Zippered Teacup Pouch

I've been sewing up some of these cute little teacup pouches, and I thought I would share a tutorial on how to make one of your own! If you have ever made a lined, zippered pouch, then this will be a piece of cake.  If you have never made a lined, zippered pouch... then I hope this will help!

Materials:

• 3 Coordinating Fat Quarters
• Scrap of muslin, felt or linen for tea bag embroidery
• Small amount of embroidery floss
• 9” zipper
• Warm & Natural Cotton Batting
• Sewing Thread
• Desired Embellishments (ribbon, trim, etc)
• Teacup templates (download link at the bottom of this post)

Cutting Directions: 

From each fat quarter, cut one strip 2” by 18” (3 strips total) and sew the strips together to make a piece that is approximately 5” by 18”.  Fold this piece in half lengthwise, and cut out two tea cup bodies (for OUTER front and OUTER back).  Choose one fat quarter to be the lining, and cut two more tea cup bodies to use as the inner lining (for INNER front and INNER back).  Using the handle pattern, cut one handle from your desired fabric.

From the cotton batting, cut two tea cup bodies, and one strip that is ¾” by 8½” to pad the handle.

Sewing Directions:  (All Seams are ¼”):
Place the front and back pieces onto the cotton batting pieces, and quilt as desired (i.e. stitch in the ditch between the 3 different fabrics).  This is also a good time to add any desired embellishments (ribbon, trim, etc). 

 

Fold the handle piece lengthwise, right sides together, and place the ¾” strip of cotton batting next to the fold.  Stitch along the raw edges, leaving one end open.  Turn right side out and press.

 

 

Start by placing the OUTER front face up. Then, along the upper width, place your zipper wrong size up and centered over the fabric.  Now take one of the INNER lining pieces, and lay it on top of the zipper and outer fabric. All three pieces (outer fabric, zipper, lining fabric) should align at the very top. You can pin if you prefer.  Sew the two fabric pieces to the zipper.  

 Now, do the same process to the other side of the zipper.  Place the zipper face down on the right side of the OUTER back fabric.  Line up the edges.  Layer the lining on top, right side down.  Pin, if desired, and sew the two fabric pieces to the zipper.

Open it out flat, press, and top stitch about 1/8" next to both sides of the zipper.  This will hold the fabric in place so that it won't catch in the zipper.  
 

Take the handle piece, and pin ONLY TO THE OUTER front face and NOT THE LINING.  Baste in place.

Unzip the zipper partway (This is a very important step!  Otherwise, you won’t be able to turn your bag right side out after it is sewn shut).  Pin the two lining pieces and the two outer pieces, right sides together (aligning seams, and pinching the zipper edges towards the lining).  Sew, ¼” from the edge, making sure not to stitch through the zipper stops (which will break your needle), and leaving a hole for turning at the top of the lining (flat base of the teacup). 

 

 

Clip corners to help the bag lay flat, and turn right side out through the hole left in the lining.  Use a chopstick or a blunt skewer to help push the corners out.  Topstitch close to the edge of the lining to close the hole.

Using the tea bag template, cut two pieces from muslin, linen, felt etc.  Sew these two pieces together with a scant ¼” seam, leaving a small hole for turning.  Turn right side out through the hole, and then topstitch close to the edge all the way around the bag.  Embroider the word “TEA” on the bag, and then attach to the bag front with a small length of embroidery floss. 

 

Get your teacup template by clicking on the picture below: 

I hope you enjoy sewing these darling little pouches as much as I did!  Stuff them full of your favorite tea bags and send them to a friend to enjoy!