Flying geese blocks are a staple in quilting, but they can be intimidating for beginners. Today, we’re going to walk you through the process of creating both single and multiple flying geese blocks efficiently. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to achieve perfect piecing every time.

Why Flying Geese Can Be Challenging

Many quilters find flying geese challenging because they require precision and accuracy to maintain those sharp points. However, with the right techniques, you can master this block and enhance your quilts with ease.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these essential supplies:

• Fabric for the Base and Triangles: Choose contrasting colors for visibility.
• Rotary Cutter and Ruler: For cutting fabric accurately.
• Scissors: For trimming threads and small pieces of fabric.
• Pins: To hold fabric in place while sewing.
• Erasable Marking Tool: For drawing diagonal lines without leaving residue.
• Sewing Machine with a General-Purpose Foot: Ideal for precision sewing.

Watch the Tutorial

Want to see these steps in action? Check out our YouTube video tutorial: How to Sew a Perfect Flying Geese Block. In the video, we demonstrate each step in detail, from preparing your fabric to finishing touches. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more quilting inspiration!

Step 1: Preparing Your Fabric

1. Cutting the Fabric: For a 2x4 flying geese, cut two triangles (2.5 inches x 4.5 inches) and one base piece (2.5 inches x 4.5 inches).
2. Marking the Fabric: Draw a diagonal line across each triangle using an erasable marking tool.

Step 2: Sewing the First Triangle

1. Aligning the Triangle: Place one triangle right sides together with the base piece, aligning the diagonal line with the edge of the base.
2. Sewing the Triangle: Sew along the diagonal line, just to the right of it, to ensure a smooth press later.
3. Trimming Excess Fabric: Cut ¼ inch away from the seam to reduce bulk.

Step 3: Pressing and Adding the Second Triangle

1. Pressing the Seam: Press the seam to set it, then flip it back to create the flying geese shape.
2. Adding the Second Triangle: Align the second triangle with the base, ensuring it mirrors the first triangle. Sew and press as before.

Step 4: Squaring Up Your Flying Geese

1. Using a Ruler: Use a ruler with a 45° mark to ensure your flying geese is square and the points are centered.
2. Trimming to Size: Trim excess fabric, maintaining a ¼ inch seam allowance above the point.

Making Four Flying Geese at Once

For efficiency, you can make four flying geese simultaneously:

1. Stacking Fabric: Place two sets of triangles right sides together and draw a diagonal line through both.
2. Sewing Both Sides: Sew ¼ inch away from the diagonal line on both sides.
3. Cutting Apart: Cut along the diagonal line to separate the pieces.
4. Pressing and Trimming: Press each piece and trim to size as before.

Tips for Success

• Always press your seams as you go to reduce bulk and ensure a smooth finish.
• Use a walking foot or even feed foot on your sewing machine to help guide the fabric smoothly.
• Practice joining strips and sewing corners on scrap fabric before working on your quilt.

With these steps and tips, you’ll be able to create perfect flying geese blocks that enhance your quilts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter, mastering this technique will take your projects to the next level.

For more quilting tutorials and inspiration, don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel—happy quilting!

Zippers can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! Whether you’re making bags, totes, or other projects, mastering a few zipper techniques can take your sewing skills to the next level. Today, we’re sharing some of our favorite tips and tricks to help you install zippers with ease and achieve a polished, professional finish every time.

Why Zippers Can Be Tricky

Many sewists find zippers challenging because they require precision and alignment. From attaching zipper tabs to sewing straight seams, there are several steps where things can go awry. But with the right tools and techniques, you’ll be able to tackle zippers confidently and even enjoy the process!

What You’ll Need

Before we dive into the tips, make sure you have these supplies on hand:

• Nylon zipper (double-slide if needed)
• Scissors (not your good fabric scissors)
• Snips for trimming ends
• Polyester or multi-purpose thread (better durability than cotton thread)
• Rotary cutter and ruler for trimming edges
• Sewing machine with a general-purpose foot (like the Baby Lock J foot)

Watch the Tutorial

Want to see these tips in action? Watch our YouTube video tutorial: Zipper Tips and Tricks for Professional-Looking Projects. In the video, we demonstrate each step in detail, from reattaching zipper tabs to sewing straight seams. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more sewing inspiration!

