Today, I am sharing the instructions for how to make what I am lovingly referring to as an ‘ouch pouch’– but once you understand the basic method, you can easily adapt these instructions to make any size pouch you require.

I like to press the seam allowance under to give me a nice easy press line to use as a guide when hand stitching. You can use either a ladder stitch or slip stitch if you prefer. Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew together the red and white units to create the red cross. Then sew the side panels, followed by the top and bottom units as shown below. Alternatively you can stitch the sides starting at the bulky centre around the zipper and only stitch down the side, then flip the piece so you can stitch the second side also starting from the bulky centre. Then stitch along the bottom separately. You would then do the same thing for the lining side.MY POUCHES ARE PATENT APPROVED and protected by United States Patent/Trademark Office ~ All Rights Reserved ~ Reproduction of any kind is an infringement. Australia, Canada,Cyprus, Iceland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Oman, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine,USA Press pieces away from the zipper. Be careful not to place heat directly on the zipper teeth as this may cause the teeth to warp ever so slightly, making the zip difficult to slide.

To achieve this I use my cutting board as a dimension guide, and place the sewn tab end at 0″ and the second tab at the required 8-3/4″ mark. Then, mark the zipper at the point it needs to be trimmed so it will sit within the zipper tab sandwich, with a tiny bit of wiggle room. (Sorry, I didn’t photograph this step!) I have had the crafting bug for the last 25 years, first creating whimsical seasonal pillows for local craft shows (and also selling the patterns) in my spare time, after work. (Shop formerly called PillowSewCute)Place the front pouch exterior piece right side up. Centre the zipper, teeth side down with zipper pull to the left, aligning the top edges. Baste zipper in place.

In this instance I have chosen to use a lightweight cotton batting (simply because it was sitting as a leftover piece on my cutting table). Most commonly I use leftover pieces of my wool/poly blend batting and I think the extra loft and resilience gives a more structured feel to a pouch, and allows it to stand on its own a little better. Using the zipper foot on your sewing machine, topstitch a straight line across the zipper end tab. I will often create two parallel lines approximately 1/8″ apart, or stitch straight over my first line of topstitching for some added strength at this point. Academy Club Account Holders: It should be noted that Costume Gallery and Art Stone costumes are not eligible for return for Academy Club customers, except where faulty. We will try to accommodate changes of sizes where possible, but this cannot be guaranteed and must be authorised by our Academy Club team prior to return.Note: As you can see in the image below, I don’t move my needle closer to the zipper teeth, which is an option. I like to see the accent colour of the zipper tape and find not having to move my needle more helpful when switching between feet. However, all sewing machines differ in the type of zipper foot they have and the finish they provide, so don’t hesitate to experiment with this step to see what works best for you.

I made a couple of these pouches last Christmas after being inspired by a similar one Susan @thefeltedpear shared on IG. I played around with the proportions until I was happy with the size and shape, and scribbled down all my notes in my pattern drafting notebook. This year, when I decided to make a couple for my nieces I went straight to my notes and got to work – everything is so much easier when the hard work has already been done for you, so I thought I would share my process here, on the blog, so you can make some pouches in time for the holidays too :). As a quilter, there are endless pieces of scrap fabric on my cutting table at any one time. These little pieces are often perfect for making a pouch or two! The Ouch Pouches are the brain child of Sammy at Happy Hearts First Aid. She’s a Mummy, Nurse and First Aid trainer on a mission to make first aid cool! Each pouch is handmade with oil cloth and features a fab contrast zip and matching tassel as well as the goodies inside. Navy Exterior Fabric – (1) 2″ x 3-1/2″ unit, (1) 5″ x 3-1/2″ unit, (1) 9-1/2″ x 2″ unit, (1) 9-1/2″ x 3″ unit, (1) 9-1/2″ x 7-1/2″ unit. It makes sense to always use a Faraday bag when the car is on your driveway or in a garage, but also when you’re away from home, because thieves often operate in car parks.Place the lining piece wrong side up on top of the piece just sewn. Pin, glue or use clips to secure the lining in place.