sew a Lined Zipper Pouch tutorial!
Now, you’ll want to lay your fabric out so that the zipper is in the center with the pull at the top. Each side should have an outer piece of fabric face up on top and an inside lining piece face down on the bottom.
Pull the fabric taught away from the zipper teeth on one side of the zipper and pin parallel to the zipper a few times.
The next step in sewing a lined zipper pouch is to topstitch about ¼” away from the zipper. Unzip and re-zip the zipper as needed while sewing.
Turn your fabric 90 degrees twice so that the zipper pull is on the bottom. Pin again along the right side of the zipper.
Next, topstitch ¼” away from the zipper. Your lined zipper pouch is starting to take shape!
· If you wish to add any trim or embellishments, do so now! Then head back through the rest of the steps as usual. I chose to add a small trim to my smaller bag.
· Tape or pin the trim to ONE right side of outer fabric (be sure it isn’t attached to the liner as well!). Stitch across your trim to hold it in place.
After topstitching along each side of the zipper, we need to re-fold the pouch. Unzip the zipper about 3/4 of the way. Gently pull only the top outer layer of fabric from each side upwards. You’ll create a new rectangle with the outer pieces together on one side of the zipper and the inner lining
pieces together on the other side of the zipper. Be sure all edges line up as closely as possible!
You will want to pin all the way around the new rectangle you have created. When pinning, ensure the fabric pieces of the zipper are facing towards the outer fabric, and the “teeth” of the zipper should be pointed towards the inner lining fabric. Pin all the way around every couple of inches.
In the middle of the lining piece edge opposite the zipper, you’ll want to leave a few inch long gap to allow for turning. Stitch from one side of the gap you’ll be leaving all the way around the rectangle to the other side of the gap. The lined zipper pouch is starting to take shape.
(*Use caution when sewing across the zipper teeth – you may need to hand-crank your machine and force-feed the fabric through a bit if it gets
stuck).
Trim off the corners of the rectangle. This will create less bulk in the corners once the lined zipper pouch is turned.
Reach in through the opening you left.
Turn all of the layers of the pouch right side out.
Now that you are almost finished with this sewing tutorial, use a turning tool, push out the corners of the outer layer of the pouch.
You will want to close the gap you left for turning. You can do this with a blind stitch (or ladder stitch) if you wish.
I chose to simply topstitch across the opening with a very small seam allowance. (It’s going to be inside the pouch at the bottom anyway!)
The last step in how to sew a lined zipper pouch tutorial is to carefully push the lining down inside the lined zipper pouch.
Fill your cute new zipper pouch with whatever you wish and enjoy!
Now, you have a beautiful Lined Zipper Pouch! Fill it with all your favorite things and toss it in your favorite bag to have everything you need right at your fingertips! These Lined Zipper Pouches are one of the best sewing projects I have ever done because they are so useful and very versatile.
If you liked how to sew a lined zipper pouch tutorial make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make the lined zipper pouch, take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices others make.
How to Sew a Lined Zipper Pouch
Do you find yourself needing pouches to hold small items? I love organizing my things into pouches, but they are never the right size or style. Now, you can make your own Lined Zipper pouch to hold all the things!
Materials
- The fabric of your choice (cotton and heavier duck-type cloth are great choices!) ¼ yard of each (or less!)
- Coordinating thread
- Nylon zipper (my bigger bag was 9” and the smaller bag was 7”)
Tools
- Scissors
- Optional: Rotary cutter and mat
- Iron/ironing board
- Sewing machine
- Sewing Pins
Instructions
- Wash, dry and iron fabric.
- Cut your fabric. You will need:
· Two 9.5” x 8” rectangles of Outer fabric
· Two 9.5” x 8” rectangles of inner lining fabric - Take one piece of outer fabric and lay it face up in front of you (the 9.5” sides should be on the top and bottom). Stack the zipper along the top edge of your rectangle with the zipper pull face down. It will be easier for the fabric to feed through your machine if you start with the zipper pull on the right side. Use some scotch tape (instead of pins!) to tape the zipper down to the fabric.
- Using a zipper foot (see photos), stitch on the right side of the zipper teeth to secure the zipper to the rectangle of Outer fabric. You’ll want to stitch about 1/8” away from the zipper teeth. This will make sure you have plenty of room to use the zipper without the fabric getting caught. Also, once you get about halfway to 2/3 across the zipper, stop stitching and ensure your needle is down into your fabric. Raise the presser foot and unzip the zipper past your presser foot to a point you’ve already stitched. Then lower your presser foot and continue to stitch to the end of the zipper. Then you won’t have to deal with stitching past the foot. (*This will be easier to do each time you sew along the zipper line if possible. See photos!*) Remove the tape.
