[This tutorial is written by me, Julia Wachs. I do not use AI to generate text.]
This tutorial is for a simple quilted pouch for any item you want enclosed in your purse/backpack such as eyeglasses, a fan, or lip gloss. I decided to make this tutorial because I needed a new soft case for my fan that lives in my bag during summer in Madrid. Those metro stops can be sweltering! The bag that came with the fan was way too tight and the fibers would get tangled and stuck on the carved decorations on the top of the fan. Very frustrating. The pouch I designed is still snug but loose enough that my fan can easily slip out when I need it. It's a super simple and quick make!
Supplies Needed
- Scrap fabric, about 1/8 or less depending on your item
- Scrap batting
- Sewing machine
- Rotary cutter
- Quilt ruler
- Matching thread
1. Place your item on the fabric with the fabric folded in half. This is not an exact science because it depends on the thickness of your item, but I found that the material size I need is approximately 1 - 3" longer and 2.5 - 3.5" wider (when folded). Use this size to estimate the amount of fabric you need. For my pouch, I started with a fan with dimensions around 9.25" L x 2" W x 1.25" H. I then estimated my panel size to be 12.25" L x 7.25" W.
2. Use any design or pattern you'd like for the outside cover. I'm simply using some leftover printed fabric that I really love. The inside panel can just be a scrap because it will not be seen that much.
3. Cut the fabric and batting panels slightly larger than the number you calculated in step 1. This is to account for shrinkage from quilting
4. Place the outside panel and the batting together. The backing is not used yet. The outside panel's right side should be facing out.
5. Quilt the outside panel to the batting. Trim to your desired size from step 1 if you slightly oversized it.
6. Place the inside panel right sides together with the quilted panel. Sew a 1/4" seam on the end that will be the opening of the pouch. I'm making the top my opening.
7. Press the seam so that it's pointed outward.
8. Fold the assembly, right sides together. Backstitching at the start and end of the seam, sew the two sides with raw edges together with a 1/4" seam. Sew slowly to prevent shifting of the layers. Optional: Serge the seam or finish with a French seam if desired. I decided to keep mine as-is because it's primarily meant to be a functional device.
9. Press the whole unit then trim the corners. Turn the pouch inside out.
10. Give it a final press! It is optional to add a closing mechanism such as a button or snap to the open end.
Please share with a friend if you found this tutorial quick and useful. I also decided to make a soft case for my sunglasses and it only took me about 15 minutes!
