Sew a Fabric and Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch

Sew a Fabric and Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch in this beginner-friendly sewing tutorial. Plus lots of tips for sewing with clear vinyl!

Fabric and Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch Video Tutorial

Learn how to sew a Fabric and Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch by following along with my video tutorial. You can watch the video on my YouTube channel. And, while you’re there, be sure to subscribe to my channel (thank you)!

FAQs

Selecting Vinyl

You will find that vinyl comes in various colors, finishes, and even clear. The vinyl also comes in different thickness. The thickness of vinyl is measured in gauge. The thinner the vinyl, the smaller the gauge. For example, 10 gauge vinyl is much thinner than 18 gauge vinyl.

What gauge vinyl should I use?

I recommend using 12-18 gauge vinyl for this zipper pouch. If you were to want to create a zipper pouch with glitter or confetti between the layers, then you would want a thin vinyl such as 8-12 gauge. I’m using 18 gauge in this tutorial.

Where do I buy clear vinyl?

I bought my Amazon.

How do you store clear vinyl?

Vinyl, as you probably know, can crease, crack and even be gauged by objects. So it is important to store vinyl rolled up and away from sharp objects.

Can I use an iron with vinyl?

You CAN use a warm iron with vinyl but you have to be very careful. Here’s how: heat the iron up to medium-low, then turn the iron off. Use a pressing cloth or piece of cotton fabric between the vinyl and the iron. Press gently with the iron.

How do I turn the vinyl right side out?

Vinyl can be difficult to work with, especially when it comes to turning the vinyl right side out. To make the vinyl more pliable and easier to work with, you can warm up the vinyl. Either place the vinyl in a sunny spot for a few minutes or use your hair dryer to warm up the vinyl. Heat makes the vinyl softer, more pliable, and easier to work with.

Can I use pins with the clear vinyl?

Do NOT use pins with vinyl. Pins leave holes and will leave holes in your vinyl. A better option is Wonder Clips.

How do I keep the vinyl from sticking to the presser foot?

This is a great question and I have several tips:

1. Non-Stick Teflon Presser Foot
   The best way to keep the vinyl from sticking to your presser foot is to use a Teflon coated presser foot.
2. Walking Foot
   Another good option is to use a walking foot. The walking foot will help to evenly feed the vinyl through the machine.
3. Scotch Tape 
   Don’t have a Teflon foot or a walking foot? You can also try putting a piece of scotch tape on the bottom of your presser foot.
4. Sewing Machine Oil
   I’ve also read that you can apply sewing machine oil along the stitching line on the vinyl (I personally have not tried this).
5. Tissue Paper
   Another technique that I use is tissue paper! When you purchase clear vinyl, it comes with tissue paper. The tissue paper keeps the vinyl from sticking to itself. You can use this same piece of tissue paper. Simply place it under your vinyl and/or between your vinyl and the presser foot.  Then when you are through stitching, just rip away the tissue paper. I like to use tissue paper under the vinyl while using the Teflon presser foot.

Actually, it’s debatable as to whether the non-stick Teflon foot or the walking foot works better. I recommend you try it and see for yourself!

INSTRUCTIONS

MATERIALS:

• cotton fabric
• 16-18 gauge clear vinyl
• interfacing
• zipper
• matching thread

Refer to the below Cut Materials list for the exact measurements.

EQUIPMENT:

• Rotary cutter
• Acrylic ruler
• Self-healing mat
• Pins
• Wonder Clips
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Teflon presser foot
• Zipper foot
• Walking foot

CUT MATERIALS:

• Vinyl: 7”Hx11”W (2)
• Fabric: 6”Hx11”W (2)
• Zipper Tabs: 3”Hx2”W (2)
• Interfacing: 2-3/4”Hx11”W (2)
• Zipper: 10” (1” shorter than the fabric width)

Continue to Content

Yield: 1 Vinyl Zipper Pouch

Sew a Fabric & Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch

Sew up this vinyl zipper pouch with fabric trim in no time!

