I was inspired by the USPS new LOVE stamps, to create an envelope look-a-like zipper pouch perfect for all your Valentines or just one for yourself! Thankful to my friend Jamie at Sewbrainy for giving me these Sending Love collection from Riley Blake Designs scraps from her beautiful Sidestream Quilt!
Let’s get straight to the tutorial!
Supplies List:
- (2) 7.5″ wide by 5.5″ tall exterior pieces
- (2) 7.5″ wide by 5.5″ tall lining pieces
- 9″ Zipper- Shortened following Sotakhandmade Youtube Tutorial
- Embroidered Patch- With your sweet valentine’s name, or a nickname check out all my tips and tricks for this on Aurifil’s Blog!
- A faux Stamp- you’ll need some scraps
- Pinking Shears
- Steam a Seam 2
- Pelon SF101 – (2) 7.5″ wide by 5.5″ tall
- First up is to interface the exterior pouch pieces with the Pelon SF101 following the instructions on the package.
- Prepare a patch using your embroidery machine, your favorite fabric pen, or a cute patch of fabric! – I talk more about how I do this with Aurifl 28 wt thread on their blog!
- Make your faux stamp!
Gather some cute fussy cut pieces into a little larger than stamp size pieces.
Fuse them and a contrasting fabric to the fusible. Once fused I use my pinking shears to add the decorative edge to the outside piece. Fuse it to the contrasting fabric and then add the decorative edge all around.
Get creative, there’s no one way a stamp has to look!
4. Shorten your zippers using Sotak Handmades tutorial, I love the zipper tabs- this gives a great finished look and no weird zipper seam in your completed pouch!
5. Take the front exterior piece (already interfaced) and add your patch- I eyeball the placement but anywhere you would write an address on an envelope is fine!
6. Attach the zipper to the front exterior only, I do this by placing the shortened zipper in the center and basting it using Wondertape or Sewline glue.
Check out my basting zippers video on IGTV!
7. Once you have the exterior piece on the zipper you can eyeball the stamp placement I keep mine in the upper right corner. Once the zipper is attached you have a better idea of how the exterior is going to finish.
8. Attach the lining pocket and top stitch (also use Sotak Handmade’s method here) only top stitch the exterior piece and leave the lining free.
9. Repeat exterior zipper attachment, lining, and top stitching on the other side.
10. Open the zipper halfway and pin right sides together. Leave a 3″ opening in the botton of the lining for turning.
11. Sew the pouch perimeter, NOT sewing through the zipper tabs. Leaving the opening for turning- backstitching at the beginning of the opening and the ending. You don’t want it to pull apart when you turn!
12. Turn that baby inside out! Close the opening with whatever method you like best- I just machine stitch it closed.
13. Add a fun zipper pull, some candy- and enjoy!
I hope you make one or two, or FOUR! Happy Valentine’s Day!
-Tina
