HOW TO MAKE A ZIP POUCH

MATERIALS

■ Eight 6.5cm (25/ 8") squares of patterned fabric

■ Linen cotton fabric, 50cm (19¾") ■ Lining fabric, 33 x 26.5cm (13 x 10½") ■ Wadding, 30.5 x 26.5cm (12 x 10½")

■ Zip, 33cm (13") ■ Basting spray ■ Rotary cutter A little bit of printed fabric can go a long way when you’ve got snowball patchwork blocks and a cool neutral linen on your side.

This pouch project is ideal for showing off any precious scrap pieces that are too pretty to toss. Been hoarding a sliver of Liberty print or a one-off vintage find? Now’s the time to let them shine.

01 Cut the linen fabric into 32 2.5 x 2.5cm (1 x 1") squares, one 3.5 x 26.5cm (13/ x 10½") top piece, one 8 4 x 26.5cm (15/ x 10½") bottom 8 piece, two 3.5 x 11cm (13/ x 43/ 8") 8 side pieces and one 16.5 x 26.5cm (6½ x 10½") backing piece. Cut the lining fabric into two 16.5 x 26.5cm (6½ x 10½") pieces, and the wadding into two 15 x 26.5cm (6 x 10½") pieces.

02 Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side ( WS) of each of the 2.5 x 2.5cm (1 x 1") linen squares, from corner to corner. Pin a linen square to each corner of one patterned fabric square, orientating the diagonal lines to create an

octagon shape at the centre of the fabric square, as shown. Sew along all four diagonal lines.

03 Trim each corner to create a 0.5cm (¼") seam, then press the seams open to make the snowball block, as shown. Repeat Steps 2-3 with the remaining patterned and

linen fabric squares to create eight snowball blocks in total.

04 Place two snowball blocks with right sides (RS) together and sew along one short edge to join. Press the seams open, then repeat to create a strip of four blocks.

05 Repeat Step 4 to create a second strip of four blocks, then pin the two with RS together and sew along one long edge to join. Press the seams open.

06 Place the patchwork panel RS up, then pin a linen side piece along one short edge with RS together, aligning the raw edges. Sew along the short edge, press the seam open, then repeat at the opposite end of the patchwork panel with the last linen side piece.

07 Place the patchwork panel RS up, then pin the linen top piece along the top long edge with RS together, aligning the raw edges. Sew along the long edge, press the seam open, then repeat at the bottom of the patchwork panel with the bottom linen piece.

08 Using basting spray, or pins, attach a piece of wadding to the

WS of both the front patchwork panel and the backing fabric piece.

09 Place the zip along the top of the front panel with RS together, aligning the top edges. Position a piece of lining fabric on top with RS together, aligning the raw edges. Clip, or pin, through all three of the layers, then sew along the top long edge, as close to the zip as possible. Fold back the lining fabric so both pieces are WS together, and press.

10 Repeat Step 9 with the unsewn long edge of the zip, and the remaining backing and lining fabric pieces. Position the front panel and lining piece on one side of the zip, and the back panel and lining piece on the other side of the zip, as shown. Press and top stitch close to the zip on both sides.

11 Clip, or pin, the lining pieces with RS together, and the front and back panels with RS together, aligning the raw edges, as shown. Open the zip halfway, then sew all the way around using a 1cm ( 3 /8") seam, leaving a gap for turning at the bottom of the lining.

12 Trim the seam allowance at the corners and the overhanging zip tape, then turn the pouch RS out. Carefully push out the corners, then neatly slipstitch the gap in the lining closed, and push it inside the pouch to finish.