- Now flip your zipper over, but not the lining fabric. It should remain right-side up. Then place your second piece of outer fabric on top of the zipper (teeth and pull should be facing upwards!) with the right side of the fabric facing down. Essentially, the right or “pretty” sides of the fabric should be touching at this point. Ensure the fabric lines up with the edge of the zipper fabric, as well as the edges of the first piece of outer fabric you’ve just sewn.
- Using tape again, secure the second piece of fabric to the zipper. You’ll need to wrap your tape around the edge to grab both objects (see photo).
- If needed, unzip your zipper at your starting point (you should be sewing on the underside of the zipper) before stitching and re-zip after you get a few inches down. Stitch with the same seam
allowance as before (about 1/8” away from the zipper teeth) along the whole length of the zipper. Remove your tape. - Lay your fabric out in front of you with the zipper going vertically in between the two pieces of Outer fabric. (There are photos of this whole process!) Take the right bottom corner and pull it over the left piece of fabric. You’ll want to go past it just enough that the zipper is laying flat face down on the right side.
- Now take a piece of lining fabric and lay it FACE DOWN over the “wrong” side of the outer fabric as well as the face down zipper. Line up the edge of the fabric with the right-most edge of the zipper. I chose not to pin or tape here because I was able to hold the fabric together as a sandwich. However, if you wish to tape or pin, go ahead now.
- Stitch the lining fabric down to the zipper. You won’t be able to see the zipper, but feeling it through the fabric should be sufficient. Also, you’ll want to stitch a tad bit farther away from the zipper than with the outer fabric – again to ensure the fabric doesn’t get caught when using the zipper. Remember to unzip/re-zip the zipper as needed to allow for easier sewing (see photos again)!
- Now take the lining fabric and fold it back to the right. Also, fold the outer pieces of fabric underneath the zipper to the right. You’ll be left with the zipper on the left side and 3 layers of fabric on the right.
- Take your second piece of lining fabric and line it up with the left edge of the zipper (see photo). The zipper should still be face down at this point. Choose to pin/tape now or not.
- Stitch this piece of lining to the zipper with the same seam allowance as with the other lining piece – just a bit farther away from the zipper than with the outer pieces.
- Hang in there! The hardest parts are almost over!
- Now, you’ll want to lay your fabric out so that the zipper is in the center with the pull at the top. Each side should have an outer piece of fabric face up on top and an inside lining piece face down on the bottom. Pull the fabric taught away from the zipper teeth on one side of the zipper and pin parallel to the zipper a few times.
- Topstitch about ¼” away from the zipper. Unzip and re-zip the zipper as needed while sewing.
- Turn your fabric 90 degrees twice so that the zipper pull is on the bottom. Pin again along the right side of the zipper and topstitch ¼” away from the zipper.
· If you wish to add any trim or embellishments, do so now! Then head back through the rest of the steps as usual. I chose to add a small trim to my smaller bag.
· Tape or pin the trim to ONE right side of outer fabric (be sure it isn’t attached to the liner as well!). Stitch across your trim to hold it in place. Then continue with step 18. - After topstitching along each side of the zipper, we need to re-fold the pouch. Unzip the zipper about 3/4 of the way. Gently pull only the top outer layer of fabric from each side upwards. You’ll create a new rectangle with the outer pieces together on one side of the zipper and the inner lining pieces together on the other side of the zipper. Be sure all edges line up as closely as possible!
- You will want to pin all the way around the new rectangle you have created. When pinning, ensure the fabric pieces of the zipper are facing towards the outer fabric, and the “teeth” of the zipper should be pointed towards the inner lining fabric. Pin all the way around every couple of inches.
- In the middle of the lining piece edge opposite the zipper, you’ll want to leave a few inch long gap to allow for turning. See the photo for reference. Stitch from one side of the gap you’ll be leaving all the way around the rectangle to the other side of the gap. (*Use caution when sewing across the zipper teeth – you may need to hand-crank your machine and force-feed the fabric through a bit if it gets stuck).
- Trim off the corners of the rectangle. This will create less bulk in the corners once the bag is turned.
- Reach in through the opening you left and turn all of the layers of the pouch right side out. Using a turning tool, push out the corners of the outer layer of the pouch.
- You will want to close the gap you left for turning. You can do this with a blind stitch (or ladder stitch) if you wish, but I chose to simply topstitch across the opening with a very small seam
allowance. (It’s going to be inside the pouch at the bottom anyway!) - Carefully push the lining down inside the pouch.
- Fill your cute new zipper pouch with whatever you wish and enjoy!
Notes
The size of the bag can be chosen as per personal preference. I made two bags – the measurements are as follows:
Large - All fabric pieces 9.5” x 8” and a 9” zipper
Small - All fabric pieces 7.5” x 6” and a 7” zipper
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I just love all you patterns and tutorials! Thank you for the scotch tape idea!!