BOXED! Zipper Pouch Pattern – Free Pattern in 2 Sizes

Make a beautiful diy zipper pouch with this free zipper pouch pattern. It comes in two sizes, and it’s unique with a special zipper finishing + boxing technique.

Scroll further down for the link to your free BOXED! zippered pouch pattern.

Features

Sew up this zipper boxed bag pattern for every occasion and every recipient! Fully lined. No exposed edges, no binding. I love this boxy bag design, and so will you when you see how practical it is. Stuff this diy zipper pouch with a gift card, a bunch of chocolate, or even make another gift to put it in. The pouch can double as diy gift wrapping! Scroll further down to get the free template from my shop.

Video

First take a look at a few features presented in a short video:

Now imagine it as a pencil case, a small makeup bag, make an essential first-aid kit set, or simply a pouch to store your craft supplies, like embroidery thread, buttons, ribbons, and the like. Scroll further down to get the template from my shop for free (no code. Just free.)

The Story Behind This Zipper Pouch Pattern

This is an intermediate-level sewing pattern. Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for years do know that I love doing beginner-friendly tutorials. My jam! But sometimes, I do want to give a little something to those of my readers who’d describe their sewing skills as advanced or intermediate. This tutorial is for you, seasoned makers, consider this skill-builder tutorial a gift from me. Have fun!

Having said that, I designed the tutorial like I always do, with TONS of photos, and every detail explained, so everybody should be able to do it, even if you’re still a little new to sewing. However, since a few steps include some extra corner manipulation (like boxing a corner from both sides at once!), maybe some will want to start with one of these:

What fabric to use

Tip: Use two fabrics for the outside to make your boxy zipper pouch twice as nice! This is a fat quarter friendly project and a scrap buster. Actually use up any scraps you might have, and make a pieced version! See step 2 below for cutting the pieces.

And THIS fabric, right?! I’ve sewn all zipper pouches in this tutorial with the Create collection designed by Kristy Lea for Riley Blake Designs, and it’s all the colors I will ever want to have! You can buy the fabric HERE. And look what I’ve sewn with this same fabric, too:

Finished Size Of the Zippered Pouch – 2 Sizes!

The finished sizes are as follows:

• small zippered pouch: 5 ½” wide , 3″ tall, 2″ deep (14 x 7.5 x 5 cm)
• large zippered pouch: 7 ½” wide , 4 ½” tall, 2″ deep (19 x 11 x 5 cm)

Supplies To Sew the Zipper Pouch:

NOTE: this zipper pouch pattern calls for a zipper with a 1 ¼” (3.2 cm) wide zipper tape, meaning a zipper #5 – NOT the standard 1″ (2.5cm) wide zipper tape you get when you purchase the #3 zippers

• less than a fat quarter (50x55cm) of fabric (I used prints from the Create! collection)
• a #5 nylon coil zipper with zipper tape width 1 ¼” (3.2 cm) – min 8″/9″ (20/23 cm) long, depending on the pouch size you’re making (zipit is a good source of quality zippers)
• Each 10” x 12” (25 x 30 cm): fusible fleece, fusible medium-weight interfacing, and lightweight interfacing
• sewing machine, needle, pins or sewing clips,
• iron, scissors, or rotary cutter plus cutting mat (I use this one by Olfa)

Shop my personal favorite sewing supplies on Amazon HERE.

Want to use Zipper #3 instead?

If you seriously don’t have any #5 zippers at hand and need to use a #3 zipper (the one with a 1″ zipper tape width), there is a workaround that will make it possible – scroll to the bottom for instructions.

How To Sew A Zipper Pouch With Boxed Corners – Tutorial

The seam allowance for this project is ⅜” inch (1cm), except for the piecing where it is ¼” (7 mm)

Here’s how to start making your own zippered pouch. There are 2 sizes. I marked them as sizes Small and Large. Select your desired size.

Step 1 – Get the FREE Pattern

Get the template from the shop here – it’s absolutely FREE! Print and start cutting and sewing right now.

I’ve created a FREE BOXED! pouch template that you can download for free. To download the FREE Boxed zipper pouch TEMPLATE, click the button below. You’ll be taken to the shop – scroll to BOXED Zipper Pouch Pattern, it’s $0!

Get the free pattern HERE. It’s $0 in the shop, no code is needed. Optional, as an alternative:

OR do you want a printable copy of the WHOLE tutorial? Scroll to the bottom of this tutorial for more details!

Step 2- OPTIONAL – Piece The Outer Of The Zipper Pouch

The photo below shows a pieced version, your pouch will look like this if you follow the piecing instructions in this Step 2. Or skip Step 2 to make your zipper pouch from one-print Outer pieces.

Measurement for the pieced version: for the large size, cut the upper piece 10″ by 4″ and the lower piece 10″ by 3″.

Sew the upper and the lower part of Outer pieces together, meaning print A + print B, matching long edges, with right sides together, using a ¼” (7mm) seam allowance. Press seams to the dark print side. Repeat with the other Outer piece.

NOTE: First piece the two together and only LATER in this tutorial you’ll add interfacing, and THEN topstitch along the seam.

Step 3 – Fuse Interfacing to Lining Before Cutting

Since your Lining has lightweight interfacing, fuse it now to the back of the fabric. (You’ll be cutting exact dimensions in the next step)

Step 4 – Cut The Pieces From Fabric And Interfacing

The free pattern file gives you both the printable template AND all the cutting dimensions to sew a zipper pouch (so you don’t necessarily need to print anything – save some ink and paper!)

