How to Sew a Zipper Pouch with Box Corners
⚡ Quick Answer
- Use a zipper at least 1" longer than the top edge of your pouch, and trim it after sewing.
- Sandwich the zipper right sides together between the outer fabric and the lining, pin or clip it, then sew with a zipper foot.
- Move the zipper pull out of the way partway down the seam so your stitching stays straight.
- Open the zipper partway before sewing the side seams, so you can turn the pouch right side out.
- For a flat bottom, box the corners: cut out a square at each bottom corner, then pinch and sew straight across.
A zipper pouch is the project that gets a lot of quilters over their fear of zippers, and boxed corners turn a flat pouch into one that stands up on its own. In our Shorts, Misty and Craig Conover of Sewing Down South Textiles show the two steps that trip people up most: getting a zipper sewn in without the fabric shifting, and sewing neat box corners.
▶️ Watch it done: Craig and Misty pin and sew a zipper without shifting fabric
Key Takeaways
- ➤ Zipper foot: It lets you stitch close to the teeth.
- ➤ Pin or clip well: Keeping the layers from shifting is the whole trick.
- ➤ Leave it open: An unzipped zipper is how you turn the pouch.
- ➤ Box corners: The size of the square you cut sets the depth of the pouch.
What You'll Need
- Outer fabric and lining fabric (fat quarters work well for small pouches)
- Fusible interfacing or fusible fleece for body
- A zipper at least 1" longer than your pouch is wide
- A zipper foot, pins or clips, and an iron
How to Sew a Zipper Into a Pouch
- Prep your pieces. Cut two outer and two lining rectangles the same size, and fuse interfacing to the outer pieces.
- Make the first sandwich. Lay an outer piece right side up, the zipper face down along the top edge, then a lining piece face down on top. Line up all three raw edges.
- Pin or clip along the full edge so nothing slides as you sew.
- Sew with a zipper foot. When you reach the zipper pull, stop with the needle down, lift the presser foot and slide the pull past the foot, then keep going.
- Press the fabrics away from the zipper and topstitch close to the fold if you like.
- Repeat on the other side of the zipper with the second outer and lining pieces.
💡 Pro Tip: Unzip the zipper about halfway before you start. That way, you only have to move the pull once, partway down the seam, instead of sewing around it at the very end.
Sew the Side Seams
Open the zipper at least halfway. Put the two outer pieces right sides together and the two lining pieces right sides together, with the zipper teeth pointing toward the lining. Sew around the edges, leaving a 4" opening in the bottom of the lining for turning. Trim the extra zipper ends.
How to Sew Boxed Corners
▶️ Watch it done: Craig and Misty sew 2" box corners
Cut-out method: Before you sew the side seams, cut a square from each bottom corner of every piece. Sew the side and bottom seams, then pinch each cut-out open so the side seam lines up with the bottom seam, and sew straight across the raw edge.
Pinch method: After you sew the seams, pull each corner into a point with the side seam centered over the bottom seam. Measure across the point at your chosen width, mark a line, sew it, and trim.
| Square cut from each corner | Pouch depth (¼" seams) |
|---|---|
| 1" | about 1½" |
| 1½" | about 2½" |
| 2" | about 3½" |
💡 Pro Tip: Cut the same size square from the lining and the outer pieces, or the lining won't sit smoothly inside the pouch.
Turn and Finish
Pull the pouch's right side out through the opening in the lining. Push out the corners, then stitch the opening closed and tuck the lining inside. Give it a final press, then you're ready to zip!
Zipper Pouch Projects to Try Next
Ready for more? Try the Two-Tone Zipper Pouch, the Macaroon Zipper Pouch, or the On the Go Zipper Pouch Set, browse our easy zipper pouch projects for beginners, or move on to bigger bags with Learn to Sew Bags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size zipper do I need for a pouch?
Use one at least 1" longer than the top edge, then trim it after sewing the side seams.
Do I need a zipper foot?
It makes the job much easier because it lets you stitch right next to the teeth.
How do I keep the fabric from shifting while I sew a zipper?
Pin or clip the full length, line up all three raw edges, and stop to move the zipper pull rather than sewing around it.
What are box corners?
Box corners are squared-off bottoms that give a bag depth so it can stand up.