Get your student organized in style with these beginner level projects that feature Desert Bird illustrated fabric panels and coordinates: a quilted 3-ring binder cover, simple zip bag and a fabric storage bin.
Zip Bag Instructions: A simple zip pouch featuring a Desert Bird illustrated panel. Use it as a standalone item for the backpack or add some loops and turn it into a pencil bag inside a 3-ring binder.
Materials: 1 9”x9” panel. 1/4 yard coordinating fabric, 7” zipper, 4” ribbon cut in half.
Cut: Cut 3 9”x9” squares from the coordinating fabric.
Step 1: Lay a coordinate square front side up. Lay the zipper on top, lining the top edge of the zip with the top edge of the fabric and centering the zipper horizontally within the coordinate square. Refer to the image below. Then, lay the illustrated square, face down, lining up the top with the top of the zipper and the sides with the sides of the coordinate square. Pin to keep everything secure. Stitch 1/4” from the top edge to secure the zipper.
Press both squares away from the zipper. Top stitch through all layers (including zipper). Start and stop the top stitching approximately 1” from the side edges. Refer to the image below.
Step 2: Lay down another coordinate square, face up. Lay the zipper (now attached to step 1 assembly) along the top edge of the square, centering the zipper horizontally. Lay the final coordinate square face down, lining the top edge of the square with the top edge of the zipper and the sides of the top square with the square on the bottom of the pile. Pin to keep everything secure. As with step 1, stitch along the top edge using 1/4” seam allowance. Press the squares away from the zipper then top stitch (starting and stopping approximately 1” from each side).
Step 3: Open all the squares away from the zipper. Pin around the edges taking care to line up the seams around the zipper. (This is why you kept the top stitching away from the edge!).
Make sure the zipper is open before you stitch! Stitch all the way around using a 3/8 – 1/2” seam allowance and leaving a 3”- 4” opening at the bottom (illustrated panel is on top).
Step 4: Turn everything right side out and press. The opening should be at the bottom of the lining, press that edge then stitch closed very close to the edge. Tuck the lining back inside the bag and give everything a final press.
Optional Step 5: Hold the bottom of the zip bag next to the binder rings. Mark where 2 rings line up. Pull the zip back liner away from the bottom edge of the bag a bit then sew a 2” ribbon loop on the back side of the bag where you marked the binder ring positions. Tuck the liner back down. Now you can hang the zip bag on those binder rings.
You must be logged in to post a comment.