Tip #1: Reattaching a Zipper Tab

Have you ever accidentally pulled the zipper tab off the tape? It happens to all of us! Here’s how to reattach it with ease:

1. Cut Out Teeth on One Side: Use scissors to remove 3–4 teeth from one side of the zipper tape. This creates an indention that makes it easier to slide the tab back on.

2. Align the Zipper Tab: Slide one side of the tape into the tab first, then align the other side. Make sure both sides are even before pulling the tab onto the tape.

3. Test Alignment: Once the tab is on, test it by sliding it back and forth to ensure smooth movement.

Pro Tip: Always cut off any metal stops at the end of nylon zippers before starting your project to avoid breaking needles or damaging your machine during sewing.

Tip #2: Cutting Zipper Tape to Size

When cutting your zipper tape down to size, make sure it’s about an inch longer than your project on both sides. This extra length prevents the zipper tab from sliding off during assembly and gives you room to maneuver while sewing.

1. Move the zipper tab into your project area before trimming excess tape.

2. Use a rotary cutter and ruler for clean, straight cuts across nylon zippers (this won’t work for metal zippers).

3. To prevent accidentally pulling off the tab later, sew across both ends of the zipper tape after trimming.

Tip #3: Sewing Straight Seams with Zippers

Achieving straight seams when attaching zippers is one of the most important steps for a professional finish. Here’s how to do it:

1. Right Sides Together: Place the right side of your fabric against the right side of your zipper tape before sewing. This ensures everything will align properly when flipped right-side out later.

2. Align with Your Foot: Use your general-purpose foot (such as a Baby Lock J foot) and align your fabric along its inside edge for consistent spacing from the zipper teeth. Move your needle all the way to one side (usually left) to avoid sewing over teeth directly.

3. Adjust Stitch Length: If working with thicker fabrics or stabilizers, increase your stitch length slightly (e.g., from 2.5mm to 3mm or 3.5mm) for smoother stitching.

Tip #4: Topstitching for a Clean Finish

Topstitching is essential for keeping fabric away from zipper teeth and giving your project a polished look:

1. After attaching the zipper, fold fabric away from the teeth and press it flat with an iron if necessary.

2. Sew a straight topstitch along the edge of your fabric using matching thread for a subtle finish or contrasting thread for decorative flair.

3. Keep stitches even by aligning your fabric edge with your presser foot guide.

Bonus Tips for Bag Projects

If you’re installing zippers in bags or totes, here are some additional tips:

• Use polyester or multi-purpose thread instead of cotton thread for added durability—especially if you plan on carrying heavy items in your bag.

• Ensure that any indents or trimmed sections of zipper tape are outside of your project area to avoid issues with sliding tabs or weak seams.

• Always double-check alignment before sewing—this saves time and prevents mistakes.

Finishing Touches

Once your zipper is installed, trim any excess tape and square up your project edges using a rotary cutter and ruler. Move the zipper tab into place before trimming to avoid losing it off the ends again! For added security, sew across both ends of the zipper tape after trimming.

With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to install zippers like a pro! Whether you’re working on a simple pouch or a detailed bag project, these techniques will help you achieve clean lines and functional designs every time.

For more sewing tutorials and inspiration, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel—happy stitching!

As you use your iron on various sewing projects, you will undoubtably find the bottom of the iron dirtied with a range of nastiness. In this post, we discuss how we clean the classroom irons at The Sewing Studio and the supplies and steps you can follow to clean your sewing iron.

What is on my iron?

Several of the materials we use while sewing can have residual amounts of adhesive, dyes, and other materials used during the material manufacturing process. Your iron may also pickup reminents of burned non-cotton fabric. Additionally, depending on your local water and type of water you put in your iron or spray bottle, you may also find calcium and other hard water deposits on your iron's sole plate or hot plate.

How do you clean an iron?

Caution: Cleaning an iron requires turning the iron on to a high setting, then cleaning the hot plate with a cotton rag and iron cleaner. This process is dangerous and there is a risk of serious burns. If you are not comfortable with this process or unable to safely handle a hot iron, please seek assistance. Clean an iron at your own risk.