Print

Materials

• cotton fabric
• 16-18 gauge clear vinyl
• interfacing
• zipper
• matching thread

Tools

• Rotary cutter
• Acrylic ruler
• Self-healing mat
• Pins
• Wonder Clips
• Scissors
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Teflon presser foot
• Zipper foot
• Walking foot

Instructions

FABRIC CUTS

Vinyl: 7”Hx11”W (2)

Fabric: 6”Hx11”W (2)

Zipper Tabs: 3”Hx2”W (2)

Interfacing: 2-3/4”Hx11”W (2)

Zipper: 10” (1” shorter than the fabric width)

1. Cut Materials
   Cut out the fabric and vinyl according to the above cut FABRIC CUTS measurements. Once your pieces are cut, you should have cut two pieces of vinyl, two pieces of fabric for the top of the zipper pouch, as well as two pieces of fabric for the zipper stops. You should have also cut two pieces of interfacing.
2. Prepare Zipper
   If you haven’t already, trim your zipper to 10”. Then take
   the two pieces of fabric for the zipper tabs and prepare by folding in half and pressing. Unfold and fold the ends towards the center fold.
   Place one end of the zipper inside the folded zipper tab. You should have a zipper sandwich.
   Stitch across the zipper tab close to the folded edge and right across the zipper. Trim the tab so they are the same width as the zipper.
   Repeat with the other end of the zipper.
3. Fuse Interfacing
   Take one piece of the fabric for the top of the zipper pouch
   and fold it in half lengthwise. Fuse the interfacing to one side of the wrong side of the fabric. Repeat with the other piece of fabric and interfacing.
4. Fold Under Edges of Fabric
   Fold under both long edges of the zipper pouch fabric ¼” and
   press towards the wrong side. Repeat with the other piece of fabric.
5. Stitch Vinyl to Fabric
   Insert the top edge of one of the pieces of cut vinyl and
   line up with the raw edge of the turned under ¼” seam allowance of the fabric.
   Pin in place. Top stitch close to the folded edge. Top stitch again about 1/8” away from first row of stitching. Repeat with the other piece of fabric and vinyl.
6. Topstitch or Quilt the Fabric
   Lengthen your stitch to 4.0mm and stitch 1” away from the
   previous stitching on the fabric along the length of the fabric. Stitch again another 1” away from that row of stitching. Repeat with the other piece of fabric.
7. Stitch Zipper
   Lay one of the vinyl and fabric sections right side up and place the zipper centered right side down along the top edge of the fabric.
   Make sure the zipper is partly unzipped and clip or pin in place. Use your zipper foot and with the needle in the left position, stitch along the zipper tape and close to the zipper teeth. As you approach the zipper pull, stop stitching with the needle in the down position.
   Raise the presser foot and move the zipper stop out of the way. You’ll pull the zipper pull under the presser foot, past the needle, and past the presser foot.
   Be sure to backstitch to secure your stitches at the beginning and end. Use your fingers to press the seam allowance away from the zipper. Topstitch to sew the seam allowance to the fabric for the top of the zipper pouch. This will help to keep the fabric away from the zipper teeth and give a neater finish to the pouch.
   Repeat with the other side. (Lay fabric right side up, zipper centered right side down, pin/clip and stitch.) Finger press the seam allowance away from the zipper and topstitch.
8. Stitch Sides and Bottom
   First, make sure the zipper is unzipped. Line up the edges and bottom of the pouch. Clip to hold in place. Stitch along one side, across the bottom, and up the other side. Clip corners.
9. OPTIONAL: Boxed Corners
   If you would like to box the corners of the bottom of your
   pouch, follow step 9 to stitch the sides and bottom of the pouch. Then fold one of the bottom corners so that the side seam is line up with the bottom seam.
   Measure up ¾” and draw a line across the vinyl. Stitch along the line and trim vinyl ¼” from seam. Repeat with the other bottom corner.   
10. Turn Right Side Out
    Once you are through stitching, turn the pouch right side
    out through the opened zipper. The vinyl is more pliable and easier to work with when it is warm. You can place the pouch in sunlight to warm or use your hair dryer to apply warm heat.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Janome Memory Craft Horizon 8200 QCP Sewing Machine
• 
  YaHoGa #5 Rose Gold Metallic Nylon Coil Zippers by The Yard Bulk White Tape 10 Yards with 25pcs Sliders for DIY Sewing Tailor Craft Bag (White)
• 
  Janome Zipper Foot E for 9mm Machines
• 
  Janome Ultra Glide Foot
• 
  Fiskars Self Healing Cutting Mat, 24x36”
• 
  Fiskars Acrylic Ruler, 6x24 Inch
• 
  Clover Wonder Clips
• 
  Fiskars Softgrip Scissors Straight Stainless Steel, 8 Inch,Gray
• 
  OLFA 45mm Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

More Sewing Tutorials

If you loved learning how to Sew a Fabric and Clear Vinyl Zipper Pouch, then be sure to check out these other sewing tutorials from Hooked on Sewing:

• Anatomy of a Zipper
• Learn to Sew a Small Lined Zipper Pouch
• Sew a Reading Pillow (in 3 sizes)