Make Half Square Triangle Pouches

LoveCrafts recently sent me a 10″ stacker from Riley Blake. Have you heard about LoveCrafts?? They are a global community for makers. Yay! If you want to learn about quilting, sewing, knitting or crocheting.. This is your place.

It was a treat to receive the confetti cottons 10″ stacker and I wanted to make something quilting inspired. After giving it some thought, I decided to make color blocked zipper pouches with a twist.

So what is the twist..? Think “half square triangles..”

Materials:

10″ quilting squares [ quantity 6 for this tutorial ]
2 zippers
Disappearing fabric pen and pencil
Quilting supplies – rotary cutter, mat and ruler
Sewing supplies and sewing machine
Iron and ironing board

I referenced a popular tutorial for a modern color block tote bag that I recently re-shared on my blog. Both are inspired and start with a half square triangle…

The fun part with this tutorial? You end up with 2 zipper pouches! It requires 6 squares – 2 squares in different colors and 2 sets of squares in different colors.

Let’s get started:

Step 1 – Lay 2 different color squares on top of each other. Adjust so that they are even at all sides. With a pencil, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other corner. Pin along the line. Place into your sewing machine and stitch a straight line 1/4″ away on each side of the pencil line.

Step 2 – Using a rotary cutter and ruler, cut along the line. Press. Open and press both seam allowances towards the darker side. Repeat for the other side. You now have 2 half square triangles.

Step 3 – Square up both half square triangles. Place the 3rd color [ in this case the color dk grey and the bottom color of the large pouch ] on top of one of the half square triangles. Right sides facing. Use your rotary cutter and trim this color to be the same size. Find the center of the square and draw a straight line across.

Step 4 – Place into your sewing machine and 1/4″ below the pencil line. Press. Use your rotary cutter and ruler and cut 1/4″ down from the sewn line. Press both seam allowances down or towards the darker side. One side should be larger than the other. Repeat with the other half square triangle.

TIP – You should now have the following pieces: 2 exterior pieces for the large square pouch and 2 exterior pieces for the small pouch, plus 2 lining pieces for the small pouch. A total of 6 pieces.

The rest of the tutorial is the same for sewing a zipper pouch. I have quite a few tutorials here on my blog and you can see one here and here.

Step 5 – Place the smaller rectangular pieces to the side. Place the lining color square for the large out under one of the exterior pieces. Place your quilting ruler 3″ down from the center line and trim. Use the bottom pieces for the zipper tab and it gives you 2 color options. Cut the zipper tab to be 2″ x 1.5″.

Step 6 – Use a ruler and make a pencil mark along the top edge – 1/2″ from each top side. Make a second mark again, 1/8″” inwards. This is the placement for the zipper along the top edge. The 1/8″ gives wiggle room and allows the zipper to pop out nice and easy.

Step 7 – Cut the zipper to size. Lay along the top edge and cut to the match the marks you made. Fold the zipper tab in half length wise. Fold again. Insert the raw zipper end into the tab and stitch down.

Step 8 – Place the zipper face down between the marks. Pin in place and sew the zipper. Place the lining on top, sandwiching the zipper. Follow the previous stitch line and sew again. Press open. Repeat for the other side.

Step 9 – Press the fabric away from the zipper. Be careful to NOT melt the zipper. Place into your sewing machine and topstitch along the zipper edge.

Step 10 – Open the zipper. Fold along the zipper so that the right sides of the exterior pieces are facing each other. Finger press any wrinkles out. Pin along the lining and also the exterior. Place into your sewing machine and stitch together with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Leave a 2″ – 3″ opening along the lining bottom seam.

Step 11 – Press the seam. Trim each corner. Turn rightsize out through the opening along the lining bottom. Finger press any wrinkles out.

Step 12 – Turn under the seam allowance at the opening at the lining bottom seam. Press. Pin closed. Place into your sewing machine and topstitch closed.