Way-2-Easy Zipper and Lining Installation with Funky Pouch Tutorial

[kd]

Zippers can be kinda intimidating, but this way totally rocks it's so easy.  At the end are instructions for a few different ways of finishing the bag with all the edges hidden inside the lining.  I'm not big on handsewing so I try to figure out how to minimize it as much as possible. 

*If the pic is to small, right click and "save as" should help. 

a) You’ll need two pieces of fabric (lining and outer fabric...mine were about 12” by 18”) and a zipper a little longer than you want the bag.  If you need too, you can fuse interfacing to the lining.  Both of my fabrics were heavy cotton so I didn’t use any.

b) Place fabric on top of each other, right sides facing. 

c) Sandwich zipper between both layers, with the top of zipper facing the outer fabric.

d) Pin and sew along the edge.  A zipper foot might help here but it’s generally not necessary.

e) Voila!

f) Open up fabric and press away from zipper.

g & h) Line up opposite edge of fabric and zipper.  Pin.

i) Sew

j & k & l) Turn and press!

Now decide how you want your bag to open, do you want the zipper on the top, the edge, or down the center?  For tutorial purposes I made it into a humbug bag, with each end going a different direction.  You can turn the bag inside out and stitch up the ends.  I like to have all of the edges enclosed, with as little hand sewing as possible, so I sew it like this:

m) Mark the centers of each piece, sandwich zipper between the center points and stitch across the end.

n) Don’t forget to add a handle in there!

and /or this:

o) To make a typical pouch, with the zipper across the top, just fold and pin the zipper in place and stitch all the way along this edge.

p) Remember to leave an opening for turning and… turn J

Tuck lining inside, adjust corners and stitch the opening closed.


This works great for college and travel, it sets on the counter nice and things are easy to get to, but not on public display.  I don’t knit but I think a huge one would work great for yarn.  Smaller ones work good for crayons or markers and I have a friend that got one at a baby shower for keeping pacifiers in.  It folds flat and by tucking in the corners in different ways you make some really interesting bags.

If you have any questions, let me know! 

[lilmissmuffett]

very cute! I'll have to try this technique.

[peachtastic]

lol, yes, zippers are very intimidating.  i'm definetely gonna try this method!