Elastic Zip Pouch

Wrap an elastic zip pouch around a binder or notebook to always have pens, pencils and school supplies at hand. This easy-sew pouch is wide enough to hold a load of items, including erasers, scissors and Post-it Notes, too. It’s also a great pouch for sewing supplies, to wrap around a cross-stitch journal or quilting planner. Stitch this project in an hour (or less!) and then create enough for a classroom of students!

ELASTIC ZIP POUCH SUPPLIES

• (1) fat quarter or (2) 10″ x 12″ fabric rectangles
• (1) sheet of Sulky Felty or 10″ x 12″ rectangle of low-loft cotton batting
• Sulky KK2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive
• (1) 14″ zipper
• 11″ length of 1″-wide elastic
• Sulky 50 wt. Cotton Thread
• Clover Wonder Clips or pins

ELASTIC ZIP POUCH INSTRUCTIONS

If making a zip pouch for a notebook or binder that’s smaller than 11″, measure the length and adjust the cutting dimensions for the fabric and Felty/binding as needed.

Place the Felty or batting rectangle on the outer fabric wrong side and secure with KK2000. Then, stitch the perimeter using a wide zigzag stitch.

Position the zipper along one long fabric edge, with right sides facing. Clip or pin in place. Stitch ¼” from edge using a zipper foot.

Then, align the opposite fabric edge with the opposite zipper tape edge; pin, and then stitch, creating a tube.

Fold the tube in half wrong side out, centering the zipper.

Position the elastic length over the zipper center. Clip or pin the elastic ends to the pouch ends. Stitch the ends, using a ¼” seam.

Then, clip the corners. (Note that the elastic is on the inside of the pouch.)

Next, trim the excess zipper beyond the seam allowance.

Then, open the zipper and turn right side out. Position the elastic against the pouch bottom, with the zipper on the opposite side.

Wrap the pouch around a notebook or three-ring binder and fill with school supplies.