If you’re new to my 52 zippers project, you can read the backstory, see all the zipper pouches, and download basic zipper pouch instructions here.

So this week I decided to use a small scrap of this beautiful black/white/color speck fabric that I got at the Textile Center garage sale a few weeks ago. I think it was only $1-2. Based on how ridiculously soft it is I’m guessing it’s silk. I combined it with some black linen from a thrifted shirt. I added a tiny turquoise flange for a pop of color between the two. I backed the outer pieces with fusible fleece and quilted it all over with a 30 degree diamond pattern, set 1″ apart. I love this pouch–it’s the perfect size for a few necessities.

The linen was pretty floppy so I thought I’d try waxing it with Otter fabric wax as I’ve never tried waxing fabric before. So I found that the linen didn’t change much in appearance after waxing–as soon as I ironed it all the wax melted into the fibers–but it changed the hand of the fabric considerably. It made it really nice and firm and solid, but not too stiff. I really like the effect! It made it so that the bag stands up nicely. I waxed it before sewing and it only took about 10 extra minutes.

I lined it with a favorite Denyse Schmidt print, and I used a metal zipper. This was my first time shortening a metal zipper. While it wasn’t hard, I will say if you use pliers to snip the teeth off, wear safety glasses!! The tiny teeth zinged off in all different directions and a few did hit me in the face.

  • Outer piece: 9.5″ wide x 8″ tall.
  • Corner boxes: 1″ square.
  • Lining pieces: Cut to same size as exterior panels.
  • Zipper tabs: none
  • Zipper: 9.5″, teeth length: 8.5″

See you back here next week with another zip pouch!