Trifold Zipper Pouch with PeelnStick Basting Tape

I love pouches especially when they are functional too. This Trifold Pouch has three pockets that can hold multiple items! You can store makeup, stationary items, or even use it as a sewing kit. When folded, elastic and the button holds it all together. The zipper closes across the entire top at once (I’ll show you how to do this in the steps below!)

For this project, I used the magical PeelnStick Basting Tape to hold the zipper in place, so no use of pins or clips. It creates a clean and easy zipper application.

Let’s make the pouch!

You will need the following materials:

• 20” nylon zipper
• Two fat quarters (different patterns for outer and lining)
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece (outer)
• HeatnBond Versacraft Fusible Interfacing (lining)
• PeelnStick Basting Tape
• Button
• Elastic Cording
• Fabric Tab (to cover the elastic seam)
• Water-Soluble Pen
• Iron
• Cutting Mat
• Ruler
• Sewing Machine
• Stiletto or chopstick

Cut the Following:

• Two 19 ½” x 5 ½” cotton rectangles (for outer)
• Two 19 ½” x 5 ½” HeatnBond Fusible Fleece rectangles (for outer)
• Two 19 ½” x 5 ½” cotton rectangles (for lining)
• Two 19 ½” x 5 ½” HeatnBond Versacraft Fusible Interfacing (for lining)
• One 3 ½” elastic cording piece

TIPS:

• Read and follow the instructions carefully for applying the PeelnStick Basting Tape, HeatnBond Versacraft Interfacing, and HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• Use a ¼” seam allowance for all seams
• Use a ⅛” seam allowance for basting

Apply All Interfacings

1. Apply a 19 ½” HeatnBond fusible fleece rectangle to the back of a 19 ½” x 5 ½” outer rectangle per the instructions on the packaging. Repeat for the second outer piece.

2. Apply a 19 ½” HeatnBond Versacraft interfacing rectangle to the back of a 19 ½” x 5 ½” lining rectangle per the instructions on the back of the packaging. Repeat for the second lining piece. Set the lining pieces aside and proceed with prepping the outer pouch piece.

Attach the Elastic

1. Attach the elastic to the front outer rectangle. Starting from the left side, locate the middle and measure 6 ½” and mark a dot with a water-soluble pen.

2. Take the 3 ½” elastic cording piece and fold in half. Place the folded cording onto the marked dot, with the raw edges facing towards the middle, leaving a ½” tail. Secure in place using a zig-zag stitch, going back and forth twice. Trim the tail by ¼”.

3. Take the fabric tab and place it over the raw edged area of the cording (the looped end should be sticking out here).  Take two small pieces of the binding tape and apply to the back of the tab piece. Follow the instructions for application and sew the tab in place.

Attach the Zipper

1. Attach the zipper to the outer front piece. Take the PeelnStick Basting Tape and run it along the entire top edge of the outer front piece. Cut once you get to the end. Follow the instructions on the packaging for application.

2. Take the zipper and center it onto the Basting Tape strip, with the right side facing down (wrong side facing out). Press the zipper into place with your finger.

3. Take the PeelnStick Basting Tape again and run it along the entire top edge of the zipper. Follow the instructions on placement.

4. Take a lining piece and align it to the Basting Tape area with the right side facing down (wrong side facing out), pressing in place with your finger. Sew in place using a ¼” seam allowance. Press the seam open and flip the lining piece to the other side. Edgestitch a seam along the top edge of the outer pouch piece (right below the zipper).

5. With the front outer piece facing out, align another PeelnStick Basting Tape piece along the entire top edge of the zipper. Follow the instructions for application.

6. Align the second outer body piece to the top edge of the zipper, pressing in place with your finger (the right sides of both pieces should be facing each other).

7. Flip the piece over so that the lining is facing up. Take another PeelnStick Basting Tape piece and align along the entire top edge of the zipper, cutting the piece at the end. Follow the instructions for application.

8. Place the second lining piece to the top edge of the zipper, pressing in place with your finger (the right sides of both lining pieces should be facing each other, wrong sides facing out). Sew using a ¼” seam allowance on the top edge.

9. Press the seam open, and flip the piece to the other side and press. Edgestitch a seam along the top edge of the outer pouch piece (right below the zipper).

Assemble the Pouch

1. Align the two pouch outside pieces with right sides together. Repeat for the lining pieces. Move the zipper towards the center. Clip the entire piece in place.

2. Mark a 3” opening on the bottom edge of the lining (this is where you turn the pouch right side out). Using a ¼” seam allowance, sew together along the sides, top, and bottom. When sewing around the 3” opening, make sure to backstitch at both the beginning and the end.

3. Turn the pouch right side out through the opening from the lining. Using a stiletto or chopstick, pop out the corners and smooth out the sides and bottom. Pop out the zippered corners. Press the outer body.

Pouch Completion

1. To make the pockets, starting from the left bottom edge, measure 6 ¼” from the left, and mark with a water-soluble pen. From there, measure again by 6 ¼” and mark again. Measure and mark a line upwards from each marked point stopping ¼” from the top (below the zipper, do not sew past the zipper or you won’t be able to close the zipper!). Sew along each mark.

2. To add the button, starting on the right side with the outer pouch facing out, find the center on the right side. Measure ½” from the center point and mark with a water-soluble pen. Place the button on the mark and sew in place. Fold the pouch into thirds and place the elastic around the button. You are now done!

by Karen Pratt