Summer of Sewing: Polka Dot Pouches

During our Summer of Sewing series, we'll be featuring weekly tutorials using our new fabric collections (and giveaways, too!). Join us each week, sit back, relax, and then start sewing! 

Today's tutorial uses Virginia Robertson's new Thoroughly Modern fabric collection (so much black, red and white fun!) to make two different pouches. You'll notice that we added in a few Painter's Palette Solids in the smaller pouch--we were inspired by the solids used in Virginia's free quilt pattern. Check out the tutorial and then scroll to the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a FQ bundle of Thoroughly Modern fabrics. 

Let's get started!

You'll Need:

(Striped pouch)

1 fat quarter each teardrops on white, white dots on black, black/red floral, people on black, black dots on white, and teardrops on red

1 coordinating zipper (we used black, but red would be fun!), at least 14" long

Fusible batting

(Checkerboard pouch)

1 fat quarter each black dots on white and white dots on black (if you make both pouches, you'll have enough leftover from the fat quarter required for the striped pouch)

1 fat quarter each four bright Painter's Palette Solids

1 coordinating zipper, at least 9" long

Fusible batting

Cutting:

(Striped pouch)

From each of the (5) black/white prints:

(2) 2-1/2" x 8" strips

From the remaining white dots on black:
(2) 1-1/4" x 4" pieces

From the teardrops on red: 

(2) 8" x 10-1/2" pieces for lining

From the fusible batting:

(2) 8" x 10-1/2" pieces 

Cutting: 

(Checkerboard pouch)

From the black dots on white: 

(2) 2-1/2" x 8" strips

From the white dots on black: 

(1) 8-1/2" x 12-1/2" piece for lining

(2) 2-1/2" x 8" strips

From each of the (4) solids:

(1) 2-1/2" x 8" strip

From the fusible batting:

(1) 8-1/2" x 12-1/2" piece

Make the Striped Pouch:

Step 1: Lay out (1) 2-1/2" x 8" strip of each fabric as shown. Sew the strips together. 

Step 2: Layer the pieced strip with a piece of fusible batting and fuse in place. Machine quilt as desired. We had fun using red thread and a zigzag stitch so the stitching really pops! Make (2) quilted panels.

Step 3: Fold both short ends of a 1-1/4" x 4" white dots on black piece in 1/4". Fold the entire piece in half. Tuck the zipper pull end of the zipper into the center crease and fold the dot fabric over to enclose the zipper (our photo shows the non zipper pull end instead--don't do this end yet). Topstitch across the pressed edges to secure the tab to the zipper.

Step 4: Align the zipper with the top edge of a quilted piece. Mark the opposite end of the zipper even with the quilted piece. 

Step 5: Stitch across the unfinished zipper end just inside the marked point to secure the zipper. Cut the zipper off where marked. Use the remaining small polka dot piece to enclose the raw end of the zipper. Your zipper (with fabric ends) should be the same size as your quilted piece as shown.

Step 6: Position the zipper face down on the quilted piece and pin in place. Lay (1) 8" x 12-1/2" teardrops on red piece on top, right side down, and pin. Using your zipper foot, stitch through all layers. 

Step 7: Repeat on the opposite side of the zipper using second quilted piece and backing piece. Note how we aligned the stripes to match on both sides. Press fabrics back from the zipper and topstitch 1/4" from each zipper edge, making sure quilted top and lining are laying flat. 

Step 8: Fold the pouch so the quilted pieces are right sides together on one size of the zipper and the lining pieces are right sides together on the other side. Pin layers together. Stitch around the outside edge, leaving an opening along lining edge for turning. 
Step 9: Clip corners, turn right side out, stitch the opening in the lining closed. Stuff the lining inside the pouch. 

Make the Checkerboard Pouch: 
Step 1: Pair each 2-1/2" x 8" polka dot strip with a solid strip. 

Step 2: Sew the polka dot strip and solid strip together in pairs to make a strip set. 

Step 3: Cut each strip set into (3) 2-1/2" segments. 

Step 4: Lay out the segments into a pattern you like (or see ours below). Sew the segments into columns as shown. 

Step 5: Join the columns to complete the patchwork piece. 

Step 6: Fuse the fusible batting piece to the back side and quilt as desired. We quilted 1/4" on each side of the seams using black thread. 

Step 7: Lay the zipper wrong side down on the patchwork piece. Lay the 8-1/2" x 12-1/2" white dots on black lining piece on top, right side down. Stitch with the zipper foot. Press fabric away from zipper and topstitch 1/4" from zipper edge. 

Step 8: Fold the patchwork piece around, creating a tube, and pin the other side of the zipper (right side of zipper facing right side of patchwork) to the opposite short edge. Do the same with the backing fabric. 

Step 9: Stitch to secure the second edge of the zipper. Fold fabric back and topstitch 1/4" from zipper edge. Because it's a tube, this will require some manipulation, but it's do-able. 
Step 10: Arrange the tube as shown below, so the patchwork side is facing itself (inside the lining) and the zipper is centered on the top. Stitch along the zipper near the fabric edge and trim fabric. 

Step 11: Stitch along the bag to secure the edge. Repeat on opposite end. Clip corners. Zigzag stitch to create a finished look on the raw edges on both ends. Turn right side out. 

Zippered pouches are so much fun to make and use! We bet you won't make just one!
For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Virginia Robertson's Thoroughly Modern collection, leave a comment below telling us what you do (or would) use a zippered pouch to hold. Giveaway is open through Sunday, August 27th at 11:59 PM CDT. 

Follow along with our Summer of Sewing Series! 
Click here to see all the tutorials.

Fleur de Bleu winner:

Kira