Quilted Zipper Pouch with Side Strap Sewing Tutorial
Sew a quilted zipper pouch with flat bottom and side strap using this easy sewing tutorial.
The quilted zipper pouch sewing pattern features a flat bottom, side strap, and zipper closure. This quilted zipper pouch is perfect for makeup, sewing notions, crochet hooks and supplies, lotions, travel toiletry bag, and so much more! I use this bag as a toiletry zipper pouch for travel size lotions and hair care products. If you’re looking to make a larger size travel bag, try my zipper makeup bag with straps sewing pattern.
The finished quilted zipper pouch is approximately 9″W (at the widest part) x 6.5″H x 3″D.
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***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 17 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Quilted zipper pouch supplies needed:
- Two outer fabric pieces 10.5″W x 8.5″H – my favorite fabric shop
- Two lining fabric pieces 10.5″W x 8.5″H
- One outer fabric piece 4″W x 8″H
- Cutting mat
- Rotary cutter
- Clear ruler
- Cotton batting
- Fusible interfacing – Pellon P44F Fusible Interfacing
- 9-inch zipper – my go to zipper shop
- Marking pencil
- Sewing scissors
- Sewing machine
Measure and cut your fabric
Using your cutting mat, clear ruler, and rotary cutter, cut two outer fabric pieces and two lining fabric pieces each measuring 10.5″W x 8.5″H.
Cut one outer fabric piece measuring 4″W x 8″H for the side strap.
Add the batting and quilt the fabric
Now you’re going to add the batting to the two outer bag fabric pieces. I’m using Warm and White cotton batting for this zipper pouch sewing pattern.
Cut two pieces of cotton batting measuring 10.5″W x 8.5″H.
Place the batting pieces to the wrong side of each outer fabric piece. Pin to hold in place.
Quilt the batting to the fabric in any design you like. I’m using the same quilting design as I did for my large quilted tote bag. I started in the middle and sewed random curved lines from top to bottom.
Attach the fusible interfacing
I’m using Pellon P44F Fusible Interfacing for this zipper pouch sewing pattern but any lightweight fusible interfacing will work.
You are going to attach the fusible interfacing to both lining fabric pieces and to the side strap fabric piece.
Place the interfacing on the wrong side of the fabric pieces and attach following the package instructions.
Make the zipper pouch side strap
The finished strap will be 1-inch wide.
RULE OF THUMB: Decide how wide you would like your finished strap to be, then multiply by 4 and that will be how wide you will need to cut your fabric. For this zipper bag, 1-inch wide means I need to cut the fabric 4 inches wide before folding.
Once you have the fusible interfacing attached to your strap, lay your strap right side down on your ironing board.
Fold the strap in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press the fold.
Check out these instructions to make your own mini ironing board.
Open back up and fold the outside edge to the center and press.
Turn the strap around and fold the other outside edge to the center and press.
Fold in half again and press.
Sew the strap lengthwise along the folded edges using about 1/4″ seam allowance.
The above picture shows the finished side strap.
The strap will be added after the zipper is attached.
Add the zipper
I’m using a 9-inch zipper for this DIY zipper bag. The zipper is measured from the top metal stop to the bottom metal stop.
Rule of thumb: the width of your fabric should be 1.5 inches wider than the length of your zipper.
If you have a zipper that is too long, follow these instructions to shorten your zipper.
Place your zipper face down on one of the outer fabric pieces, right side up. Pin to hold in place.
Then place one of the lining fabric pieces on top of the zipper. Pin to hold in place. The zipper should be sandwiched in between the outer fabric piece and lining fabric piece, right sides together.
Sew the zipper
Before sewing the zipper, open the zipper about 1-inch – this will help with a smooth line of sewing. Be sure your upper thread matches the outer fabric and the bobbin thread matches the lining fabric.
Use your zipper foot for sewing the zipper. Begin sewing the zipper, then when you get to the place almost to the zipper pull, with the needle down, lift the zipper foot and move the zipper pull back to the top. Then lower the foot and continue sewing.
Top stitch along the zipper – be sure the corners and edges are lined up. This gives the zipper bag a finished look and keeps the fabric from getting caught in the zipper.
The above pictures show what the first side of the sewn zipper looks like.
Repeat with the other fabric pieces
Now you’re going to repeat the same process to sew the other side of the zipper.
Place the zipper on top of the other lining fabric piece – lining fabrics right sides together. Pin to hold in place.
Place the other outer fabric piece on top of the zipper – outer fabric pieces right sides together.
Sew the zipper – repeating the same process of opening and closing the zipper to sew a smooth line.
Top stitch alongside the zipper.
The above pictures show what your quilted zipper pouch should look like at this point.
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 17 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
Baste the side strap
Now you are going to baste the side strap to the front outer fabric piece.
Place the strap on top of the front outer fabric piece, about 1-inch from the zipper and about 2-inches from the bottom, with the strap facing in.
Baste the strap to the front of the zipper pouch. Be sure you are only basting to the front outer piece of the quilted pouch and not the lining fabric piece.
Sew it all together
Use a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Open the zipper to about halfway. Opening the zipper helps with turning the pouch right side out.
Fold the zipper pouch so the outer fabric pieces are right sides together and the lining pieces are right sides together.
Pinch the zipper so the teeth are facing towards the lining of the pouch and pin in place.
Sew around the perimeter of the zipper pouch using a 3/8” seam allowance, going over the strap a couple times for extra durability. Leave an opening at the bottom of the lining fabric for turning.
Measure and cut the bottom squares
You are going to cut squares from each corner to square the bottom of the quilted zipper bag. The size of the square depends on how wide you want the bottom of the pouch to be.
RULE OF THUMB: The bottom width of the bag is going to be two times the width of the squares you cut. For this zipper bag, I am going to cut 1.5-inch squares which makes the bottom width of the pouch 3 inches. If you want the bottom to be 4-inches, you’ll need to cut 2-inch squares.
Use your clear ruler and marking pencil to make a 1.5-inch square at each corner.
Cut out the squares along the marked lines using your sewing scissors.
Square the bottom
Take one of the corners and pinch together, lining up the seams. Pin in place.
Sew along the edge using a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Repeat with the other three corners.
The above picture shows what your quilted pouch should look like at this point.
Turn right side out
Through the opening, reach in and open the zipper all the way and turn the bag right side out.
Fold in the opening and press.
Sew the opening closed using 1/8″-1/4″ seam allowance.
Push the lining fabric down inside the pouch. Press for a nice finished look.
Pin for later!
***You can find the AD-FREE, printable PDF version of this sewing tutorial available for purchase in my Etsy shop HERE. Includes 17 pages of step-by-step instructions with pictures. Print a copy to keep next to your sewing machine for easy reference.***
You are finished!
I hope you enjoyed this sewing tutorial on how to make a quilted zipper pouch with side strap. Sew several pouches and give as gifts with goodies inside! Happy sewing!
