Oct 4, 2016

Sakana (Fish) Double Zipper Sewing Bag Tutorial

Flower Sugar World Ambassadors Issue No. 6 by Lecien Fabrics has finally been released last week! If you have the time, please click on the link to look at all the beautiful projects made by 15 amazing bloggers (including me!>.<) from all around the world using the latest and prettiest Flower Sugar fabrics


Today I am sharing how to make one of the projects that was featured in the Flower Sugar special issue above: Sakana (Fish) Double Zipper Sewing Pouch







It's completely handsewn but feel free to use the sewing machine if it makes your life easier without having to be poked by needles! But I would recommend to handsew the patchwork fishes+zippers and machine sew/quilt the pouch itself.

Points to note: 

a: If you are handsewing, use small continuous stitches for patchwork (backstitch every 4-5 stitches). BUT, use back stitches to sew the pouch. I always use quilting thread for it's strength.


Download the template for patchwork fish and oval pouch cover/base.
(print at 100% no scaling)



Using the same cardboard method here, transfer the templates to fabrics. You need six fishes. You can choose the fishes to swim in one direction or alternate. 


Step 1: Six fishes





Sew from end-to-end for all the templates in this manner: head, body, tail. Then join the three parts together.



Press all seams towards the fish.



When you are done with six patchwork fishes, sew them together. It should measure about 18.5" length x 2" width. It's ok to be a little shorter/longer or wider/narrower.


Step 2: Pouch body



Decide on colour of pouch. Cut a rectangle with width 3.5" but the same length of your patchwork fishes. Sew the two parts together. Feel free to add lace, buttons or other embellishment at this point.



Prepare quilt sandwich with batting and interior fabric (size a little bigger and right side facing down). Hand or machine quilt.

Square up and trim the sides.




Join the two short ends. Bias bind the raw edges. 


Step 3: Pouch base



For oval pouch base, prepare a quilted sandwich measuring about 8" length x 4.5" width. Cut out using oval template.




Fold the oval into half to mark the centre, match to the centre of the pouch base and pin. Sew.



Sew bias binding for pouch base and upper edge of pouch body.



Almost there!


Step 4: Pouch cover




With the same method as the pouch base, sew the pouch cover using the oval template. Sew the bias binding as well.  For the handle, you can choose to use anything like thick lace, short leather piece, padded fabric strip. It should measure about 6.5" for a well looking pouch. Sew the handle about 1" from the edge of the pouch.


Step 5: Zippers

I chose two zippers instead of one because I did not have long ones. You can use one long zipper if you happen to have. 



Position and pin the zipper(s) on the wrong side of the pouch cover. Handsew using back stitches. 



This is how I attached the two zippers. Remember to find the centre of the pouch cover by folding into half. Slightly fold in the ends of the zippers.



When you are done with the zippers on the pouch cover, now it's time to sew the zippers to the pouch body. Always remember to start pinning from the centre of the pouch and work your way to the back.



Use back stitches.


I find it easier to turn the pouch upside down to sew the zippers.



Blind stitch to close the opening at the back. 



I use a lace to cover up the blind stitches and zipper ends. You can use fabric tags too.



There you go, your very own Sakana sewing zipper pouch! Now you can throw in all your sewing notions and enjoy!xx

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