Little boxy pouch tutorial
My latest favourite thing to make, little boxy pouches. It took me almost an entire morning, lots of paper and sellotape and countless cups of tea to figure this out. I’m here to save you the bother. This little bag is 4.5 inches long, 3 inches high and 2 inches deep, just right for a lipstick and a compact (or better still, lots of sweets).
1. Choose your fabric. This is a great project for showing off a teensy piece of fabric. This is a Japanese fabric bought from nuno.plus - I’m guessing I’ll be able to squeeze three little boxy pouches from one fat quarter. Bargain!!
2. Cut two rectangles measureing 8 inches by 6 inches. The longer length is the top. Turn under a half inch on each piece and press, this is where you’ll be fitting the zip.
3. I like to use zips that are more than long enough, I find it easier to sew them in when the zip pull is well and truly out of the way. Take time to master your zip foot, once I’d figured it out zippering became a doddle. You can trim off the extra zip later on.
4. Flip the pieces over so the right sides are together and the zip is at the top. Sometimes I pin, sometimes I don’t - depends on the grippiness of the fabric. Sew along the bottom. It’s tricky to press the seam flat, but give it a go if you feel like it.
5. Rearrange the tube so that the bottom seam sits on top of the zip (or so the zip sits on top of the bottom seam if you like). Here’s when you better make sure the zip pull is in the middle. I’ve had to unpick a couple of bags because I didn’t stop to check this.
6. Sew up the two sides, you could run the stitches back and forth across the zip a few times for strength. Trim off any extra zip, I leave just under an inch poking out.
7. This isn’t a step, just showing you what you’ve got so far.
8. Pinch the corners out, it’s a bit like origami. Keep pinching, tweaking and measuring until you have a box shape that pleases you. Pin it all in place and try to get each corner the same (as much as you can anyway).
9. I use my quilters ruler to help get my corners nice and square. The pencil line is (approx) 3 inches, this is how tall your box will be(ish).
10. Sew up all for corners, this is your first chance to check out the size and shape of the box and make any changes. If you’re happy then carry on, if not grab that unpicker and start again.
11. Nearly there now. Snip off the corners and get ready for the fun part.
12. Turn it all the right way out and yahoo! a super cute little boxy pouch.
I hope these instructions are clear. You can make bigger or smaller pouches by adjusting the original fabric size or pinching more or less at the corners - I’ve yet to figure out a magial formula for sizing, lots of trial and error mainly.
Do let me know if you use this tutorial, I’d love to see how it works out for you.
sarah said,
October 15, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
woo hoo!! thank you soooooo much for the tut! i saw your pic on flickr and loved the pouch!! it’ll be a great addition to the weekender bags i’ve made for a couple christmas presents. :o)
Becky said,
October 15, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
Thanks for sharing. I saw it on the Sew, Mama, Sew flickr site. It’s too cute! I love the fabric too.
Lauren said,
October 18, 2007 @ 4:33 am
So cute!! Thanks so much for this!
raesha said,
October 20, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
I am definitely trying this! I love your tip for the zipper installation and using a longer zipper than necessary. Great, great tip!!!
Christa said,
October 20, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Thanks for the great little project! I’ve always hated working with zippers but this was so cute and looked so easy I just had to try it. It turned out great and looks so cute.
Lisa said,
October 20, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
Wow, what a fantastic project. It looks great. I will have to try this. Thanks for the tutorial.
andrea said,
October 21, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
thanks, can’t wait to try it.
mobyclick said,
October 22, 2007 @ 5:42 am
I AM sooooo making this tomorrow. Thanks!
Esther said,
October 22, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
I love making these too
Your tutorial is great - really nice and clear.
Jacklyn said,
October 23, 2007 @ 12:55 am
I just started making bags with zippers. Your tutorial was really easy to follow. Thank you so much for sharing this! I made one for my six year old daughter and one out of denim lined with green for my four year old son for his game boy video game, he loves it. You have a great talent for teaching.
jennifer ramos said,
October 26, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
Thanks for laying out all the steps. I knew it had to be incredibly simple, but I’d never taken the time to experiment
Now I can visualize the process.
Beth said,
October 28, 2007 @ 4:52 am
This is great! I quickly made a couple of these today, and your tip about the zipper is smart, thanks!
Becca said,
October 28, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have some fat quarters that will certainly become some presents!
