Large Selvedge Zip Pouch

Large Selvedge Zip Pouch

This is a great 'Quilt-As-You-Go' and selvedge buster project for you to try. It is lined with 2 inner pockets held in place with velcro.


Finished Size: width 10.5" height 9.5"


Requirements

• two 1" lengths, or circle of male/female velcro.
• 1 zip - length depends on your preference. This tutorial used a thrifted 10" zip.
• batting - offcuts from quilts will do. 
• fusible interfacing - for strengthening the lining.
• selvedges - of varying length and width. (When cutting selvedges to save make them at least 1" wide).
• cotton fabric for the lining. This tutorial used a fat quarter of a thrifted vintage sheet.

Cutting

1. Cut batting into two rectangles 11" x 12". This can be smaller depending on your zipper length and preference. (NB. The zip should be 1" shorter than one side of your pouch. eg. for a 7" zip you need a piece of batting that is 8" for each side - therefore 16" long as a whole rectangle).

2. Trim your selvedges so that they have straight edges.

3. Lining - Cut cotton lining fabric into two rectangles 11"x12"

4. Fusible Interfacing - cut two rectangles to match the lining. 

5. Pocket - Cut cotton lining fabric into four more rectangles 5"x 5". 

6. Fusible Interfacing - Match these pockets with two 5" squares of fusible interfacing. 

Pouch Cover

1. If you need to, match up and sew some of the shorter selvedges together to create long strips.

2. Take the first long strip and sew it to the batting, right side up, 1/4" from the edge.

3. Lay the next strip on top of the first, right sides together, edge to edge.

4. Now sew this strip down 1/4" from the matching edges. Press the seam and iron the strip down.

5. Continue this method sewing the selvedge strips down,

until you have covered the batting.

6. Quilt-As-You-Go the other batting piece to make the other side of the pouch.

Lining

1. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong sides of the lining fabric.  (NB. Don't use a HOT iron setting and protect your iron by ironing through baking paper so that the fusible interfacing does NOT MELT onto your iron) 

2. Fold the two lining pieces in half along the top edge. Using a fabric pen, measure and mark a point 1.5" down from the top edge of both pieces. This is where you place the velcro piece opposite the pocket piece.

Pockets

1. If you haven't already done so, fuse the interfacing to the pocket squares. I chose to use up some scraps for my pocket lining and so I fused these pieces rather than the pocket squares made from a single piece of fabric.

2. Right sides together, sew the pocket squares together with 1/4" seam. Make sure to  leave a 2" gap in the seam for turning.

3. Cut off the corners.

4. Pull the right sides through the gap in the seam.

5. Push out the corners with a chopstick.

6. Iron flat. Sew the opening closed with a 1/8" seam.

7. Measure and mark with a fabric pen a spot 3/4" down from the middle of the top edge of the pocket. Now Pin the velcro tabs onto the inner lining of the pocket and the lining of the pouch on these two points.

8. Sew in place with much over-sewing for strength. I tend to do all perimeters and diagonals twice.

9. Now velcro the pockets into place and sew the sides and bottom onto the lining piece.

Zipper Preparation

1. Trim the ends off the zip down to 1/2". Cut a piece of selvedge 2 1/2" wide. Fold in half. Finger press. Then fold the edges into the centre leaving a 1/2" gap.

 2. Pin the now 1" double fold piece over the zipper ends to create a zipper buffer.

 3. Trim the excess each side of the zipper width.

 4. Cute buffers!

 5. Centre the zip along the top edge of the pouch front. It should be 1/2" short at each end.

Attaching the Zip

1. Now lay the zip wrong side up on the front of the pouch front and pin in place. NB Leave the zip halfway open with a safety pin attached. This is for ease of opening and closing when sewing this zip in place.

 2. Lay the lining wrong side up over the front and zip and also pin in place.

 3. Take the 3 layer sandwich and run it under the zipper or walking foot with a 1/4" seam.

 4. It should be nicely tucked in there.

5. See there?

 6. Now lay the other side out the same way. Sew the sandwich together. NB. It helps to have the zip set halfway down to make it easier to move out of the way when you reach it with the foot.

7. Open out the pieces and admire the view.

 8. The view from the inside.

9. It's not necessary but I like to sew the zip layers down with a 1/4" stitch.

10. Sew the front of the pouch pieces together.

11. Sew the lining pieces together and leave that important gap.

12. Pull the layers through the gap.

13. Sew the gap closed.

14. Push the lining back inside the pouch. 

15. Fill it up with cool stuff and zip it up!

I made this one for myself, one for Kristy of Quiet Play and Jane of Coffs Fresh Quilters. We had a handmade swap last Saturday night. 

for Kristy (filled with a treat for each of her kids and her April Bee blocks)

for selvedge lover,  Jane (I stuffed it full of leftover selvedges too!)