Have you ever had too many cards that your wallet can handle? You need a handy zipper pouch the size of a credit card rather than struggle with the limited space you have in a wallet.
If you are like me in the following scenario, it is time to head down to the free pattern and tutorial section below. I have been selective and get only those cards that I might need in a particular shopping mall but end up they were the wrong ones? On some occasions, I just forget to “update” the cards in the wallet on my next trip and miss those discounts. At times, I can’t find the cards I thought I have already put into my wallet? Sounds familiar…..
If you are nodding your head now, you need a pouch for the cards just like me. Here is the free pattern and tutorial on how to sew a zipper pouch that fits your credit cards and discount cards.
Contents
FREE SEWING ZIPPER POUCH PATTERN
scroll ⬇️ to get the free printable sewing pattern & how to sew tutorial
I am not a big fan of big wallets and in fact, I prefer small wallets. However, with the increasing number of cards that I have, my decent size wallet is no longer able to buckle up. Sometimes, I just temporarily place the card in my purse’s pocket but I forgot about it later. I need an additional card pouch where I know where all my cards should locate. So, here it is, my new zipper card pouch 🙂
Materials To Sew Zipper Pouch
All you need to prepare for sewing this zipper pouch are some fabrics, a zipper, twill tape, and ribbon. We used canvas fabric as the pouch external and cotton fabric for the internal lining. The zipper length is 7″ and since we used a metal zipper, we need to trim the length from a standard 8″ zipper. If you are using a nylon or plastic zipper, just need to cut the zipper to 7″. A short length of ribbon is used to create a divider within the pouch, that’s to add more compartment sections. The twill tape is to bind and hide away to the raw seam allowance.
Sewing Tools
In this tutorial, we are using a sewing machine to sew card pouch that has a zipper. If you prefer to sew the zipper pouch without a sewing machine, we have another version of a sewing tutorial where you can completely replace the sewing machine with hand sewing.
The sewing machine needs to have a normal presser foot and a zipper foot. Apparently, it is straightforward that we need a zipper foot to sew the zipper. We also need some needles and pins, a pair of scissors for cutting, a ruler and a fabric marker, and an awl to turn sewn fabric from inside out.
Dimension Of The Zipper Card Pouch
The finished size of this zipper pouch is about 4 1/2″ (W) x 3″ (H). It can hold up to 30 plastic cards (similar to credit cards), and more for thinner cards, such as the business calling card for example. With the zipper opening up to the side and coupled with an internal gusset, this will make card finding easier and faster.
Get the sewing pattern and how to sew tutorial to sew a zipper card pouch after the jump and don’t have to struggle with too many cards anymore.
[Update August 2014: I have another version of sewing this zipper pouch for credit cards, they look about the same from the outside, but it is more spacious inside as I have hidden the seam allowance.]
Sew Zipper Pouch In Card Size
Yield: 4 1/2″ (W) x 3″ (H) ZIPPER CARD POUCH
Active Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate /Advance Level
Estimated Cost: $5 - $8
This zipper pouch can hold up to 30 plastic cards (similar to credit cards), and more for thinner cards, the business calling card for example. With the zipper opens up to the side and couple with an internal gusset, this will make card finding easier and faster.
[Update August 2014: I have another version of this zipper card pouch, they look about the same from the outside, but it is more spacious inside as I have hidden the seam allowance.]
Enjoy sewing them!
Materials
Pouch Body [5 1/4″ x 3 3/4″]
- Fabric – Canvas Stripe, 2
- Fabric – cotton polka-dots, 2
Side Gusset [1 3/4″ x 2 3/4″]
- Fabric – Canvas Stripe, 1
- Fabric – cotton polka-dots, 1
Divider [5 1/2″]
- Twill tape – 1″, 1
- Grosgrain ribbon – 3/8″, 1
Others
- Zipper– 7″ (click here to watch how to shorten metal zipper)
- Twill tape for biding – 10″
Tools
- Sewing machine, with normal foot and zipper foot
- Sewing kits
- Pencil or Erasable fabric marker
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Tools for turning like awl and knitting needle or bamboo turner
Instructions
MORE DETAILS ON HOW TO SEW A ZIPPER POUCH
- Get ready the materials with the correct dimension respectively.
