Need a unisex zipper pouch, or general purpose bag for storing toiletries, makeup, shaving supplies or other essentials at home or when traveling? This is a SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag review.
The link to the SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag free tutorial with video page is:
For the purposes of my review, I’m going to summarize the basic steps, tell you what I did differently (if anything) and share my general thoughts about sewing the project.
Introduction
Zippered pouches and zippered bags come in a variety of styles. SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag is designed as a pencil case, toiletry bag, tool bag and general purpose pouch. This rounded, rectangular, travel pouch bag features a large zippered opening and a carrying handle. It is ~7.4″ wide × 3.4″ high × 3.4″ deep (18.5 cm wide x 8.5 cm high x 8.5 cm deep).
Step 0 Gather Materials
Quilting weight cotton and fusible fleece are recommended for this project. I planned to use mine for toiletries so I used 70D water resistant ripstop nylon for the interior and a nylon canvas for the exterior. My zipper is a piece of #5 zipper by the meter.
Materials
Step 1 Main Body
I followed the instructions for the strap and main exterior piece. My adjustable guide presser foot made it easy to sew the seam allowance consistently.
Sewing a 3/8″ seam with adjustable guide presser foot
My exterior fabric frays easily so I zigzagged over the edge of the boxed corner seam allowances.
Top view of main exterior with boxed corners
The instructions for creating the main interior are the same as those for the main exterior.
Side view of main interior with boxed corners
Sew the main exterior and main interior together. When I turned the main body of my pouch inside out I saw that the seams weren’t aligned properly.
Misaligned seam
Ripping the stitches and re-aligning the exterior and interior seams solved this.
Step 2 Top
I interfaced my remaining exterior pieces to make my pouch stiffer. Zipper by the meter doesn’t have any zipper stops so I created some at the top end of my zipper.
Zipper with fabric zipper stops
I folded my zipper end tab according to the instructions, but it was too narrow for my zipper tape. A #3 zipper would be the correct width. I ripped my zipper tab and refolded it to match the width of my #5 zipper tape. I followed the remaining instructions for creating the top zipper panel.
Completed top panel
Step 3 Final Assembly
A loop of exterior fabric connects the top to the main body of this travel pouch. I followed the instructions for creating the fabric loop and attaching it to the top panel. My fabric loop kept wrinkling and I noticed that it was slightly longer than the circumference of the top panel. I had to rip the stitches. I’m not sure if I measured incorrectly or if there is an error in the instructions. I opened one seam in the fabric loop, sewed a larger seam allowance then proceeded according to the instructions.
Larger 1/2″ seam allowance to adjust fit
Here are some photos of my finished SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag.
Side viewOblique view of zipper pouchFull zipper pouch stands upOpen pouch
Conclusion
The author doesn’t provide a difficulty rating for this project. The instructions suggest that anyone who has prior experience with zippers will find this project easy. I agree. Beginners will appreciate that the zipper is sewn along straight edges. Fewer pattern pieces and fewer zippers make this project easier than the advanced beginner, Isabella Pouch. Most of the written tutorial is clear and the video tutorial provides additional information when it’s not.
My SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag is ~7.1″ wide × 3.4″ high × 3.4″ deep (18 cm wide x 8.5 cm high x 8.5 cm deep). This small difference in width from what I was expecting could be an error in measurement. My Isabella Pouch is 9” wide x 5.5” high x 4” deep (23 cm x 14 cm x 10 cm). If you’re looking for something a little bit smaller, or easier to sew, the SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag may be the right project for you.
Do you like sewing zipper pouches? Have you tried this project? Did you like this SewingTimes DIY Travel Pouch Bag review? Comment below and/or Pin me for later!
Tanya
Help support Sewn By Tanya
If you love what I do, have learned from reading my blog, and/or want to support my work financially, consider becoming a Sewn By Tanya patron. Your monthly donation of $1 or more will help Sewn By Tanya grow and expand. A minimum $6 per month gives you access to Sewn By Tanya Patreon only content. There’s so much I’d love to do and you can help make it happen.