• cut 2 pieces from Outer fabric in the desired size
• then cut 2 pieces from Lining fabric in the desired size (the Lining needs to have the lightweight interfacing already applied!)
• cut 2 pieces from fusible fleece (cut on seam allowance)
• cut 2 pieces from medium weight interfacing (cut on seam allowance)

NOTE: CUTTING CORNERS FOR BOTTOM And Top

If you did not print the template and just used the cutting chart, you need to cut out the corners. Below on the left is the photo for your 4 fabric pieces (lining is already interfaced!), and on the right is the photo of interfacing pieces (two layers for Outer), with corners cut out:

Step 5 – Fuse 2 Layers Of Interfacing to Outer Pieces

NOTE: In order to make the pouch stable and strong, we’ll add two layers of interfacing: midweight first, directly on the back of the fabric, and then fusible fleece onto that, to give your pouch some body. The lining will only get one layer of interfacing, I used thin woven one prior to cutting the lining piece.

Using the manufacturer’s instructions, fuse interfacing to the back of both Outer pieces. I added a medium-weight woven interfacing layer plus a fusible fleece stabilizer on top of this.

To save me from getting up to the large iron board, I’ve made myself a small tabletop ironing board – and it takes up so little room! See how to make it, it’s easy:

This is what you have now:

Extra sewing tip:

IF YOU PIECED THE OUTER pieces, now’s the time to topstitch along the seam, ⅛” (3 mm) away from the seam. It will strengthen the bond between the fabric and the fusible fleece:

Step 6 – Prepare the Zipper

Cut your zipper to 10″ (25 cm) for the large zipper pouch or 8″ (20 cm) for the small zipper pouch (minimum 9″ or 8″ inch, NOT shorter) and tack the zipper teeth on both ends to create a new (temporary) zip stopper.

Step 7 – Attach the Zipper To Fabric

Lay down one Outer piece with the right side up, then the zipper facing down. Then lay pouch lining on the zipper, matching the top edges. Sew through the three layers using a ⅜” (1 cm) seam allowance. NOTE: see the photo below for the start and stop points.

Flip the fabric to the other side of the zipper, press away from the zipper, and topstitch along the zipper at ⅛” (3 mm) away:

Now let’s attach the other side of the zipper: place the other Outer piece on your table with the right side up. Cover it with the sewn piece with Outer facing down, align with the zipper tape edge. Then place the Lining piece facing down, aligned as well. Sew through all three layers using a ⅜” seam allowance:

Flip the fabric to the other side of the zipper, press, and topstitch along the zipper at ⅛” (3 mm) away from the fabric edge. Make sure to start and stop the same way you did before. This is how the ends will look like once topstitched:

Step 8 – Sew The Sides And The Bottom Of The Zipper Pouch

A – Stitch The Outer

Make sure to OPEN the zipper.

Place the Outer pieces so they are right sides together. Use sewing clips to keep the zipper tape ends out of the way. Not touching the zipper, sew from one edge of the Outer piece, down each side, and along the bottom. Use the ⅜” (1 cm) seam allowance. Do not stitch the bottom corner openings:

B – Stitch The Lining

Same way, stitch the sides and the bottom of the two Lining pieces, making sure to leave a 4″ (10 cm) opening in the bottom seam, for turning. Keep the zipper away.

Also, I tapered the seam allowance on the Lining from ⅜” to ½” to ensure a better fit.

Step 9 – Box The Zipper Ends

And, here’s the special part – let’s box the zipper ends! Here’s how to:

1. Press all side seams open.
2. Now you need to open the raw edges close to the zipper: outer first. Pull the Outer fabric around the zipper apart, aligning the side seam with the zipper teeth.
3. Pull the sides of Lining apart, align the side seam with the back of the zipper teeth.
4. After you’ve fixed the layers in place using sewing clips (not pictured), sew with a ⅜” (1 cm) seam allowance, boxing both sides in one go.

This is what you get:

Now clip off excess zipper tape and trim the seam allowance. Repeat on the other side of the zipper.

Step 10 – Box The Rest Of The Corners

Finally, box the four corners on the zipper pouch:

Step 11 – Turn And Stitch The Opening Closed

Turn the pouch through the opening you left in the lining, making sure to gently poke out the corners. Then close the opening, push the lining in, and press.

Additional Sewing Tips

And here are even more tips to make the BOXED! Zipper Pouch pattern work for you – better, easier, and quicker.

Want To Make A Pull Strap?

Here’s how to add a pull strap: I cut a 7″ by 2″ (18 x 5 cm) long strip and fused lightweight interfacing to the backside, then folded it lengthwise to hide the raw edges. I edge-stitched along both long edges and basted it to the side edge of one of the outer pieces just before sewing the sides of the zipper pouch together (that would be just before Step #8 above.)

Making BOXED! Pouch with a Standard #3 zipper?

This pattern is extremely popular, and it looks like everybody wants to sew it. Yey to that! And since some of you have been asking if it is possible to sew it with a #3 zipper too, let me try to help. Here’s what to do:

Download and open your PDF, and use the CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS; not the printable pattern. You’ll notice a drawing at the bottom of page 3 – where it says ‘Cut a RECTANGLE from both TOP corners’. Here, cut 1″ by ¼” ONLY. (not what the instructions in the PDF say) Then stitch the zipper to the fabric using a ¼” seam allowance and it should work out. You’re welcome!

But still, the #5 zipper looks much better on this pouch, so make sure to order a few online and once the zippers arrive, make a pouch with the #5 too. You’ll love it even more!

Share photos of your BOXED! Zipper Pouches!

As always, I’d love to see if you’ve made a zipper bag using this tutorial. Please post a picture to Instagram and tag me @applegreencottage or #applegreencottage – so I can take a look!

But first, save this tutorial to Pinterest so you can use it when you need it:

WANT A PRINTABLE COPY OF THE WHOLE TUTORIAL?