When I started making a lot of quilt coats, I ended up with a lot of quilted scraps. Not wanting to waste these, I started thinking about how they could be given a purpose! Today I’m bringing you one way you can upcycle your scraps with this quilted zipper pouch tutorial.
This mini quilted zipper pouch finishes at 4.5″ wide x 5.5″ high and features a hanging loop at the top so you can attach it to your backpack, duffle bag, in your car, or anywhere else! It is the perfect size as a small first aid kit, a hand-binding on-the-go kit, or for small pieces you don’t want to lose. The inside is fully finished, NO RAW SEAMS!!
If you don’t have pre-quilted scraps, you can quilt up your own prior to starting this zipper pouch. Dig in your scrap bins or quilt up an orphan quilt block! Make a fat quarter sandwich to practice free motion quilting, then use it for this quilted zipper pouch! Or, search online for quilt scraps. Many quilt coat makers are now selling their quilt scraps, and you can get a variety of vintage quilted scraps that way!
Supplies:
- (1) 9″ wide x 6.5″ tall quilted fabric piece. I recommend zig-zagging all the way around prior to starting this tutorial
- 12″ of 1/2″ double fold bias tape
- 14″ of 1/4″ double fold bias tape
- 5″ zipper
- (2) 2″ x 3″ fabric rectangles for the zipper tabs
- 3″ piece of 1″ twill tape for the hanging loop
Quilted Zipper Pouch Tutorial:
1. Start by prepping your zipper. Fold the 2″ x 3″ rectangles in half on the 3″ side so that they measure 1.5″ x 2″, then open it up and fold both ends towards the middle. You should have a rectangle that when folded up measures 0.75″ x 2.
Fold the rectangle over the end of the zipper and top stitch in place. Repeat with the second zipper side and second fabric rectangle.
Once both sides are stitched, cut the excess fabric so that the zipper tab is the same width as the zipper tape.
2. Align your zipper right side down on top of your quilted rectangle (right side up). The right side of your fabric should together with the right side of the zipper. Stitch the zipper to the fabric with 1/8″ seam allowance.
3. Stitch the 1/4″ double fold bias tape onto your zipper. Don’t worry about the raw ends at the top and bottom, these will be covered later.
4. Press the fabric away from the zipper.
5. Fold the fabric in half, right sides together, so that the second side of the zipper is now against the second 6.5″ side of the fabric. Repeat steps 2-3 above for this second side.
6. Turn fabric right side out and press the second seam away from the zipper. Align your tube so that there is 0.75″ of fabric on the right hand side of the zipper. Place a pin on the fold, and a second pin on the second fold on the other side. You’re marking how you want the fabric aligned when you sew it together.
7. Find the center point between these two pins and on the side without the zipper, baste your twill tape loop with 1/8″ seam allowance.
8. Turn fabric wrong side out, keeping the pins in place.
9. Align the pins so that they are on the side of the zipper pouch, and making sure your zipper is fully open, baste one side shut with 1/4″ seam allowance.
10. Add 1/2″ wide double fold bias tape to this side seam, folding 0.5″ over to encase the side seam. Add clips to keep the binding in place and topstitch with your machine.
11. Repeat for the second side, first basting the side in place with 1/4″ seam allowance then adding the binding and topstitching.
12. Turn bag right side out, poking out the corners and giving the pouch a good press so it lays flat.
Enjoy your new quilted zipper pouch! You can add a keyring or carabiner to the loop to make it easier to clip to places.
