Summer of Sewing: Our Happy Pouch Tutorial!

It's summer and we're ready to sew! 

We'll be featuring regular tutorials as part of our Summer of Sewing series, all using our newest fabric lines that you can find at your local quilt shop! Our tutorials will include a chance to win a bundle of the fabric line being used, so make sure to enter each time! 

We're starting off the Summer of Sewing series with this cute little pouch. It's simple to construct, but with fabric this fun, who needs a lot of complex piecing?! The pouch measures 9" wide x 8" tall.

We're calling this our "If you're HAPPY and you know it" Pouch because it's made with our bright and whimsical Happy collection. 

Let's get started!

You'll Need:

1 fat quarter each large floral print, swirl stripe, and cream medallion print

8" long coordinating zipper

Fusible batting

Cutting:

From the large floral print:

One 10" x 9" piece (for pouch back)

One 10" x 6" piece (for pouch front)

From the swirl stripe:

One 10" x 3" piece (for pouch front)

From the cream medallion print:

One 10" x 9" piece (for pouch back)

One 10" x 6" piece (for pouch front)

One 10" x 3" piece (for pouch front)

From the fusible batting:

One 10" x 9" piece

One 10" x 6" piece

One 10" x 3" piece

Making the Pouch:

1. Following manufacturer's directions, adhere each fusible web piece to the wrong side of the same sized large floral and swirl stripe pieces. 

2. You'll be sewing the zipper between two swirl stripe piece and the 10" x 6" large floral piece, sw shown below. You'll also be attaching the lining piece to each section at the same time. 

3. Lay the zipper face down on the swirl stripe piece and pin in place. 

4. Pin the 10" x 3" lining piece on top, right sides down, so the zipper is sandwiched between. Using your zipper foot, sew along the edge of the zipper. Fold fabric back so right sides are showing.
5. Repeat using the 10" x 6" large floral piece and 10" x 6" lining piece and sandwiching the other side of the zipper in between. At this point, your pouch front should look like this from the front: 

 And this from the back: 

6. Topstitch about 1/4" from the zipper edge using a coordinating thread.

7. Pin the 10" x 9" lining piece wrong side facing to the fusible fleece side of the pouch back. Layer the pouch front and back right sides together and pin around all edges. You will need to trim the pouch front slightly (approximately 1/2") so it's the same height as the pouch back. Make sure the zipper is partly open so you can turn the pouch right side out after sewing!

8. Sew around all four sides of the pouch using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

9. If you like, use a spool or other small round object to trace rounded corners. (We did this on all four corners!). Starting and ending on your existing stitching line, restitch the corner areas on these drawn lines. Trim excess corner fabric. Note: You can do this before sewing around the pouch in step 8, but adding the rounded corners afterward ensures your bag and corners are more uniform. 

10. Set your machine to a short and dense zigzag stitch and sew around pouch edges (while it's still inside out) to secure raw edges. 

11. Turn your pouch right side out, poke out the rounded corners, and you're done! 

Love the medallion print inside!

And the back--simple, but such fun flowers!

Happy summer! 

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Happy collection, make sure you follow us on the blog (options are in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you do, as well as telling us your favorite print from the Happy fabrics. Giveaway is open through Friday, June 10 at 11:59 pm CST. We'll randomly draw a winner and announce it on the blog next week. Make sure we have a way to get in touch with you if you are selected as the winner!