Wristlet Zipper Pouch Tutorial

How to sew a wristlet zipper pouch. TUTORIAL: Zippered Wristlet / Pouch Made Easy.

Materials:
   2 complimentary fabrics – at least 1/4 yard of each
   1/4 yard of interfacing
   1 zipper (7” works)
   1 button

Directions:

Seam allowance: .5”

Cut the body piece out of both fabrics (outside fabric is visible when the wristlet is closed, inside fabric is like the lining) and the interfacing.

Dimensions:

(I used templates because I am making alot of these. They are not necessary.)
Cut one 7.5” x 8” rectangle from outside fabric (pocket lining).
Cut one 3” x at least 13 “ strip from inside fabric (wrist strap)
(I cut two 3” x 7.5” strips because I already had the 7.5” measurement from the body piece and this allowed me to lay it all out on 1/4 yard of fabric.
Cut one 1” x 3.5” strip from inside fabric (button loop).

Fuse interfacing to wrong side of outside fabric.
Press strips in half lengthwise, then press edges to center fold, then fold in half along center fold, for both wrist strap and button loop.  (If you are using two 3” x 7.5” strips for the wrist strap first sew the strips together, end to end, then press open seam.)

Sew pressed strips.
For the wrist strap I like to sew along each edge, starting with the open edge.
For the button loop I like to just sew straight down the middle.

But you can secure the straps however you like.

Zipper:
Lay the outside fabric face up on your sewing surface. The lay the zipper face down along the 7.5” straight edge. (I like to put the zipper about 1/8” from the edge of the fabric).

The place the 7.5” x 8” rectangle wrong side up on top of the zipper and pin all three together.

If you don’t have a zipper foot, like me, just set the needle all the way to the left and sewed with the zipper teeth along the outside edge of the foot. (It helps to leave the zipper open to start, then when you get close to the zipper pull, stop sewing and zip it up before continuing. Sew from the open side to the closed side).
Trim interfacing close to the seam and press away from the zipper.

Lay the inside fabric on your surface right side up. Place the zipper, outside fabric attached, on top with the 7.5” x 8” rectangle up.

Fold 7.5” x 8” rectangle up to the zipper and pin right side down to zipper and inside fabric.

Sew as above.
Press away from zipper.

Button:
Stitch button onto outside fabric (and interfacing) centered, 2.5” down from the zipper.

Line up the right sides of the inside and outside pieces of the body pieces and make sure that the pocket lining is folded in half and the zipper edges are lined up.
On one side insert, between the right sides of the body pieces, the wrist strap loop (folded double the strap should be at least 5.5 inches in from the edges of the body pieces).
At the narrow end insert, between the right sides, the looped button loop strap. (Doubled it should be around 2.5” in from the edges of the body pieces).
Pin right sides together. 

Sew around the edges leaving an opening (around 2 inches long) in the lining of the zipper pocket. (I like to mark my openings with double pins so I don’t forget about them and sew them shut).
IMPORTANT: make sure the zipper is at least half open, or you will not be able to turn right side out.
Trim interfacing and zipper to seam.
Trim straps to seam allowance.
Trim corners.

Turn right side out through the opening in the pocket lining.
Sew closed the opening in the lining.
Press edges.

Fold up zipper end 4” and finish stitch around the edges creating a second non-zipper pocket beside the zipper pocket.

 Congratulations, you’re finished with my convoluted instructions.