How to Make an Organizer Pouch

I love zipper pouches and I really love this one.  It has a few little pockets to organize your small items and a zipper pocket in the front.  This organizer pouch is not that difficult to make but I would rate it an intermediate sewing project. It is a bit fidgity in places and there are a lot of steps. Regardless, this project is well worth the effort. I must admit that I really enjoyed making this project and wanted to share it with you. You will definitely hone your bag making skills with this project so I hope you give it a try. 

I chose some fun fabrics for this project as a like to do.  The outer fabric is an encouraging word print that I bought online from Fabric Frenzy and the lining came from JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores.  The accent fabric was one that I had on hand.  All of the fabrics are cotton and super easy to work with.  Of course you could head over to Hobby Lobby or Fabric.com to get what you need for this project.  This post contains affiliate links that if you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  

What you will Need: How to Make an Organizer Pouch

• 1/2 yd outer fabric
• 1/4 yd accent fabric
• 1/2 yd lining fabric
• 1/2 yd Pellon 987f fusible fleece or equivalent
• 1 10″ zipper
• 1 14″ zipper
• Standard sewing supplies

Step 1: Cut your Fabrics for your organizer pouch

From the outer fabric cut one piece that measures 13⅞″×16¼″ and one piece that measures 6″×2⅜″.  Cut one contrast fabric that measures 8¾″×9″ and  two 1 5/8″ x 1 1/8″.  Now cut the lining pieces to measure 13⅞″×16¼″, 8¾″×9″, Two 8¾″×8¾″ and  two 1 5/8″ x 1 1/8″.  

Step 2: Fuse the Interfacing

Fuse the fleece to the large outer piece following the manufacturer’s instructions.  

Step 3: Add tabs to the zipper

Take the 1 5/8″ x 1 1/8″ pieces of lining and accent fabric and add them to the zipper.  To do this cut the 10″ zipper at the top and bottom so that it measures 8″.  Remember to keep the zipper pull in the middle.  Sandwich each end of the zipper with the lining and outer fabric tabs so that the outer fabric tabs are on the right side of the zipper right sides together and the lining tabs are right sides together with the outer tabs and the zipper is in the middle.  Stitch across both ends using a 3/8″ seam allowance.  Open the tabs.

Step 4: Add the zipper to the accent fabric

Place the zipper with the zipper tabs open right sides up on the right side of the short end of the 8¾″×9″ lining piece.  Lay the same size accent fabric piece wrong side down on the zipper to make a zipper sandwich.  Stitch the top pf the zipper using your zipper foot. Turn the accent fabric right sides out and press.  Topstitch along the zipper.  Fold the lining to the top of the zipper and the outer piece to the other side of the top of the zipper again making a zipper sandwich.  Stitch the zipper.  Turn right sides out, press the pocket so that the zipper is about 3/8″ from the top and topstitch through all layers.  Clip off the excess tabs and set aside. 

Step 5: Add the outer pocket

Take the outer fabric piece and measure down 2″ and center from the top and mark.  Place the pocket you just made on the mark and centered.  Stitch around the sides and bottom using a 1/8″ seam allowance.    

Step 6: Create the inner pockets

Take the two 8¾″×8¾″ pieces and fold them in half right sides together.  Sew them along the long side using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Turn right sides out. Press and top stitch along the top edge.  Take the large lining piece and measure down 2 3/8″ and center and mark.  Place one of the lining pockets centered at the mark and pin.  Turn the lining piece to the other side and measure down another 2 3/8″ and center and mark.  Place the other lining pockets centered and pin.  Stitch around the sides and bottom of the pocket pieces using a 1/8″ seam allowance.  Divide one of the pocket pieces in half and stitch a line down the center to divide the pocket.  Divide the other pocket piece in thirds and stitch lines to divide it. 

Step 7: add the main zipper

Lay the lining piece right sides up on your work surface.  Place the 14″ zipper right sides up on the lining piece.  Place the outer piece right sides down on the zipper so you have created a zipper sandwich.  Make sure the outer pocket piece is at the top near the zipper.  Stitch the zipper. Turn right sides out and topstitch along the zipper. 

Fold the outer fabric in half so that it meets the top pf the zipper and pin. Stitch the zipper just in the center of the zipper the length of the outer pocket piece. Turn the piece over and fold up the lining to the top of the zipper and pin.  Stitch each end of the zipper from the end to just past the start of the outer pocket piece so that there is a gap in the lining where the zipper is.  Turn right sides out and top stitch the zipper on each end leaving the opening in the zipper and lining. 

 

Step 8: Stitch the bottom of the bag

Turn the bag wrong sides out.  Fold the outer piece so that the zipper is in the center and clip.  I like using wonder clips for this. It is much easier than pins because of the bulk.  If you don’t have winder clips you can get them in my Amazon shop here.  Fold the lining in the same way.  Clip the outer piece and the lining piece together.  Sew the ends together using a 3/8″ seam allowance.  

Step 9: Cut the corners

Cut out rectangles from each corner through all layers that measure 2 1/2″ along the long side and 2 1/8″ along the short side.  

Step 10: create the handle

Take the outer piece that measures 6″×2⅜″ and fold the raw edges into the center.  Press.  Fold in half lengthwise and press.  Edgestitch along both sides.

Step 11: Box the corners

Here is where it gets a little fidgity.  Take the outer fabric of one of the corners and pinch the corners so that the bottom and side meet.  Clip using wonder clips or pin.  Repeat for the corresponding lining piece.  Place the outer corner and the corresponding lining corner together and clip.  Stitch using a 3/8″ seam allowance.  Repeat for the remaining three corners. As I said this is a little fidgity but if you take your time you can do it.  Before you stitch the two corners at the far end of the zipper pull place the handle piece inside the bag and pin it to the corners in the center so it straddles the end.  Make sure that you stitch the handle piece with the corner at the same time.  Trim the seam allowances to reduce bulk. 

Step 12: Finish Bag

Turn the bag right sides out through the opening you left in the lining at the zipper and the partially open zipper.  Stitch the opening closed using ladder or invisible stitch. Once you have stitched the opening closed topstitch the zipper and you are have completed your organizer pouch.  

 

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