Easy Zip Pouch

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!

I have three beautiful grandchildren and they love to get money (don't we all?) and I find a simple way to give them a little money and a gift is to make a small zip pouch and put some coins or notes in it. They are also perfect as a small gift with make-up, jewellery, sweets, knickers, boxers, socks, or other small items inside.

P, J, A
The grandchildren

The little pouches are used for only a short time and when dirty get discarded so no great effort is put into making or decorating them and they can be made from small scraps of fabric left over from other projects. Zips can be bought cheaply on Ebay (£9.50 for 100).

They take ten/fifteen minutes to make and are one of the most easy and satisfying thing to make as it is possible to turn out several in an afternoon - like today when it is raining! (Again!)



You will need ...

2 x 5 inch squares of outer fabric
2 x 5 inch squares of inner/lining fabric
2 x 5 inch squares of thin wadding or iron-on stiffener (optional)
Zip measuring 6 inch or more - any length will do - longer makes for easier fitting
Small length of narrow ribbon

The cut pieces

Now for the tricky bit ... layering the fabric in correct order to sew - many people call this part 'making a zipper sandwich' ...

Put the first piece of outer fabric face up.
Then lay the zip along the top of the fabric with the zipper wrong side up and leaving both ends of the zip exposed.
Now lay the inner/lining fabric on top of the zipper and the outer fabric wrong side up.
If you wish to add a wadding now place this on the top.
Align all the edges and pin.
Now sew them together.


Now do exactly the same with the other side of the zip ...

Lay the outer fabric face up.
Then place the other side of the zip along the top of the fabric with the zipper wrong side up and leaving both ends of the zip exposed.
Now lay the inner/lining fabric on top of the zipper and the outer fabric wrong side up.
If using wadding place this on the top.
Align all the edges and pin.
Now sew them together.

The outer fabric with the zip in place

The inner/lining fabric with the zip in place

How the layering should look

Now open the zip - this is very important.

Lay the fabric out with the two separate sides at each end (ie outer fabric together and inner/lining fabric together).
Now sew all the way around the outside leaving a four inch gap at the bottom of the inner/lining fabric.
Do two lines of sewing to make the pouch more secure.
Now turn the bag inside out through the hole in the bottom of the inner/lining fabric and the zip.

Turned through the hole in the inner/lining fabric

The inner/lining fabric can now be pinned and then sewn neatly along the bottom - again two lines of sewing will make the purse more secure - and then tuck the inner/lining into the pouch.

Small coin purse with a perfect zip

A pretty padded lining

To go with the bag made last week

I think a little ribbon attached to the zip makes for easier opening. Cute isn't it?

And another ...

And yet another

All made in under one hour .... now to get back to the Olympics!