Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Handbag Pouch Tutorial

I spent yesterday playing with some Grandmother's Flower Garden Laminate from Quilt Fabric Delights. The bottom of my handbag is a bit of a mess, lots of pens and pencils floating around and I can never find the lip gloss when I need it. The laminate was perfect to make a little pouch to put all those things in.

First of all I ironed it on the wrong side to remove the creases. I ironed it on a medium heat quite gently and the creases disappeared.
I cut a piece 15 inches long and 5 inches wide.
I ironed under about 1 cm (I am not sure why as I don't think it will fray much). I used a rajah cloth so I would not melt the fabric. Grab a zip. It doesn't matter what size as they will all be too big and will need to be shortened. Because pinning wil leave holes in the fabric. I used some hair clips to keep it in place.
Sew on the zip to each end.

Turn inside out and pin the sides. I pinned very close to the edge so any pin marks would end up in the seam and not be seen. Open the zip so you can turn it back the right way at the end. Sew the seams. I sewed over the zip a couple of times.

I used pinking shears to finish the seams and cut off the end of the zip.
Turn in the right way. Poke out the corners carefully. I added some ribbon to the zip to make it easier to open. Now my bag is a little tidier.


This fabric is much easier to sew than I thought. It is lovely and soft and I think I will be getting some more to make little raincoats for next winter.

34 comments:

Mark said...

Thanks for the tutorial!, I was wondering how to go about shortening a zipper but hadn't got around to looking it up, now I don't have to, thanks!!

Amanda said...

How cute, and functional and easy! Thanks for posting a terrific idea.

Corrie said...

gorgeous! I am loving the pvc! I ordered the blue then changed my mind and think I'll have to get it in as I'm almost out of the pink cottages. I just rolled it out on the dining room table and am loving it! It is so much lighter than what I expecteed!

everything floats around my bag! you never know what you'll find...half a biscuit, hairclip, tissue! who knows!

Corrie:)

Sue said...

What a fantastic tutorial Kate. I love it and what a perfect idea. I need one of those for pens and other stuff that I can never find when I need it. Isnt the fabric gorgeous too, I must order some of it soon before it all disappears. Little raincoats sound wonderful!

Erika Mulvenna said...

Very cute, I love the fabric!

Andi said...

A lovely and simple tutorial.
Thanks.
Andi :-)

Rachael said...

Thank you for a lovely little tutorial. x

Anne said...

Lovin' the pouch AND the fabric!! I posted a link to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-pencil-pouch-for-your-purse/2009/11/30/

--Anne

our shabby cottage said...

Great tutorial Kate. I have an abyss in my handbag too, but these little zipper purses are the perfect solution.

Jenny said...

Very handy and lovely thanks for the tutorial

Abby and Stephanie said...

Very cute. All this year I kept telling myself to just "do it". Install a zipper that is. Well as December is here I'd better get to it! I have a wee bit of zipper phobia.

Susan J Barker said...

wonderful little bag! I came by your blog via whip up and will put you on my rss feed! I made one of these for myself, except slightly different dimensions. mine are short and fat, the starting piece of fabric is 5"x 9", making the little bag measure about 4 1/2 x 4 1/2, good to fit my digital camera in and or change, and or various ident cards... actually I have 3 in my purse.

Locket Pocket said...

A great tutorial! Thank you! Lucy x

Gina said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous. Thanks for the tute. Now to get me some laminate or oilcloth...

Anonymous said...

Great tut and I LOVE that fabric. I love the laminate for the bottoms of bags.

Jodie said...

Just gorgoeus, thanks for sharing..

Jodie :)

Kerry said...

Oh, I can't wait to try this. What a great little gift idea!

Thimbleanna said...

So Very Cute! I love the fabric you've chosen!

Melissa Goodsell said...

This is adorable Kate :)

Anonymous said...

What needle do you use when sewing with oil cloth? I've been having a hard time. Thanks

Rosa said...

Thanks for you tutorial.I love the fabric you`ve chosen.Great gift idea.

Unknown said...

That's fabulous , thanks very much!

Mette (Mettuska) said...

Really lovely pouch you made! Thanks for the tips!

Melancholywings said...

I saw this over at Craftzine and wanted to thank you so much for such an easy tutorial - it's exactly what I needed to make a pouch to hold my daughters diabetic supplies.

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial Kate. Might get a chance to whip up a couple for Secret Santas.

Meredith said...

I have made 2 today ... very clear instruction - Thank you so much for posting them!!
My blog www.mycuttingandcreating.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

great! thank you so much... I have a phobia of zips. but this seems easy enough even for me to do!

saffiertje said...

thnx for the tutorial, made one for my pens taking to work of oilcloth....

Emily said...

This is the easiest, and most "finished" looking pouch tutorial I've ever seen. Really nicely done.

Lurline said...

Wonderful - printed already - you are a doll!
Hugs - Lurline♥

veena said...

Hi Kate
thanks for such a wonderful tutorial.I have tried to sew this and blogged about it too. I have linked back to your page. Please do have a look at this here
http://artscraftsandmore-withveena.blogspot.com/2011/08/zippered-pencil-pouch.html

Unknown said...

nice tuto

yarn_lady said...

Thanks for a simple but beautiful tute! Having guests rigt now but can't wait to try this!

خياطة وتفصيل said...

Thank you very beautiful