DiY Fashion Tutorial - How to Sew a Zipper Pouch Clutch Bag

[@moscato07]

This is the easiest tutorial I have seen so far!

[@smarmyclothes]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@Sylvie4D]

excellent!! this is the best tutorial i have found!! the zipper has always intimidated and frustrated me, but you make it so easy!!! thank you!

[@Ishvaartsy]

very nicely instructed. its very clear and precise. thank u

[@hdkk33]

I love it! I realy like the way you explain every step, that's awesome!! Keep the tutorials coming! I also used your rockabilly headband tutorial :D

[@smarmyclothes]

hdkk33 Thanks!

[@CherryHavoc]

Thank you for this! I have recently been thinking about how I can make a bag to keep my satnav in when I'm on my travels.

[@Jadestar83]

Omg, I've made my first one of these yesterday from another tutorial (that was before I found u a few minutes ago, of course😊) and I sewed over the zipper like the tutorial showed and I broke my needle!!! It sounded so loud I thought I wrote off my machine let alone kick out timing! Decided not to risk zipper bags again but now I'm so glad I've found this tutorial showing that I don't Have to sew over zipper! Thought it would compromise the structure of the bag if I didn't sew over it! Thanks!!!!

[@NITEGOD]

Just gaining some knowledge, as I want to make some wristlet's using waxed canvas and calf hide .. thanks for this info ..

[@kerriecerny4813]

great video! very clear, very concise. thanks so much😁

[@heidirivera1264]

Hi there! I love your videos, they're short, yet very precise and easy to follow. I wanted to ask you, if you could make one detailing how to sew a T-shirt. Greetings from Puerto Rico!

[@piyushtanmaydalai188]

ITs very easy to make.Thanks

[@404HandleNotFound]

Love that material! :)

[@ayeshagilani8872]

nice

[@jadamayo6879]

where did you purchase this fabric?

[@smarmyclothes]

spandexworld.com, but they don't have the metallic version anymore. They do have the regular non-metallic galaxy print. (Also, note that it is lycra, so if you want to use it in a non-stretch application, you should use a fusible interfacing on the back.)

[@amandamilbrodt4423]

I would love it if you found this fabric on eBay or Etsy and sold it. Maybe you could sell a gift set of your favorite fabrics.

[@Heyyyyy_its_Ashleighh]

what type of fabric are you using?

[@smarmyclothes]

ashleigh mathis The outer fabric is a metallic spandex- I added some fusible interfacing to the back so it wouldn't stretch. The purple lining is a basic broadcloth, I think poly/cotton. Quilting fabric and home dec fabrics work really well.

[@michele8083]

if you don't snip the zipper right at the edge but leave it an inch longer on each side it will be easier to deal with

[@stinkyjade]

Are you from NFLD?

[@smarmyclothes]

Nope. Michigan. :)

[@raelynblosky3372]

Wait so you don't have to sew over the zipper at all??? How come??? I've been making these for years but I always sew the zipper tape into the seam! It's been killing my machine D: Will the bag still be structurally sound if I don't go over the zipper when I'm sewing up the body of the bag?

[@smarmyclothes]

Raelyn Blosky I don't recommend sewing over the zipper for that exact reason. If you hit the zipper itself with the needle, you can potentially throw your machine's timing off, requiring an expensive repair. (I know from experience... *sad trombone*) The more likely problem is a bent or broken needle. Not as dire, but annoying all the same! As long as you backstitch, there should be no issues with the stitching coming undone. Zipper tape doesn't fray very much, and even if it did, it's so enclosed in all the layers of fabric, I can't imagine it would fray much anyway. I suppose it is possible to unzip the zipper pull past the stitching, but only if you really try to do it on purpose. If you stitch close enough to the zipper tape, it should make it very difficult to do by accident.

[@raelynblosky3372]

Thank you so much! That saves me from a lot of hair tearing out ಠ_ಠ

[@raelynblosky3372]

smarmyclothes I hate to bug you again, but since you're so experienced with sewing, I was wondering if there's a good machine you'd recommend? I need a workhorse that can handle heavy-gauge fabrics. I work with heavy vinyl and I also do a lot of finishing stitches since I work with polysatin (and you know how that frays like a mother) I also work around a .5 cm seam allowance. I know it's a weird number, but it's what's worked best with my bags. Thank you so much for answering my noob questions (:

[@smarmyclothes]

Raelyn Blosky I have a Singer 301, which is gear-driven instead of belt-driven, so it can sew through pretty much anything. It would be great for the heavy weight stuff, but it only does a straight stitch. (The Singer 221 is the same machine with a smaller body. They are sort of "trendy" right now, so you can often find the 301 for much cheaper on Ebay.) For something with more versatility, I'd probably go with a Janome HD1000 or HD3000. I haven't used one personally. But if I ever buy a new machine, it will be one of those, just judging by the reviews.

[@dpatco]

Loved the project. Great instructions. Could do without the "Kick A** " language though.

[@fredawade9115]

I would suggest: Using a nylon zipper rather than a metal one Using utility scissors, not good sewing shears Using the back portion of the scissors to cut the zipper