The new cork fabric has been around for a little while, but I just received mine. It is a full 54 inches wide. It’s a little pricey, but, for most projects you only need a little bit.
For this zippy pouch you will need:
1 12 or 14 inch zipper
1/4 yard of cork fabric
1/4 yard of lining fabric
thread to match
So here’s how to do this. These instructions can be extrapolated to any fabric.
Cut:
2 rectangles 8 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ from the cork fabric
2 rectangles 8 1/2″ x 11 1/2″ from the lining fabric
1 strip 2 1/2″ x 5 inches of the lining fabric
Prepare the Zipper:
- Fold the long edges of the 2 1/2″ strip inward toward the middle, forming a piece that looks like bias tape. Press. Cut the piece in half across the short axis.
- encase the ends of the zipper in the tape, and stitch across the open edges so that the top and bottom of the zipper are encased.
About the Zipper:
Zipper anatomy needs to be described so that the terminology is understandable.
When the zipper is facing you it is the front of the zipper. The fabric to the right of the teeth is the right side of the zipper, the fabric to the left is the left side of the zipper. This is important for these instructions.
Placing the zipper:
- Lay the zipper back side down onto the top of the right side of the lining fabric, along the 11 1/2 inch side. The left side of the zipper should be along the raw edge. Lay the Cork rectangle right side down over the zipper, aligning the raw edge with the raw edge of the lining. The zipper will be sandwiched in between.
- Pin the layers together, catching the left side of the zipper.
Put your zipper foot onto your machine and stitch the zipper between the sandwich, stitching on the left side of the zipper and through all thickness.
Stitch all the way but stop 1/4 ” before the end.
When you open it out, it should look like this, with the zipper sandwiched between the cork and the lining.
Press from the lining side so that it is flat.
Repeat the process for the right side of the zipper.
Lay the right side of the zipper front side down on top of remaining lining rectangle, along the 11 1/2″ edge, aligning it with the raw edge. Lay the cork rectangle right sides down on top of the zipper, with the raw edges approximated along the 11 1/2″ side.
Pin through all thicknesses.
Stitch along the right side of the zipper through the cork and the lining. Stop 1/4 inch from the edge.
When you open it out it will look like this.
This is how it will look from the lining side.
Press from the lining side so that it is flat.
Top stitch along the left and right sides of the zipper to keep the lining from getting caught in the zipper when opening and closing your bag.
Open the zipper up about half way.
Place the two cork rectangles right sides together, and stitch around the outer edges with a 1/4 inch seam. Go up as far as you can as close to the zipper as you can possibly get.
Repeat for the lining side, except leave a 3 inch opening in the 11 1/2″ side of the rectangle.
Clip the corners of the cork and the lining, and turn right sides out through the opening in the lining.
Through the opening, poke out the corners of the cork, gently using a blunt end of a pen or a bamboo knitting needle.
Stitch the opening closed and stuff the lining into the cork side of the bag.
You’re done! Sometimes, you need to work out the corners with your fingers so that it lays flat. Go ahead, do that now and enjoy.
