Make The Most From Your Fabric With Easy Coordinates and Gifts
by admin — 21 Comments » Lazies, I usually have leftover fabric from a bag project. And small accessories are a perfect opportunity to make the most of that fabric investment. Make coordinating accessories to go with your bigger project or tuck these little projects away for sewn gifts when needed. Every time I make myself a purse, I make two coordinating accessories from the leftover fabrics. A Wonder Wallet – which you’ve heard me go on and on about. And a Perfect Pouches small-sized pouch. Perfect Pouches is a great scavenger project – using sizable scraps from other projects. Just add a zipper and sew.
Perfect Pouches in three sizes. Fabrics by Art Gallery Fabrics.
There are two main things I want you to know about this little Perfect Pouches design.
The Easiest Zipper Installation Ever
The zipper installation is to die for. It’s one of those oh-my-gosh things. So simple and easy, perfect every time. It’s a great first project if you’ve never tried sewing a zipper. Complete instructions are in the Perfect Pouches pattern #LGD113. It’s the same installation used in the Runaround Bag design.
Perfect Pouches for so Many Things
Next, it’s a great all-purpose zip pouch. Think of it as an extra pocket where needed. I like the ‘small’ size which is approximately 5″ x 7″. It’s perfect for keeping some of the smaller items in my purse together. It’s wonderful for my small digital camera. Or use it to keep all those pesky phone/camera cords and wires together.
They are great for small hand projects. I keep one loaded with a sewing project to go.
I use the largest sized pouches for travel to keep things together and tidy in my luggage.
I made these pouches when I made the Mini Miranda below. You might remember her from an earlier blog post: Meet Mini Miranda Bag Pattern.
Mini Miranda Bag.
Make Accessories From Project Leftovers
When planning a project or buying supplies from a pattern material list, add an extra fat quarter or additional fabric. Doing so will give you some flexibility when sewing the main project and extra fabric to make coordinating accessories.
More Quick and Easy Small Projects
Pinterest Board: Small Bag and Purse Sewing Patterns
Subscribe Now to get news, updates, and exclusive content from Joan.
Enjoy!
Joan
Joan’s Sewing Group | Pinterest
Like and share this post with your stitchy friends.
I love them ALL!! and everything is super easy to make and always looks pro!!!
Joan, I love the Perfect Pouches. I have been using them in my purse and luggage for years. I have made one for our GPS system to give my husband for his birthday. I use one for my Redwork. I love your patterns (especially the Town Purse and City Bag) and the simplicity in them, Lazy! I’m lovin’ it. Keep up the good work making new patterns Joyce in cold WV
Hi Joan,
Funny that you should mention these three patterns in this Blog. I just ordered all three of them yesterday, and I can’t wait to get them. I absolutely love your choice of fabrics, and I think your bags are stunning.
I just signed up to join your Yahoo Group, and have been on “Lazy overload” looking at all the photos! Such talented ladies! Anyone who follows your Blog, should sign up for the Yahoo Group too! Tons of information, and the photos are to die for! Lots of inspiration there.
Grace
joan, i couldn’t agree w/ you more. since i discovered the pouches, i have made dozens as gifts (no one in my family stitches). i’ve also made the small ones for little door prizes at an annual ladies golf tournament & the are always a hit. when a new stitching friend joins the fold, they always comment on the pouch, then inevitably, they remark, oh, but it’s got a zipper, i’m no good with zippers. i laugh because i had said the same thing when i first saw the pattern. keep up the good work & thanks for discovering the “lazy way”….i love it!!
You are right they are perfect accessories! Love the new cover. Enjoy the trip.
Penny D in Chesapeake
http://www.cottonvault.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1006
I LOVE the mini Miranda picture and the fabric used to make the accessories. I may have to track some of that down. I’ve never tried the pouches, but it looks like something I need to look into. So many projects…so little time.
Joan, I too have been making these perfect pouches for some time. I gave many as Christmas gifts. Each recipient was amazed at my perfect little zipper. I had to give Lazy Girl all the credit and confessed as to how easy it really was to sew. Thanks for always making me look good and keep those Lazy Girl patterns coming!
