Zipper Pouch 3.0

Today I hope to wrap up work on my first Boxy Zipper Pouch. This zipper pouch has 8 boxed corners and is fully lined. In this particular version, the inside seams responsible for the boxed corners are bound to finish them off rather than being hidden behind the lining. This is an easier version of the bag and where I chose to start.

Learning goals for the project:

1. continue practicing that elusive straight seam.

2. zipper installation in this application. Using zipper by the yard, install half of the zipper on each end of the fabric then apply the sliders. Harder than it sounds!

3. seam binding. Similar to any edge binding but something I've not done in decades.

The outside looks pretty much OK at this point. Had some problems with zipper and top stitching but I think I'm getting better at this. Boxing the corners is getting easier as well.

Applying the zipper sliders was a challenge. The jig that is supposed to help didn't arrive until after I had already managed to get these 2 going so, I don't know if it will help or not; ... next time. It helps immensely to have a butane lighter to singe and melt the ends of the zipper to make it more amenable to fitting through the slider. This zipper is OK but caused the bag to be a bit wonky as I didn't get the 2 sides of the zipper perfectly aligned. Now I know why so many experienced sewists avoid zippers.

Still need to bind those seams on the interior ... later today.

Next project will likely be a quilted zipper pouch of some kind so that I can continue to practice the things that are giving me problems: straight lines and zippers.

Meanwhile, a question. I tend to sew slowly on the machine; it gives at least the illusion of more control. In fact, I sew so slowly (say that quickly) that I have a tendency to count the stitches! Anyone else do this? <sigh> I thought not. LOL :)

dks, 14 Oct 2025