Sarah said,
October 29, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Thanks for this great tutorial! I used it to make a camera case last night. You can see a pic on my blog.
Rebecca said,
November 4, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
The pouch is incredibily cute. Had to have a go and made one myself, you can check it out on my blog..
http://mellebugandme.wordpress.com
A great tutorial, thanks.
Eren said,
November 7, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
So great!!!
mymsie said,
November 10, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Thanks for the great tute! I made one for my Fall Swap partner: http://www.flickr.com/photos/floofy7/1939748925/in/photostream/
Jodie said,
February 1, 2008 @ 6:19 am
This is way cute! I’d always wondered how to make one. Now to figure out how to do it with a lining.
By the way, got here via thimble.ca
sally said,
February 1, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Super cool. I know I am going to try this out today. I can’t wait!!
Toni-Ann said,
February 9, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Fabulous instructions! I made a bag in about 20 minutes - that’s my kind of tutorial - thanks for sharing. Got the link via Thimble too.
Angelita Delgado said,
February 18, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
Thanks for this great tutorial
blabby said,
February 24, 2008 @ 6:45 am
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Nancypancy said,
February 25, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
I saw some like these at J Crew, and nearly bought one to deconstruct and make a pattern of, but didn’t. Then I found YOU! I have been making BTRS zip pouches, but will add these to the repertory!
Lenore said,
March 7, 2008 @ 2:43 am
Hi,
This is a completely FAB project. I am most grateful . i thought that you might like some things that i did a bit differently after the first 10 I made (yes I really love it)
1. Put a tab to help in pulling the zip at either end of the zip.
2. Make the pouch out of 2 layers of fabric that are glued together using heat n’ bond or vlisofix. that way it is really frim and the insdie is pretty too.
Cheers
Kitty said,
March 10, 2008 @ 7:27 am
hey there, thanks for the tutorial, you can see mine here http://kittyskaboodle.blogspot.com/
jessica said,
March 24, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Great tutorial! You know what this would be great for? A camera case (for a boxy camera, anyway). Must do…
meiyi said,
March 25, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
your tutorial got me so excited!! THANK YOU!! I can’t wait to try it out!!!
i’ve tried to write tutorials and realised it’s so much work!! So, really, THANK YOU!!
Mandi said,
March 25, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Thanks so much for sharing this great idea. It’s so cute! I can’t wait to try it myself!
Shay said,
March 25, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
I don’t know about a pouch, but by golly you have just shown me how I am going to slipcover my sofa pillows without all that fiddling with the zippers.
Thank you!
Jessica said,
March 26, 2008 @ 1:24 am
Thanks so much! I can’t wait to make one-or several!
ciyou said,
March 26, 2008 @ 1:51 am
I want to do this, thanks for your tutorial
Sheri said,
March 26, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
Very nice! I have been buying $.50 blouses at our local thrift store for buttons and this will be a great use for the fabric. I can’t wait to try them!
diane said,
March 26, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
thanks for the tutorial!
i’m a beginner sewer (just got a sewing machine for xmas!)
and i want to learn how to sew in a slipper~ this seems perfect to try out!
THANKSSSS!!!!
*diane
Avenue said,
March 26, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Thank you for such a lovely and helpful tutorial! I have been looking for help with making a pouch just like this! I’ll be trying it out this weekend.
amanda said,
March 29, 2008 @ 7:24 am
how cute! thanks for the tutorial!
Adelle said,
March 29, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
This was so fun to make! Thank you much for the tutorial! Here is mine:
http://flickr.com/photos/dell/2370283383/
meiyi said,
March 29, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
thank you so much for your tutorial!! i tried it out today and it’s so easy to make!!
be assured i’ll be making more… a whole lot more. 
KIKI said,
April 1, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
simple, beautiful, i’m making them for gifts
Tifa said,
April 1, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Such a sweet little tutorial. I tried it out right away and made a cute little shamrock printed pouch with a purple floral lining for a makeup pouch to toss in my shoulder bag.
This is a great idea for little prezzies too.
The only problem I had was adjusting the tension for the zipper fabric. I just couldn’t get it right. The thread was much tighter on the top, regardless of the settings. It would have taken only about an hour, but with the thread problems it a bit longer.
Have you come across that problem with zippers before?
Thanks so much!
amy said,
April 2, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
Thanks so much for this tutorial! I just made a little pouch. It’s so cute!
nutmeg said,
April 3, 2008 @ 10:33 am
wow i always thought it was kinda difficult making one of those, im surprised its so easy
i’ll try it !!