Judy
Ah….I just jumped over to Quilters Warehouse and ordered the perfect pouches. These will make wonderful Christmas presents…
Quick and Easy! Thanks so much!
Love the pouches – I’m always making the small one to go with a purse and a wonder wallet, too. Great gifts!
Your designs are great, Joan. Keep them coming!!!
Hope your trip was fun.
I make a matching Wonder Wallet to go with each of my Town Purses. I have the Perfect Pouches pattern and have been wanting to make them. Thanks for the idea to make matching ones for my purses. It will be a great way to use up the extra fabric!
I just had a friend, who is a quilter, tell me she could never make the Town Purse because of the zipper! I told her how easy the zipper is and the pattern as well!
I love your patterns…the Thread Library is great…I have made two of them to store all of my sewing thread. It keeps the thread organized by color and travels well to classes!
I’m on your web-site, but I can’t find the pattern for the Perfect Pouches
Hi Billie,
I like to order my Lazy Girl patterns at Quilter’s Warehouse, here’s a link
http://www.quilterswarehouse.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=LGD113
I don’t think Joan sells retail on her site here….
Marguerita
Sew Thankful (www.sewthankful.com) carries all the Lazy Girl patterns, and they are often discounted.
Joan, you are so clever and creative. Love your patterns!
I ordered the pouches and received notice yesterday that they are in the mail. Can’t wait to make all three of them and a set for my daughter plus a few friends. My granddaughter (9 years old) just loved her Runaround and now has two Wonder Wallets.
Just jumping in to let you know that recently made a Noriko handbag. I love it!! I used it as a giveaway at a party I went to and now I’ve got 6 ladies that want me to make on for them.
I think I’ll add a pocket. Oh, and I did topstitching along the outside seams.
Thanks!
I am new to sewing and eager to try out new patterns, but I need them to be straightforward since I’m just learning. I ordered the Perfect Pouches and Wonder Wallet patterns two weeks ago, and tried them both as soon as they arrived. The instructions are really easy to understand and I love how everything has turned out – soon I plan to ‘graduate’ to a Towne Purse and Miranda Day Bag! Thank you SO much for these wonderful and really useful patterns!
Not sure if this is the right place to ask a question (new to all this “blog”stuff LOL) but I would like to know,Joan,or anyone else! did I put my small pouch together wrong or did I miss a step? I can see top stitching in the picture on my pattern but I don,t see that on my pouch. Was that an option that was done after the zipper was finished or is mine hidden in the wrong place? Would appreciate hearing form anyone that has made these pouches also.
Love the whole concept!
Thanks,
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
After sewing the top and bottom fabric pieces to the zipper, you can topstitch along both edges of the fabric near the zipper. I stitch about 1/16th of an inch from the folded fabric edge and usually catch a bit of the zipper fabric edge in that stitching. It makes for a nice clean, stable finish. Totally optional.
Joan
Just wanted to thank you for the perfect pouch pattern. Two friends and I went on a little sewing retreat this past weekend and made some of them. They were astonished at how easy the zipper installation was.
I posted a photo on my blog –
http://www.withthreadinhand.blogspot.com
Nancy
Hi Joan, and everyone…I am new to these wonderous patterns and have just ordered my first one, the Gracie, as I fell in love with it at first sight. I am having stomache pains as I look at some of the other patterns which means I am going to be pulling out the credit card and ordering some more shortly, lo! I have been sewing for almost 50 years but am relatively new to making purses. I have 5 daughters so sewing was basically a necessity in my life, lo! They are all grown, successful business women now and I know without a doubt that the minute they see the first bag (Gracie) they are going to be begging me to make them some bags. Ahhh yes, its going to be a very busy summer. Thank you so much for your wonderful designs and puleeze keep them coming. Btw, can someone please give me the Yahoo Group link? I would love to join.
Soft & Warm Hugs,
Jo