Tissue pouch step by step sewing tutorial

First of all I will start by wishing you all a very happy New Year 2014! Hope you've enjoyed the festivities and had a wonderful time with your loved ones, I know I did!

I've taken a week off blogging as all the excitement has got in the way, but I'm back now with a step by step sewing tutorial for a handy pouch for tissues so that they don't end up floating all round your bag like they do in mine.

One of the reasons behind this tutorial is that I was given a sewing machine by my Mum and Dad for Christmas (thank you guys!) and I can't stop using it! I've already made a mobile phone case, adjusted a pair of jeans which I've not worn for years because of the fit, and begun a handbag (watch this space!).

This is just a quick little filler while I think about bigger projects :)

So, here goes, grab a cup of tea and have your materials at the ready! I'm using turquoise corduroy left over from a coat I had made in Vietnam and some fabric from an old pair of brown trousers. The brown corduroy I bought in Malaysia.

Give them a quick iron so they're nice and flat.

Next, measure and cut a piece of newspaper 5" by 8" as a template.

Lay both pieces of fabric with their right sides together. Pin the template to them and cut them out. I forgot to line my template up with the lines on the corduroy so they're on a slight slant! I'll learn from that mistake next time.

If you'd like strips down your pouch like the ones on mine, cut out two panels 8" long and slightly wider than your ruler. With an iron, fold and press the edges of the panels so that it's easier to sew them to the main fabric.

Pin them parallel to each other, closer to the edges than they are to the middle. Careful not to put them too close though as you'll need room for seams.

 

Sew down the strips about a millimetre from the edge.

I added two rows of stitching because I think it looks nice!

Time for another cup of tea!

After your cuppa, place the main colour piece complete with strips right-side together with the lining colour, in my case, brown. Pin it and sew the two long sides and one short side, rounding the corners. The seam should be a little over 0.25".

Turn the right way out and iron the seams so they're nice and sharp. At the same time, turn in the rough edge and crease.

Interfacing is optional, but I wanted mine to feel quite substantial, so I cut out a piece the right size and fitted it in. Pin the remaining raw seam and sew.



The pouch is now starting to take shape! Measure it into thirds and sew two lines of stitches along each to make it easier to bend.

 

Sew all the way round the edge of the pouch, about a millimetre in.

Now the fun bit! It's the first time I've used the buttonhole setting on my sewing machine! It's a little wonky (gives it character) but not bad for a first attempt!

Fold up the pouch and put a pencil mark through the buttonhole, then sew the button in place.

The pouch is ready to use. Fold up some tissues and pop them in!

Hope you've been able to follow this tutorial, if you have any questions just drop me a line in a comment.

If you've enjoyed this post, maybe you'd like to share it and follow my blog! Thank you :)

I'm sharing this post at link parties on the following blogs: Handmade Harbour, Be Different Act Normal, Tatertots and Jello, Lamb Around and Thirty Handmade Days.