Sara said,
April 8, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
I just had to wait for the shops to open this morning to go out and buy myself some zips! I was so excited to find this tutorial. Thank you. Here’s my effort - http://www.flickr.com/photos/miss_millie/2397723665/in/photostream/
chronicler said,
April 9, 2008 @ 2:18 am
Neat, neat, neat! I love this! Thank you.
the simple mom said,
April 9, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Love it! I can’t wait to try this. I stumbled it, by the way…
Lindsey Frankus said,
April 10, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
Your pouch is too cute! And your instuctions make it look so easy…I can’t wait to try one.
~Lindsey
brianinsanfran said,
April 15, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
I made these and they’re awesome!
I did add a little extra stitch along the seams to give them a little more stability
and a more square shape.
The tutorial was very easy to follow and great pictures.
Taz said,
April 23, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
Thank you so much for this fantastic tut, I really need to stretch my sewing fingers and get out of my constant stencilling and this looks like something i could enjoy.
Eloisa said,
April 23, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
I love it!!!
I just made one for me!!!!
Thanks A lot!!!
Kerry said,
May 2, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
thank you SO much for this tutorial. This was my first attempt with a zipper so I had to seek out a few videos to get it down, but your step by step instructions are perfect and this pouch is amazingly cute. You can see my experience with it at http://www.kerrysews.blogspot.com . It wasn’t very difficult to add a lining and I can’t wait to make more!
Fabiola said,
May 9, 2008 @ 2:46 am
OMG…this looks so easy…I have to make one right now…when I have it I will leave you a comment with the post link…thanks so much for the tutorial
silvia said,
May 15, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Thank you for the tutorial. Had been waiting days to try it out and today I did it on some scrap fabric I had. It was rather easy (just had to fight to open the zipper after having sewn the sides…so my take from this was… leave the zipper a bit open…
Can´t wait to try on some better fabric!
Diane said,
May 17, 2008 @ 7:34 am
I just love this…how would you line this? I can figure it out except for how and WHEN to attach lining to zip…
Any suggestions?
Thanks again,
Di
Thelma said,
May 18, 2008 @ 8:07 am
Thank you so much for posting this tutorial, which I stumbled upon through Avenue Hand Made’s To Do List, Part The First.
You’ve outlined the steps very well and I am looking forward to trying to make this type of bag.
I’ve made a number of flat-style zippered bags and find a great source of zippers, at a low cost, is through a company called Zipperstop. I’ve purchased from them on their e-Bay store and direct. E-Bay is very easy and here’s a link to their store, if you’re interested:
http://stores.ebay.com/ZIPPERSTOP_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
I have no affiliation with them, just like their products and service. I like having a bunch of zippers around so I can choose which one best matches the fabric and I always buy the longest zippers I can for the best price.
Anyway, thank you again and I look forward to more tutorials!
Jen Nelson said,
May 27, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Did you use any stablizer/interfacing? I made it in a bigger size…cut 12 x 10 pieces
used a 16 in zipper and boxed the corners at 1.5 inches. Great size for traveling.
You’re pictures were great.
Christina said,
May 27, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
Gee this is a great tutorial, thanks! Do you know how I could line the pouch?
Grace said,
May 28, 2008 @ 1:28 am
Thanks for the tutorial - my leafy pouch turned out brilliantly. And GREAT idea on the zipper. You should get some sort of zipper-putter-inner medal for that one.
Hedda said,
May 31, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
Hi! I used your tutorial, now I don’t need it anymore
You can see the result here http://innetid.blogspot.com/2008/05/eg-har-sydd-litt-til-og-symaskina-str.html. Thanks!
Sammi said,
June 1, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Thank you for sharing!! That is awesome. I love your choice of fabric too!
Sunce said,
June 2, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
THIS IS JUST GREAT!
Thanks
Sara said,
June 6, 2008 @ 3:17 am
This is a great tutorial, thank you! I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to post a link to your tutorial on my blog…Please let me know if you object!
Thanks again, I can’t wait to make a ton of these!
naama said,
June 16, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
First of all, the tutorial is so cute- thanks!
Secondly, Can I sell pouches made of your tutorial to friends and others?
Heather said,
July 1, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
I love this little box!! I’m gonna give it a try!!