1. Gather your equipment and supplies: iron, iron cleaner, and denim or terry cloth rags. For iron cleaner, we use Faultless Iron Cleaner or Magic Iron Cleaner.
2. Carefully review the instructions on your iron cleaner.
3. Empty any water from your iron.
4. Turn the iron on and set to hot (cotton) setting.
5. Apply iron cleaner to denim or terry cloth rag as directed by iron cleaner instructions.
6. Rub the rag with iron cleaner over the iron's hot plate in a circular motion.
7. Wipe iron hot plate with clear area of the rag or separate rag.
8. Place iron in a safe position, turn it off, and allow it to cool.

Items in this Entry:

• Faultless Iron Cleaner - https://amzn.to/3XmIvxQ
• Magic Iron Cleaner - https://thesewingstudio.com/shop/notions/magic-iron-cleaner-2oz/
• Black + Decker Classic (F67E-T) - https://amzn.to/4gkwH6T

Notes:

• All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
• This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our full terms and conditions.

Here at The Sewing Studio, we like our irons hot and heavy, which is why we recommend the Black + Decker Classic Traditional Steam Iron (F67E-T). This model is extremely useful for flattening cotton fabrics used in applique, crafting, embroidery, and quilting for several reasons:

First, the Classic has seven different temperature settings providing plenty of heat for removing wrinkles while requiring less downward pressure or pressing.

Second, a heavy-duty aluminum sole plate makes the iron weigh in at 3.9 lbs (1.78 kg) which also helps to remove wrinkles without requiring downward pressure from the user.

Lastly, the iron retails for an impressive $34.99 on the Black + Decker website and $29.99 at Amazon and Target.

Black + Decker Classic Specifications:

• Color: Black
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 4.8"
• Weight: 3.9 lbs
• Soleplate Material: Aluminum
• Steam Control: Yes
• Temperature Settings: Yes, seven levels
• Volts: 120V
• Wattage: 1100W
• Warranty: 2 Year Limited

Items in this Entry:

• Black + Decker Classic (F67E-T) - https://amzn.to/4gkwH6T
• Faultless Starch Premium Luxe - https://amzn.to/4ghCwBY

Notes:

• All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
• This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our full terms and conditions.

When it comes to sewing projects, what could be more perfect than a pocket? This guide is here to show you how to take your creations up a notch by incorporating a sleek and functional zipper pocket! Whether you're giving new life to a plain tote bag or upgrading an apron, adding a zipper pocket can bring both style and utility to your sewing endeavors. Let's dive into the step-by-step process and learn how to seamlessly integrate this into your projects!

Supplies You'll Need:

For this project, you won't need an exhaustive list of supplies. In fact, the essentials are quite simple!

1. The project you want to add the zipper pocket to (tote bag, apron, etc.).
2. A 14-inch zipper (color of your choice).
3. Two coordinating fabric pieces to create the pocket.

1. Creating Your Pocket Template:

Before we begin sewing, it's crucial to ensure we have the right dimensions for our pocket. 

1. Determine the desired size of the pocket slit on your project.
2. Add an inch to each side of the slit and at least an inch above it.
3. Consider a 1/2-inch width for the pocket slit, which works well with zippers.
4. Create a template with these dimensions, including a V-shaped cut at each end of the slit for folding.

Having a template on hand will make future pocket creations easier and more consistent.

2. Sewing the First Pocket Piece: 

1. Pin the pocket template onto the chosen spot of your project where you want the zipper slit to be.
2. Sew along the template's outline to create the pocket opening, pivoting at the corners.
3. Carefully snip open the fabric within the sewn lines, creating an opening for the zipper.

3. Preparing for the Zipper:

1. Turn your project inside out, flipping the fabric through the pocket opening.
2. Press the fabric around the opening, creating a clean edge.

4. Attaching the Zipper:

1. Center the zipper beneath the fabric, ensuring the zipper pull is away from your sewing machine's presser foot.
2. Use pins to secure the zipper in place, going from one side of the slit to the other while going underneath the zipper teeth.
3. Stitch along the edge of the fabric, attaching the zipper. Pivot at corners for accuracy.

