{Make} A Bag Sew Along: Bits and Pieces Pouch Tutorial

Week Seven of the {Make} A Bag Sew Along.

This week we’re making a little pouch. Since the top of the pouch is sealed with velcro, it is perfect for your bits and pieces you’d like to put in your bag which you don’t want cluttering up your bag or rolling around loose in the bottom. This could be anything from little treats/snacks for the kids to receipts/small pieces of paper to chewing gum, etc.

I wanted to have this tutorial up yesterday for you all but our power was out nearly all day! So this meant no sewing and no computers. It was good in a way however. My oldest son Isaiah was home sick from school. He couldn’t use his computer or watch TV and was so bored he actually had a nap for a couple of hours! At 10 years old, this is something he NEVER does anymore. It was a much needed rest for him. I was happy about that.

Ok, ready to start sewing?

Here is the PDF version of this tutorial.

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Materials you’ll need this week from your supplies:

• your 5″ x 5″ squares
• lining fabric 2
• light fusible interfacing
• hook & loop tape (Velcro)

{Click on any image to see a larger version.}

Choose 5 of your 5″ x 5″ squares.

Cut 2 squares measuring 5″ x 5″ from lining fabric 2.

Draw lines on the wrong side of your lining fabric squares at 1.25″, 2.5″ and 3.75″. (These are the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 points.)

Now draw 3 triangles by drawing the following 4 diagonal lines:
-from the top left corner of the square to the bottom of the first vertical line;
-from the bottom of the first vertical line to the top of the middle vertical line;
-from the top of the middle vertical line to the bottom of the third vertical line;
-from the bottom of the third vetical line to the top right corner of the square.

Pin one of each of your lining squares to a charm square, right sides together.

Now we’re going to sew the squares so that we end up with 3 triangles from each square. You need to sew on each side of the diagonal lines, as in the photo. Sew about 1/4″ from the drawn line. Pivot your fabric at the point of each triangle at the centre (vertical) line and then sew down the other side of the triangle.

Now cut along the diagonal lines to cut your 3 triangles from each sewn square. You will end up with 6 triangles.

Clip the tops off your triangles, turn out the right way and push out the tip. Press.

Pin 3 of the triangles to the top edge of the right side of one 5″ x 5″ square. You will need to overlap the triangles. Make sure that they are at least 1/4″ from either corner to allow for a seam.

Repeat for the other 3 triangles on another square.

Sew the triangles in place, with a seam of about 1/8″.

Cut your last 5″ square in half.

Pin the halves of this square to the tops of the other squares, right sides facing.

Sew these in place. Open out and press seams to one side.

Iron the light fusible interfacing to the wrong side of these pieces.

Cut 2 rectangles from lining fabric 2, measuring 5″ x 7″.

With right sides together, sew each of these rectangles to a pieced rectangle along the top edge only. Turn and press.

Topstitch along the top edges of your pieces, about 1/8″ from the edge.

Cut a strip of hook and loop tape {Velcro} to go along the top edge of your pouch. Make it about 1/2″ shorter than the width of your pouch to allow for the side seam. Pin each piece of Velcro to the lining side of your piece, centered and about 1/2″ from the top.

Sew the velcro on by sewing around its 4 edges, as close to the edge of the velcro as possible.

Place your 2 pieces right (pieced) sides together. Sew around the sides and bottom using an overlock stitch. {Overlocking stitches were discussed in the toiletries pouch tutorial.}

Turn your pouch out the right way, push out the corners and you’re done! {By the way, the photo is supposed to be of me pushing out the corners with a chopstick…in case you were wondering. }

There! How do you like it?

And here is my obligatory shot of everything made in the sew along so far! I wonder how many of you have actually made all of these things… If you have, you are a rockstar!

Next week will be the last tutorial in the sew along. I’m telling you, this sew along has been a virtual marathon for me! I am one of those who suffer from crafter’s ADD – often beginning a new project before finishing the old one, and often even starting another new one before finishing the previous ‘new’ one! This is one of the reasons I have never made a anything bigger than a simple lap sized quilt – I just don’t have the attention span. This sew along has been a great exercise for me in sticking with what you’ve started.

Now time for a little surprise. Next week I’ll be joining in with Char from Crap I’ve Made to celebrate 1,000,000 visitors to her blog. Yes, you read that right, ONE MILLION! Cool huh. This means a giveaway! Lots of other bloggers are joining in too, and Char will be posting giveaways all week. Yay!

So be sure to come back next week, for my last tutorial in the sew along, and the new giveaway! Hope to see you then.

In the meantime,
Happy Pouch Making!

Tagged as: Accessories, Pouches, Scrap Busters