- Sew ribbon to the center of the twill tape to make a divider in the card pouch. (Left)
Mark 7″ zipper according to the measurement of 0, 1/4″, 3″ and 7 1/2″. (Right)
Remark: offset the measurement 1/4″ from the zipper stop as shown in the photo. - Side Gusset
1. Place canvas and polka-dot right side facing each other. Sew top and bottom.
2. Turn to right side. Top stitch near the top and bottom edges.
3. Fold the gusset into half (vertical), sew near the fold but make sure it sews the canvas too.
4. A sewn crease line created along the center of the gusset. - Place and pin the divider 1″ below the top seam allowance. Sew the divider to the lining a little outside the seam line (onto the seam allowance).
- 1. Sew the gusset 1/2″ below to the top seam lines. Attach both sides.
2. Rightside of the lining with gusset attached. - Change to a zipper foot. Pin and sew the zipper (the wrong side facing up) to the canvas, just outside the seam line, sew to the 3″ point [1] at the zipper, and don’t go beyond. For advanced and experienced sewer, pining will do (same as the rest of the similar steps).
Fold (following arrow #2 in the picture) piece A over piece B so the right sides are together. Then flip the entire lining (following arrow, #3) toward yourself and place it over the zipper and canvas. Pin. - Sew on the seam line, stop at the 3″ point on the zipper too.
You will see this arrangement after folding the lining to the back of the canvas. - Repeat the sewing of canvas and lining to another side of the zipper.
- Bend the zipper, pin to the canvas. Fold the end of the zipper onto the seam allowance. Sew them together just outside the seam line.
- Now bring the lining to the front with right side facing the canvas, align, pin and sew it to zipper and canvas on the seam line.
- Top stitch near the seam lines on the canvas along the L-shaped zipper.
- Repeat the sewing steps to the other side. Adjust the zippers by pulling up and down if required so that the zipper don’t get in the way of your zipper foot during sewing.
- Fold the pouch with right side facing each other. Pin and sew the side and bottom of the pouch. If you are using stripe canvas or any print that needs to align, check if they are aligned properly at the seam line. Clip the corners.
- Pin the twill tape to the seam allowance with 1/2″ access at the end. Fold the tape nicely at the corner.
- Fold the tape end down to the other side, pin. Repeat the same to the other end.
- Fold the tape and pin to the other side of the seam allowance. A help from an awl will be good to achieve a neater fold at the ends and corner.
- Sew the twill tape binder on the seam allowance.
If you find that the seams are too bulky and thick. Using of warm iron can be hard to press them down. I am not sure if this is a good or a normal method… I use a hammer to flatten it.
Lightly pound the seam allowance of the lining side of the pouch before turning them in. Use a piece of folded fabric / cotton flannel to protect the pouch to prevent pound marks. Be careful when pounding at the corners where the zipper meets, don’t accidentally spoil zipper teeth, pull and stops. Turn the pouch right side out, adjust all corners and bound seam allowance. Lightly pound to flatten the bulging seams from outside.
- A completed canvas zipper card pouch with a side gusset that can easily hold up to 20 – 30 credit cards, discount cards and/or member cards.
Notes
Seam Allowance: 3/8″
If you are not using canvas but slightly thinner material like quilter weight cotton, you will need to attach an interfacing or stabilizer to make up the thickness and steadiness.
Recommended Products
Purchase the exact same material and tool used in this pattern from Craft Passion Shop.
- Zipper
Did you make this project?
Please leave a comment below or share a photo on Instagram. Don't forget to tag @craftpassion so that we can see it.
