Busy Monday: Bridal Shower Gift Pouches

 I love having a reason to make really cute stuff for my friends. I went to my friends Bridal shower in the beginning of August and whipped up these pretty little pouches and sachets for her honeymoon &  general travels, a couple of days before arriving at her house. I tried using her wedding colors - but found out (after she opened them) that she changed her colors ever so slightly! Sort of bummed - but they were still cute in my book and hopefully she's not holding it against me that I wasn't on the up and up with her new colors! As I made them, I took some photos to share these basic pouches with all of you (my readers)! You can make these too - the are so easy and great for beginners! So let's get started!


Here's what you'll need:
2 yards of fabric (1 yard per color) (Cinch Pouch = 9 x 9) (Fold Over Pouch =11 x 15) (If you like the fabric I used - you can buy some here too like I did!)
White or coordinating thread
Sewing Machine, Scissors & Pins
Ribbon or Decorative Rope for Cinch Pouch (about 30 inches per pouch)
1 Button per Fold Over Pouch
2 inches of Elastic per Fold Over Pouch
Embroidery Floss to attach buttons

Here's what you do to make the Cinch Pouch after cutting out your squares:

Lay squares right sides together, sew 2 inches of one side and then all the way around leaving only 3-4 inches open.  

Turn right side out, press if necessary and top stitch all the way around the edge.

Fold up your corner using your angle marks on your cutting board as shown above (corner to corner on a 3 inch square).

Repeat to all the other corners and pin in place. (Whatever pattern you want showing once cinched, make sure that is the fabric you see on your corners. (I made 2 opposites - so my photos show that I got distracted and took half of the photos one way - and half of the photos the other way).

Use a decorative stitch (I just did a double line since I don't have fun stitches) to tack the corner down about 1/2" - 3/4" away from the fold.

After you stitch your corners down, thread your ribbon or rope through the holes. Use a turning tube to make it easier.

Flip this over (shown not flipped) and pull the ribbon/rope to cinch your pouch, push the center down as you go.

Tie it into a bow. I did this rope first (hence the photos)...but for the size of this pouch, I liked the look and ease of the ribbon better! It also made the hole much smaller in the center. For a much larger pouch, I think the decorative rope would be perfect.

Here it is with a ribbon instead of the rope.

Here's what you do to make the Fold Over Pouch after cutting out 2 rectangles of each fabric selection:

Place your fabric right sides together. (Polka Dot to Polka Dot and separately Snowflake to Snowflake). Working only the Polka Dot fabric for now, stitch the top 1 - 1/2 inch on both corners of your long sides. Then do the same with the Snowflake fabric. 

 

Now put both pairs on top of each other and mark 1 inch with a pin. 

 

DO NOT sew this one inch, but sewing the entire length of the pouch across the bottom and up the other side (again not sewing the remaining 1 inch!). 

Decide which fabric you want out and then turn your pouch right side out. The top side seams won't be connected, but the length and bottom of your pouch will be.

Fold the top edge down to the inside 1/2 inch starting at the seam, and then fold the lining down to the inside as well. 

 

Line up the seams and pin in place. Do this on the other side seam, and then in each center point and then all the way around the top of your pouch.

Once you have pinned all the way around, mark your center point on one side of the top of the pouch. This is where you'll place the elastic. Pin that in place and then top stitch all the way around your top edge. Be sure to double over the elastic for added strength and security.

 

Finally, place your button in your desired position on the front of the pouch (with the elastic on the back top edge) and thread your embroidery floss carefully through the top layer of the fabric and the button. Tie a knot on the top of the button and then loop the elastic over the button.

 

No one wants to have all of their bras and undergarments falling out all over the airport, and everyone loves to have some cute pouches to put their precious belongings in...so make one today...or two! Go nuts! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for sharing my blog! I hope you enjoyed these tutorials. If you did and you'd like to see more like this - please leave me a comment and let me know! Please do not copy my tutorials, but feel free to post a link to share with your friends and family! Have a great day!