Snap Pouch Tutorial

Sewing one of these snap pouches is super easy.

Materials:

*Fabric (For these two, I used knit fabric from an old t-shirt and some upholstery scraps.)

*One piece of 8 1/2 by 11 in. paper

*Sewing machine

*Iron

*Straight and zig zag scissors

*Sew on snap

*Coordinating thread

*Needle for a little hand sewing

*Pins

*Buttons (optional)

*Rotary cutter and cutting mat (optional)

*Seam ripper (optional)

Procedure:

1. Lay out a double layer of fabric.  This was easy for the pouch made from an old t-shirt since the front and back of the shirt already created a double layer.  Pin a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 in. paper to the fabric for your pattern.  Cut around the piece of paper with scissors or a rotary cutter.

2. This will create two rectangular pieces of fabric measuring 8 1/2 by 11 inches.  One piece will be the lining of the pouch.  You can use two different colors of fabric if you want your lining to be a different color.  I just kept both pieces the same.

3. With right sides facing each other, stitch the two pieces together by sewing along both short ends of the fabric (the 8 1/2 in. sides).  Don't sew the other sides yet.

4. Cut along the two seams with zig zag scissors to neaten them up and prevent fraying.  Tip: If you are using knit fabric, it most likely will not fray, but this will still neaten up the seams.

5. Turn the fabric with the right sides facing out.  Press with an iron.  Fold the fabric lengthwise (like a hot dog) and mark the middle on both sides with a pin.  Place the pin about 1/2 inch from the nicely pressed seam.  (My pins are just marking the middle.  They are not a 1/2 inch down yet.  I measured and moved them after this pic.)  This will help you mark where to sew in the snaps.

6. Sew the snaps onto the side that you want to be the inside of your pouch.  For this pouch, the snaps were sewn onto the side facing up--that will end up being the lining of the pouch.  The side facing down that you do not see will be the outside of the pouch.  I only sewed the snaps into the lining, so that the hand stitches holding the snaps on wouldn't show on the outside of the pouch.  That's why you didn't just sew the whole thing together yet.

7. Fold the fabric piece in half with one snap facing you and the raw ends matching up.  (Let's call it a hamburger fold with snaps facing out.  It's a hamburger fold as opposed to a hot dog fold.  Yes, I'm a teacher.)

  8. Stitch the raw ends together and cut along the seams with your zig zag scissors like you did in step 4.

9. Turn the pouch right side out.

  10. Here's the fun part.  Add ruffles, yo yo flowers, buttons, or any other embellishments.  Be creative and have fun!

  Ruffle Tip: If you decide to add a ruffle or applique, it may be easier to sew these on before you do step 3.  I actually added my ruffle right before step 8, but you have to be careful not sew through both layers of the pouch when doing it this way.  

To make a ruffle... 

Cut a strip of fabric in which the width is about two inches and the length is 3-5 inches longer than the length of the pouch.  The longer the strip...the more it will have to be gathered, thus the more ruffled it will be.  Sew down the middle of the strip with a basting stitch leaving the ends of the thread long.  Pull on the ends of the thread to gather the fabric.  Continue gathering the strip until it is the same length as the pouch.  Pin it in place and sew it on by stitching over the basting stitch.  By sewing it on before step 8, you are able to sew the ends of the ruffle into the seams created in that step.  When the ruffle is sewn in place, you can carefully use a seam ripper to pull out the basting stitch, but that isn't necessary.

Once you are done with your embellishments, you will have a cute snap pouch that can hold almost anything.  I hope this makes sense.  If you have any questions, please ask.

This would make a cute pencil pouch for going back to school, don't you think?!

 Linked to:

Someday Crafts