This week’s post is a little early due to scheduling this week. :) If you’re looking for a fun and easy sewing project, this is a good one. I started sewing when I was three years old. I would find scraps in the garbage can in the sewing room, and create what I thought were amazing gifts for all those I loved! These were generally some type of little pouch, or pillow. If you received one of these items, it came from the heart, and was given with all the love my little three-year-old heart contained. I always gave a piece of heart with each gift I made and gave away.

Now at 61, I am still making little gifts! And I still enjoy giving them away to all those near and dear to my heart. I have an exciting, upcoming, opportunity in July that I am both scared to death for, and super excited for all at the same time!

Because I’m always grateful to anyone who gives freely of their time and talents to share their knowledge, I have made a few little gift pouches as a thank you for those I will be learning so much from very soon!

In the distant past, I would cut two pieces of fabric, inserted a zipper in the top edge, and sew around the other three edges to form a little zippered pouch. However, a few years ago, I discovered a prettier way to finish the ends of the zipper, which in turn makes the outcome of the little pouch look more professional. This was actually during Covid, and I was looking for some easy projects I could make to give my grandkids and Primary kids from church something to bring a smile to their face, since we were all in lock-down. I ended up making these bags from empty “Share Size” M & M Bags. I used bandannas for the back side of the pouch. These pouches are a little more complex as you need to use a fabric laminating film to make the candy bags usable, and then you also need to do a little bit of quilting to make it slightly more substantial. Here is the link to the tutorial from “Missouri Star” I found on how to make these bags.

https://www.missouriquiltco.com/blogs/missouri-star-quilting-tutorials/candy-bag-zipper-pouch-tutorial?_pos=1&_psq=zippered+candy+bag&_ss=e&_v=1.0 (Star Candy Bag Zippered Pouch with Jenny)

For the small first aid pouch gifts I just made, I used Liberty of London cotton lawn fabric from “DuckaDilly” online fabrics. If you’ve never touched a piece of this fine cotton fabric from the U.K. you are in for a special treat! It is the softest, high quality cotton ever, and the prints and colors are divine!

https://www.duckadilly.com/collections/wiltshire-1/products/pre-order-liberty-of-london-tana-lawn-wiltshire-blue-yellow

I chose not to put any batting in the back of this pouch, as I wanted it to take up the least amount of space as possible in someone’s bag or purse.

I also wanted to be able to see through the front of the pouch to show the pretty bandaids I put inside, so I used some legal size vinyl and mesh zippered pouches I bought awhile back from “The Container Store”. These pouches are great on their own, but I wanted to incorporate the “Liberty of London” fabric.

So I cut the large clear mesh pouches apart, and cut 4” x 6” pieces for the front of my little pouch.

I cut two pieces, 4” x 6” of the “Liberty of London” fabric for the back, surging them together at the top zipper edge, right sides together.

I used ¼” seams all around, and I always finish my seams off by running them through my surger. Here is the link for the clear mesh pouches from “The Container Store”.

https://www.containerstore.com/s/office/office-supplies/zippered-vinyl-mesh-pouches/12d?productId=10005003

I’m picky about the supplies I use. If it’s something I’m willing to put the time and effort into making, I want it to be the best quality it can be. So I don’t use cheap zippers. I prefer the YLK brand zippers due to their quality, durability, and nice selection of colors.

I ordered the ones for these little pouches from “Wawak”. They are a heavier duty bag quality zipper for $1.25 each or .91 each for 10 or more. You can’t beat that price!

I like the bigger tab because it allows me to easily attach my hand-made tassel, which I made using #5 Variegated DMC Pearl Cotton – color #4030, a metal bead, and a jump ring.

https://www.wawak.com/zippers/specialty/bag/ykk-45-nylon-coil-long-pull-bag-zipper/#sku=nzp457049

It’s getting harder and harder to find good quality notions at the fabric stores around my home. I discovered “Wawak” online sewing supplies a few years ago, and they are incredible! The customer service is the best, shipping is fast, and they carry just about anything you could ever want or desire in regard to sewing notions and supplies.

I filled each little pouch with 10 cute printed bandaids, 3 individually packaged antiseptic wipes, and 3 individual use packets of triple antibiotic ointment.

These make a unique, inexpensive, and quick to make gift.

I made 34 in one day! Yes, this is way more than I will need, but if you make extra, you will always have a cute gift on hand when you need something last minute. If you sew them in an assembly line fashion, instead of one at a time, they come together in no time at all. I’ll be tying these up in tiny clear cellophane baggies with a ribbon sprig and a hand-made personalized tag.

There’s something about working with yummy fabric in pretty colors that brings LIGHT into my life! Gift giving is a bucket filler for me as well! I LOVE to serve others and share the talents God gave me to bring LIGHT and LOVE into the lives of those I associate with – even if they are perfect strangers at first! A little welcome gift, or thank you gift, is a great way to break the ice and make a friend or two!

So if you have a sewing machine, check out the tutorial from “Missouri Star” on how to make these adorable little pouches. You don’t need to use empty candy wrappers, you can use anything you want. The best part of this tutorial, is Jenny’s zipper application! It’s simple, easy, and gives the prettiest clean, crisp, and professional outcome! These were so much fun to make, and the instant gratification of making so many gifts in one day can’t be beat!!! They are LIGHT makers for sure!

I’ll be filling you in on my grand adventure in a few weeks. Until then, have a great week!

Love Ya, Les :)

Create

A Fun Easy Sewing Project!