5. Finishing Touches:

1. Snip the zipper ends to align with the fabric edges.
2. Align the second pocket fabric with the first making sure you have right sides together.
3. Stitch around the edges, starting with the top, then the bottom, and finally the sides. Pivot and maintain a consistent distance from the zipper.

6. Optional Finishing:

For an extra polished look, run a zigzag stitch along the edges of the pocket to prevent fraying. 

Congratulations! You've just transformed your project into a functional work of art with a chic zipper pocket. These pockets not only add utility but also a touch of sophistication to your creations. From totes to aprons, you can now enhance any sewing project with this versatile technique. Thanks for joining me in this sewing journey, and remember, creativity knows no bounds. Like and subscribe to our channel for more sewing inspiration and tutorials. Until next time, happy sewing!

Hello craft enthusiasts! Today we will walk through a fun and practical DIY project - creating your very own beautiful apron from a tea towel. This DIY apron project is a great way to express your creative side and, at the same time, create something functional. Perfer Video? Check out our Tutorial "Easy DIY Half Apron Tutorial: Sewing Step-by-Step for Beginners | The Sewing Studio" on Youtube! Ready to start? Let's go!

Supplies

To get started, here's what you'll need:

🌟 1/2 yd main fabric

🌟 1/4 yd coordinating print

🌟 A tea towel

🌟 Ric Rac Trim

Apron Preparation

First things first, let's prepare the fabric.

Main Print: Start with your main fabric. Straighten and square the top and bottom edges. Then, trim the width of the main fabric to 30 inches. Using the fold on the fabric as a guide, line it up with the edge of your cutting mat, ensuring it's square along one of the lines on the mat. Cut through the two layers of fabric at the 15-inch mark on the mat.

Coordinating Print: Now, take your coordinating print. After straightening and squaring one edge, cut two 3-inch strips. These will serve as the ties for your apron.

Tea Towel: Lastly, cut your tea towel into two pieces. You'll only need one half for this project. If the cut edge of your tea towel starts to fray, you can use a serger or a zig-zag stitch to stop the fray.

Apron Construction

Now, let's move on to constructing our apron!

Creating the Ties: Start with your coordinating print strips. Sew the two strips together. To prevent extra bulk in your final seam, sew the strips together by placing the strips right-sides together at 90 degrees from each other. Draw a line across the strip, connecting the two diagonal points. Sew across the line you drew. Press the diagonal seam flat at your ironing board. Now, turn under 1/2 inch on each short end and press. Fold the strip in half along the long edge and press this seal flat. Unfold the strip and press each long side to the middle fold. Tuck the raw edges inside, refold the strip in half, and press to finish off. Voila, you now have your apron ties!

Preparing the Main Print: Hem the bottom edge of your main fabric. Fold up and press a half-inch to the wrong side of the fabric, press the seam flat, then fold and press again to enclose the raw edge. Run a straight stitch along the top edge of the folded hem at your sewing machine to finish off the bottom edge.

Adding the Ric Rac Trim: Now it's time to add some flair! Cut your Ric Rac Trim about an inch shorter than the width of your apron, center it along the bottom edge, and stitch it in place.

Hemming the Side Seam: Hem the side seam of your main fabric like the bottom seam.

Incorporating the Tea Towel: Before we move on to attaching the ties, let's integrate our tea towel into the design. Center the tea towel with the top edge of the apron, then baste the towel to the apron. This creates a handy towel for cleaning off our hands and adds a charming touch to your apron.

Attaching the Ties: Finally, it's time to add the coordinating print ties to the top of the apron. Slide the folded edge of the strip over the top of the apron, making sure to match the center of the apron with the center of the strip. Top stitch the ties onto the apron by running a stitch close to the bottom of the coordinating fabric. To reinforce the ties, topstitch along the top edge of the coordinating print.

And there you have it! Your homemade, perfectly designed apron is ready to accompany you on your culinary adventures. Not only will this apron serve a functional purpose in your kitchen, but it will also reflect your creativity and DIY skills. So tie on your new apron, and enjoy cooking and crafting in style!

 

Thank you for letting us help you take your inspiration and turn it into a creation! 

