How to Make a Colorful Pouch
Make a colorful drawstring pouch to use for storing jewelry, gift giving or to hold coins and bills in your purse. You can make your pouch with an array of colorful fabrics in a variety of prints and patterns. The pouch has clean, finished seams inside and out. This little bag is not difficult to make. Even novice sewers will find it quick to accomplish. By making the pouch yourself, you can choose your own colorful and vibrant fabrics to coordinate with an outfit for a pocketbook you already own.
Things You'll Need
- Coordinating fabrics
- Fabric scissors
- Straight pins
- Needle and thread or sewing machine
- Iron
- Safety pin
- Satin ribbon
Instructions
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1
Purchase two different coordinating fabrics, one for the outside and one for the lining. For each piece of fabric, purchase an 11-by-8-inch piece of fabric to make a 5-inch-wide by 7-inch-long pouch. You can use any fabric you like to make the pouch. Use soft satins and cottons to line the pouch if you are using it to store delicate items such as jewelry.
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2
Cut two fabric pieces to the 11-by-8-inch measurement. Cut one for the outer layer and one for the lining.
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3
Place the two fabrics, right sides together, and pin along one long edge using straight pins. Stitch along this edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, removing the pins as you sew.
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4
Unfold the stitched pieces flat with the right side facing up, and then fold them the opposite way, so the seam meets in the middle. You will now have one color on top and one on the bottom with right sides together.
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5
Place pins down the long, open side and across the bottom, and stitch the side and bottom seams using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
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6
Turn the pouch so the right sides are out, and press flat with an iron on a low to medium setting, based on the type of fabric you are using.
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7
Turn the entire open edge (which is the lining material) 1/4 inch to the inside of the bag. Place pins to attach the pieces together, and stitch the opening closed. This will become the inside, bottom seam of the lining.
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8
Push the lining fabric into the bag, tucking the corners.
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9
Create a casing for the drawstring. Measure about 1/2 inch down from the top edge and create a row of stitches. Then measure about 1/4 inch down from the first stitch and create another row of stitches. This will create a 1/4-inch casing for a drawstring, wide enough to accommodate a satin ribbon. If you use a different drawstring that is wider, make the casing wider accordingly. Leave about 1/2 inch unstitched on the side of the pouch, on both rows of stitching, to leave an opening for the cording to pull through.
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10
Attach your drawstring to a safety pin, and push the pin through the opening in the casing. Thread all the way through and out the other end. Pull the drawstrings so they are the same length, and tie a double knot on the end of each ribbon to prevent them from pulling back through the casing.
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Tips & Warnings
For embellishment, add coordinating beads to the ends of the drawstring and then add a double knot.
Make smaller or larger coordinating bags by adjusting the size of the fabric pieces. Always remember to add 1 inch to your desired bag size to account for seam allowances.
Use caution when using a sewing machine.
