Stitching, Sewing, Playing, Growing: Zippered Pouches!!

Today, it snowed.

{SOB!}

I know, I know--- it IS still March, and March can throw curve balls like that.... But seriously, last week we had 70+ degree weather. The daffodils are out. The trees are flowering. The birds are back and chirping every morning. SPRING CAME. Ya know??

So to get SNOW, and not a little bit (like 4 inches so far!).... it hurt my CHI. A lot.

*

But it DID remind me that the ONE good thing I love about winter is the time it affords me to get crafty again. And I realized that I never got around to blogging my January crafty blitz. And since today felt like January again, it's a perfect time to recap the stitching, sewing and playing I've been doing all winter (and into this first week of spring.) For this post, I'll just focus on one thing I tried several versions of-- The Zippered Pouch:

 

So, back in January I was on a spending freeze... so it became a fun month to try and see how I could use my fabric stash and already-purchased supplies. I ended up Googling for "scrap fabric projects" and found lots of ways to get crafty without going out to buy new things. One thing I decided to master was ZIPPERS. Zippered pouches are relatively easy (not counting the zipper, ha!) and are mostly small, so scrap fabric is PERFECT for these things. Also, I LOVE lining pouches with surprise happy fabric, so it felt kinda indulgent to use another good scrap of fabric for the insides:

The above pouch design was found through Google (my favorite!) and has a GREAT photo-tutorial on Flickr, found here:

Zipper Pouch Bag Tutorial

I LOVE this one. Easy, clean, and PRETTTTY!

*

But I cheated just now... I showed you the SECOND thing I made with a zipper. Let me show you the not-so-amazing FIRST thing I tried with a zipper:

Now, the photo doesn't look hideous, but MAN.... This was a case of Me vs. the Project, and the project WON. For sure. I have so many flaws tucked away in this pouch. Granted, it was tricky just being a round pouch... But the zipper part really kicked my butt. Ah well. Chalk it up to experience.

And I won't gift this to anyone so they can see the flaws...I'll just use it to hold my embroidery floss!

(This tutorial/pattern, by they way, was in a freebie handout from the fabric store... It gave written instructions, but no visuals. I think I need visuals!!)

*

Ah, but enough about zipper failures. Let's move onto another style of zippered pouch. This one was meant to try to duplicate the amazing wristlet my friend Sarah made me in our Christmas swap last year.

(this one is Sarah's.)

I am still using that wristlet of hers as my main wallet, and I LOVE it. The size is perfect, the strap is the perfect width and length, it's lined and sturdy.... I seriously LOVE it. So I decided to try to make a fresh one for 2011 by myself, by Googling a random wristlet pattern.

And while I LIKE my finished, product, I don't LOVE it:

I think the appliqued "e" looks sloppy....The overall size of the whole thing is TOO big, yet the strap is too short.... It's just not as intuitive as Sarah's. (So Sarah, if you're reading this, I need YOUR pattern! My Google find wasn't quite it.... Not there yet!)

BUT. The one I made isn't AWFUL. And the tutorial was SUPER good-- nice photos, clean instructions.... So if you wanna give it a go, check out the link here:

Splityarn: Sew A Zippered Wristlet

*

Okay. Last pouch, I promise!  This one is a super cute Box Pouch:

Raise your hand if you're in love with that polka dot lining??! Me!! Me!!!!!

This one was AMAZINGLY simple, and really looks cute and tricky when you're done. By the time I got to this design, I was feeling pretty great about zippers, and just ROCKED this tutorial:

Make It Modern: Perfect Box Pouch Tutorial

(Such a well-done tutorial! I LOVE the fabric she chose.)

*

And that has been the extent of my zipper and pouch adventures... All of them used scraps of fabric I already had. Many used interfacing. And I do have to confess: After making two pouches and deciding I could handle the zipper thing, I *shh, don't tell Joe* broke the spending freeze for 32 seconds and bought a stash of cheap zippers on Etsy. I HAD to! And honestly, if YOU need zippers, this Etsy shop is THE place to go. I love all the colors, and the price is right!!

K & C Supplies: Wholesale Zippers

*

Anyhoo. I have a few other fun projects I did while on the spending freeze/scrap fabric using quest.... I'll post them in the next few days. But for now, let's all take a moment to glorify the cuteness of zippered pouches, and consider a few of the following links for future projects to try out. I know I'll be giving a few more of these a shot! 

More Zippered Pouches to Try:

Make It Perfect: Zippered Pouch Tutorial (this gal did some CUTE patchwork. *swoon!*)

PurlBee: Heart Shaped Zippered Pouches (cute!!)

Sublime Stitching: Zippered Pouch With Reverse Applique (this one uses some embroidery and a fun applique technique)

The Pleated Poppy (this isn't a tutorial, but GENIUS to add a ruffle! I could do that!! Or just buy one of these cute ones. :))

LiaSpace.com: Scrappy Scaly Zippered Pouch (Holy COW this one is intense. I might never have the patience to make one of these, but isn't it COOL?)

Made: Candy Bags (oh, these have some CLEVER embellishments! Yowza! Gonna borrow that vinyl fish idea for sure!)

*

Wow. If it wasn't late and I didn't have other work to do, I think I'd be back at my sewing machine right now.... Probably doing a ruffle or some vinyl add-ons. What fun Someday Projects to put on my (massive) list! 

Did I mention I LOVE Google?

Ack!

Okay.... Off I go. I need to edit. It IS my real job, after all--- the photography thing. :)