For more tutorials visit https://thesewingstudio.com/blog/

For more video tutorials visit our YouTube Channel

The Sewing Studio Staff

The Sewing Studio is proud to offer a wide variety of Baby Lock machines! The Sewing Studio is a full-service sewing store that has been serving the Lubbock, Texas, area for nearly 40 years. We specialize in selling and servicing high-end sewing machines, but we also offer a wide range of classes for sewers of all levels and materials you might need for any type of sewing project. Give us a call at (806) 792-3863 or visit our store to learn more about what we can do for you! Thanks for reading! #SewingStudioTopTips #BabyLockEmbroideryMachines #SewWithBabyLock #IQTechnology #IQLaser #Sewing #SewingMachines #SewingStore #LubbockSewingStore #SewingStore #SewingClassesLubbock

Embroidery has a rich history, dating back to ancient times. Today, embroidery is a popular craft, and many people are turning their embroidery skills into successful home-based businesses. If you're considering starting an embroidery business, the Baby Lock embroidery machine can help you create professional-quality designs that will set your business apart from the competition.

However, starting an embroidery business can be a daunting task. Here are some additional tips to help you launch a successful home-based embroidery business using the Baby Lock embroidery machine. In this blog we'll go over these 5 key-points!

1. Niche Definition and Pricing Strategy
2. Building a Loyal Client Base
3. Staying on Top of Embroidery Trends
4. Quality Designs with Baby Lock Embroidery Machine
5. Building a Strong Brand Identity and External Resources

To begin, defining your niche and developing your pricing strategy is essential. This will help you target your ideal customers and ensure you're charging a fair price for your services. Once you've established your pricing strategy, you can create a marketing plan to reach potential customers. Building a loyal client base is essential to any embroidery business's success. You can achieve this by providing excellent customer service, keeping accurate records, and staying up-to-date with trends.

Staying on top of trends in embroidery is crucial to the success of your business. One way to stay on top of trends is to attend industry events, such as trade shows and conferences. These events are a great opportunity to learn about new techniques, materials, and equipment and to network with other embroidery professionals. Another way to stay on top of trends is to follow embroidery blogs, social media accounts, and online forums. This will keep you informed about the latest trends and techniques in the industry.

But what sets your embroidery business apart from the competition? One crucial factor is the quality of your designs. This is where the Baby Lock embroidery machine comes in. The machine's advanced features, such as automatic threading and built-in embroidery designs, allow you to create professional-quality designs quickly and efficiently. Baby Lock offers a range of embroidery machines designed for home-based businesses, including the Meridian, Solaris, Altair, and Pathfinder. The Meridian, Altair, and Solaris are high-end machines with large embroidery fields, built-in tutorials, and advanced editing features. The Pathfinder is a mid-range machine that offers many of the same features at a lower price point.

To ensure that your designs are of the highest quality, you must also develop your embroidery skills and choose suitable materials. Investing in high-quality embroidery threads, stabilizers, and fabrics will make your designs look better and last longer. You can also consider eco-friendly or sustainable materials to appeal to environmentally-conscious customers.

Finally, to build a strong brand identity, you must choose a logo, color scheme, and design style that reflect your niche and target market. By developing a consistent style for your designs and marketing materials, you can create a strong brand identity to help you stand out in a crowded market.

Here are some external links and sources that can provide more information on starting a successful embroidery business:

Baby Lock Embroidery Machines: https://babylock.com/machines/embroidery

1. Baby Lock is a leading manufacturer of embroidery machines and offers a range of machines designed for home-based businesses.

National Network of Embroidery Professionals: https://www.nnep.com/

2. The National Network of Embroidery Professionals is a trade organization that provides resources and support for embroidery businesses.

Craft Industry Alliance: https://craftindustryalliance.org/

3. Craft Industry Alliance is a trade organization that provides resources and support for a variety of craft businesses.

Are you looking for a new hobby? Do you love to sew, or are you interested in learning how? If so, then sewing a pencil bag is the perfect project for you! Not only is it fairly simple and quick DIY to do, but it's also a great way to use up fabric scraps. Plus, once you're done, you'll have a cute and functional pencil bag that will last for years! So grab your sewing machine, and let's get started!

