Bee Print Pouch Project

The Folk Art Factory presents an original pouch project design by Debbie von Grabler-Crozier.

Make this pretty pouch project as a gift or for yourself. The possibilities for stamping the design are endless and can be tailored to the recipient!

You will need…

Fat Eighth linen/cotton blend fabric. We used Soft Sand from the Denim Studio collection by Art Gallery Fabrics (AGF) from Hantex

Fat Eighth natural cork fabric (Hantex)

Fat Quarter lining fabric

Fat Eighth H630 fusible wadding (Vlieseline)

60cm black and white bias binding. We used Slanted Lines from the Take Shape Capsule collection by AGF

10cm (4”) navy and gold metal zip

20cm navy (8”) and gold metal zip

Black and white baker’s twine to decorate the zip pulls from Berisfords

Decorative cotton – we used a light coral perle coton #8

Word stamp (anything from the paper crafting world which talks to you meaningfully)

Bee stamp. This was from Entomology stamp set by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous

Small scrap of tan leather

Leather hole punch

Black archival ink

Notes

Finished size: 24cm long x 17cm wide (9 ½” long x 6 ¾” wide)

This is a cut and measure pattern with no template to print!

Seam allowances are all ½ cm (1/4”) unless otherwise stated. Please read all instructions through and assemble the equipment before beginning.

Cutting

Cork fabric – cut one back piece measuring 17cm wide x 25cm long (6 ¾” wide x 10” long).

Lining fabric – cut two pieces of main pouch lining measuring 17cm wide x 25cm long (6 ¾” wide x 10” long)

Cut 1 front zipper pocket lining measuring 14cm wide x 25cm long (5 ½” wide x 10” long)

Interfacing – use the front and back panels to cut two pieces of H630

To Sew

Make the stamped fabric. Use your bee stamp and black archival ink to make a pattern all over the fat eighth of linen blend fabric.

Cut an outer front piece measuring 17cm wide x 25cm long (6 ¾” wide x 10” long) and then round the two bottom corners with a tea cup or similar. Fuse a piece of H630 to the wrong side.

TIP: when you iron the interfacing on, you will also set the ink.

Make the label by cutting a piece of leather that fits your word or phrase and make a hole each end with the hole punch. Stamp the word using the archival ink.

Fuse the other piece of H630 to the wrong side of the cork fabric. Use a pressing cloth for this.

Round the two bottom corners of the lining pieces ready for use.

Make front zip pocket. Find the vertical centre of the front printed panel and mark it. A crease or a line with water soluble marker works well.

Find the vertical centre of the front zip pocket lining and mark that. Measure down 3.5cm (1 3/8”) from the top edge and make some marks.

Take the zip pocket lining and line the two centre creases/marks up and also make sure that it is dead straight on your 2.5cm (1”) mark. Pin. The right sides should be together.

On the pocket lining itself, measure down 2.5cm (1”) from the top edge and mark a horizontal box which measures 1cm wide x 10cm long (3/8” wide x 4” long). This is your sewing line.

Come back and also draw another horizontal line down the middle of the box with two sets of angles each end. This is your cutting line.

Sew around the sewing line and cut along the cutting line and then ‘post’ the lining through the hole and smooth it out on the back. Press.

Topstitch the smaller zip into the aperture and then finish the pocket by bringing the long part of the lining up so that both ends meet and sewing the top and sides.

Take your decorative thread and attach your label just under the zipper pocket in the centre. Tie a piece of baker’s twine through the hole and tie it off.

Make a zip sandwich with the completed front and a piece of lining (either one is fine). Sew along the top, trapping the zip.

Flip the two pieces over so that the zip is uppermost and topstitch right along from end to end. Baste the interfaced front to the lining all around. This is just to hold it and keep it neat and all the layers nicely taut.

Repeat for the back outer piece and the other piece of lining for the other side of the zip.

Fold the pouch over and align the bottom and sides. Pin. Baste the sides and bottom edge and trim if needed.

Bind the bottom and sides to hide the raw edge. This is a fabulous and easy way to make a pouch and it hides the raw edges of the pouch and the raw ends of the zip. Finish on the top neatly by hand.

Tie another piece of baker’s twine through the main zip pull.

For a different style of pouch why not make Debbie’s half moon pouch next?