Small Circle Zipper Pouch Tutorial

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Learn how to sew a small circle zipper pouch with a free sewing pattern. This easy sewing project can clip onto a bag or keys!

I love having tiny pouches to keep me organized. Sometimes I bring small essentials with me, and I worry about them falling out of my pocket. This small zipper pouch tutorial creates the perfect solution, and I love that I can clip it to my keys.

I have started putting my chapstick and earbuds clipped to my keys to bring with me wherever I go. I’m even going to make one for my kids to carry an extra mask with them to school so that they always have an extra just in case.

Use the free sewing pattern to make your own small circle zipper pouch!

small circle zipper pouch

I initially thought of this idea because I wanted a tiny pouch that my kids could use to carry extra masks at school. I wanted them to have a back up in case their masks get dirty or lost during the day. But I didn’t want the back up to get lost in the depths of their backpack.

Once I finished I thought of all the small necessities I can carry in this. When I go to a park to go running I can carry my chapstick and earpods in the small pouch and clip it to my keys. When I take my kids out to play I can bring earphones in case I can listen to an audiobook while they play.

Small Zipper Pouch Tutorial

What is a zipper?

A zipper is two strips of fabric tape with interlocking metal or plastic teeth that are closed or open with a metal or plastic pull or slide. It’s used to fasten clothing and bags.

In this tutorial I use the words “teeth” meaning the interlocking projecting metal or plastic teeth, “zipper tape” meaning the two strips of fabric along each side, and “pull” meaning the slide that connects or disconnects the teeth.

What fabric works for a zipper pouch?

The fabric that works best for a zipper pouch is quilting cotton for both the outer fabric and the lining fabric. There are so many prints that will be fun to use. Add interfacing to give stability to the pouch and help it hold its shape.

turn right side out and press flat

What is a PDF sewing pattern?

A PDF pattern is a sewing pattern designed on the computer and organized so that it can be printed on several letter or A4 size pieces of paper.

I love using PDF sewing patterns because if the pattern gets ruined or if my children or I changed sizes, I can always print it again. It’ll never be destroyed since I have a digital version!

How do you use a PDF sewing pattern?

Open the PDF on a computer and click print. When printing make sure that the scaling is set to 100% or no scaling so that the pattern prints at the correct size.

Once the pattern is printed it can be taped together to get the full size. Then the pattern can be cut for each pattern piece size or individual sizes can be traced so that the pattern can be used again and again. Learn how to use PDF sewing patterns.

small circle zipper pouch

Small Zipper Pouch Tutorial

Supplies

Do you just want the pattern and tutorial as a PDF? Get the pattern and tutorial for just $4. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. Or get the Pattern Bundle with ALL the PDF tutorials!

Small Zipper Pouch supplies

Cut out these pieces from the outer fabric (or use the free sewing pattern at the end of the post):

  • One 4 inch diameter circle
  • Two half circles with the straight edge measuring 4 inches
  • One rectangle measuring 2 inches by 3 inches

Cut out these pieces from the lining fabric (or use the free sewing pattern at the end of the post):

  • One 4 inch diameter circle
  • Two half circles with the straight edge measuring 4 inches
circle zipper pouch pattern pieces

Pin the outer fabric half circle to the right side of the zipper. Pin the lining fabric half circle to the wrong side of the zipper in the same place. The fabric will be sandwiching the zipper.

With a zipper foot going right next to the zipper teeth sew the three layers.

pin half circles to one side of zipper

Press the fabric away from the zipper. Edgestitch the fabric away from the zipper.

press and topstitch away from zipper

Pin the outer fabric half circle to the right side of the zipper. Pin the lining fabric half circle to the wrong side of the zipper in the same place. The fabric will be sandwiching the zipper.

With a zipper foot going right next to the zipper teeth sew the three layers.

Press the fabric away from the zipper. Edgestitch the fabric away from the zipper.

sew half circle on, topstitch away from zipper

Press the rectangle in half lengthwise. Bring the edges in to meet the fold in the middle and press the folds. Fold the original fold, there are now three folds all folded, and press in place.

This is the same technique for pressing bias binding.

With all the folds folded, edgestitch both sides to keep the fabric secure.

press lopp in half and then in half

Slip the clip onto the loop and fold in half. Pull the zipper pull down to the middle of the pouch.

Place the raw edges of the loop at the top of the zipper. Baste the loop in place.

put clip through loop and baste to top of zipper

Cut off the excess zipper from each side of the pouch. Be very careful of the zipper pull so that it doesn’t get pulled off!

cut off excess zipper

Place the outer fabric circle’s right side to the right side of the pouch. Place the lining fabric’s wrong side to the wrong side of the outer fabric circle. Pin in place.

place circles right side to zipper

Sew around the circle with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

sew around circle
sew around circle

Trim any excess so that all the circles are the same size.

trim excess fabric

Trim the seam allowance down to 1/4 inch. Zigzag or serge to finish the edges.

finish edges

Turn the pouch right side out. Push out the edges. Press the pouch flat.

You finished!

turn right side out and press flat

Get the Free Sewing Pattern here!

Small Zipper Pouch Tutorial

If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!

heather sewing

I believe small sewing moments can create great joy. Find your own “right” way to sew. -Heather

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I love this idea. But in our district, the kids cannot bring a backpack. I have been trying to figure out how to make this idea work for my kids. My oldest came home and said she helped with lunch working, and her mask got dirty. So this would have been great! Thanks for sharing.

What about making a lanyard to go around their neck and clip it to that. Or even a shorter version that goes around the wrist.