Materials:

• 2 - 8"x11" Main print of your choice
• 2 - 4"x12" Corresponding print of your choice
• 2 - 4"x6" Same corresponding print of your choice
• 1 - 2"x12" Same corresponding print of your choice
• 2 - 8"x11" Fusible fleece
• 1 - 2"x12" Fusible fleece
• 1 - 14" Soft zipper
• 1 - 6" x 10" Vinyl sheet

Need some guidance? Follow along with Natalie, the owner of The Sewing Studio with the video down below:

Let's Prep our Materials!

Step 1: Iron & Fuse your fleece to your main print.

Take one of your 8"x11" fusible fleece, "bumpy" side up (the bumps are the glue), and stack one of your 8"x11" main print material right side up onto your fleece piece. Take your iron and press the two materials together, fusing your fleece to your main print.

Repeat with the remaining 8"x11" piece of your main print and fusible fleece.

Repeat this same process as well, with your 2"x12" piece of your fusible fleece and corresponding print material.

Complete the same process with the remaining pieces, the two 4"x12" corresponding prints and the two 4"x6" corresponding prints, resulting in 4 total folded and pressed pieces.

Sandwich your vinyl in between one of your folded & pressed 4”x6” coordinating print and lay it under your presser foot. No special foot is needed. Move your needle slightly to the left to line your strip of corresponding print and vinyl where it will be parallel to the edge but not on the edge itself.  You want to top stitch all the layers together making sure to catch all the fabric.

Repeat this same process using your folded and pressed 4"x6" coordinating print, and sew to the other side of the vinyl. Take one of your folded and pressed 4"x12" coordinating print and repeat picking one of the remaining sides as the top. You will leave the raw edges exposed on the top right and left. Resulting in something like this:

Step 2: Add the Zipper.

At your sewing machine, lay your zipper face up.  Take the top finished edge of your vinyl piece and place it on the left side of your zipper.  You want to leave about an 1/8 of an inch between the top finished edge of your vinyl piece and the zipper teeth.

Sew down that side. For best results, have the zipper teeth lay just against the right side of your foot. Move the needle to the right, Spacing the top finished edge of the vinyl about an 1/8 of an inch from the zipper teeth. Drop the presser foot to hold these pieces in position. We want to make sure and catch both the fabric and the zipper tape with our thread. Adjusting as you go.  

Now take your 2”x12” corresponding print with the fusible fleece adhered to it and lay the fleece side up on top of your zipper, lining up the unfinished edge of the zipper and fleece piece together. 

Flip these pieces over so that the back of the zipper is facing up.  It is easier to line up and sew with the zipper on the top. The edges should still be lined up, if not adjust. 

Line the raw edge and zipper teeth against the left side of your foot. Make sure to move your needle back to center position or to the left of center slightly.  You want to sew about a ¼ inch seam.  Sew down this edge being mindful to keep straight as you go.

Once you’re done sewing the front vinyl piece to your zipper, you should be able to flip the coordinating print piece away from the zipper and not see a seam.

You’ll notice the new top piece will continue to flip back down across the zipper. Because of this, we will need to top stitch the coordinating print piece down, running a top stitch down the coordinating print piece, catching the zipper underneath. Once you have finished this step, make sure that your zipper works properly before continuing to the next step.  If your zipper does not work, you will need to rip out the piece that is too close to your zipper and resew it.  

You have now successfully completed the front side of your Zipper Pouch!

Take and lay one of the main print pieces with fleece side down on your work surface. Take your front vinyl piece and lay it on top, having it lay vinyl side up, lining up the bottom edges of both pieces, and centering the top piece.

We will trim the sides and top of the back piece even so it matches the same size as the front vinyl piece. 

BEFORE WE TRIM, move your zipper to the center of your front vinyl piece. We DO NOT want to lose our working zipper when we trim. BE CAREFUL NOT TO let your zipper come off the zipper teeth.  If this happens, it can be hard to put the zipper back on the zipper teeth.

Step 3: Baste the pieces together

Now that the back main print is the same size as the front vinyl piece, we need to baste these pieces together creating the pocket.

To baste the pieces together, you will want to use about a ⅛ inch seam allowance.  You will want to sew across the top of the pieces first.

Now baste the left and right sides. For best results, do the side with the open side of the zipper last.

After this process, you are one step closer to having a functional pocket!

At this point, the bottom side of the pocket piece should be the only side remaining unstitched.

Step 4: Adding the back of the pencil pouch.

Take the remaining 8“ x 11” piece of your main print to your sewing machine with fleece side down. Take the pocket piece and lay it face down on top of your main print, leaving it fleece side up, lining up the top edges together. You might notice that the bottom piece is larger and we will trim that after we’ve sewn this together. 

We will only sew on the left, right and top sides for this part, leaving the bottom side open again. With your needle in the center position, line up the edge of your pocket pieces on the right side of your foot. For best results, start with one side sewing toward the top. Once you get to the corner where they meet, leave your needle in the piece, lift your presser foot and simply shift and pivot your piece around to the front of you, and continue to sew. This will take care of backstitching. Sew down all three sides using this method. If you pivot and notice you’re not lined up correctly, pivot back and stitch until you are in the correct position. 

Let’s add our finishing touches!

We are now ready to flip our bag inside out and add the last piece of trim. 

Step 5: Flip it inside out.

Open your pocket and reach in, feel for your zipper tab, pull your top piece out towards you, flip it inside out, being mindful not to crinkle your vinyl too much. 

Once it’s inside out, you can use a turning tool such as a pencil with the eraser side and push out the corners.  This helps to push out your corners completely and flatten them.

Step 6: Press the seams with your iron being careful not to let your iron touch the vinyl as it will melt it.

Step 7: Finishing the last edge. 

Grab your last remaining folded and pressed 4”x12” piece of your corresponding print and your unfinished pencil pouch. At your sewing machine, open your folded coordinating piece and lay your zipper pouch pocket in the center. Keeping your folded piece open and raw edges towards the center of the coordinating print piece, baste the pocket piece to the coordinating strip piece across the bottom of the pocket piece. Lift your presser foot if the foot won’t go over your corner and then lower it and it should allow you to sew.  You will want to make sure and back stitch these pieces at the beginning and end of your seam. You can also stretch the zipper pouch pocket piece to make it lay flat against the coordinating print piece.

Now take the edges on both sides of the bottom corners and fold them inside and take the bottom piece and fold it over to hide all the raw edges. Wonder clips work great to hold the corners in place, otherwise use straight pins and be carful not to catch the vinyl. It may take some finagling to get your fold into a place you’re happy with. 

After you have it lined up the way you like it and have your edges hidden, line up the edge of the fabric closest to your vinyl piece under your foot nicely.  Move your needle to the left and then you can get a nice top stitch seam allowance.  Sew down the bottom of the pocket piece, removing your wonder clip as you go. Hold it well and stretch the coordinating print piece as needed to get the seam to lay flat as you go.  It is very important to back stitch at the beginning and end of this seam.  If you struggle to get your seam started through the thick material, move in a little and back stitch to the starting edge.  This will help your feed dogs grab the fabric on the bottom.

There you have it!

Just like that, you have a fully functional and cute pencil pouch! We hope you found this blog post helpful. New to sewing? Check out our YouTube channel and watch more of our tutorials featured below!

How to Sew a Pillow Case – Sewing for Beginners 

Sewing for Beginners: A Beginners Guide on How to Use a Sewing Machine

Thank you for letting us help you take your inspiration and turn it into a creation! 

The Sewing Studio Staff

The Sewing Studio is proud to offer a wide variety of Baby Lock machines! The Sewing Studio is a full-service sewing store that has been serving the Lubbock, Texas, area for nearly 40 years. We specialize in selling and servicing high-end sewing machines, but we also offer a wide range of classes for sewers of all levels and materials you might need for any type of sewing project. Give us a call at (806) 792-3863 or visit our store to learn more about what we can do for you! Thanks for reading! #SewingStudioTopTips #BabyLockEmbroideryMachines #SewWithBabyLock #IQTechnology #IQLaser #Sewing #SewingMachines #SewingStore #LubbockSewingStore #SewingStore #SewingClassesLubbock