Sewing Tutorial for a Double Zipper Pouch

As much as I love sewing intricate backpacks and bags, sometimes I just need a quick and easy project. The Double Zipper Pouch stands out with its minimalist look but features a special detail: a zipper pocket on each side, providing two separate compartments in a compact size. Perfect as a small organizer inside a larger handbag or for when you just want to carry your card and smartphone.

Less is more – let’s sew a Double Zipper Pouch

I’m Stephi from the label Frollein Tausendschön. On my Instagram and YouTube channel, everything revolves around sewing, embroidery, and cutting machines. Today, I want to create a small but stylish sewing project with you: the Double Zipper Pouch. It’s super easy and quick to sew but still has that special touch. Thanks to a zipper on each side, you can store your smartphone in one compartment while keeping cash, cards, or other small items in the other.

Without a strap, this pouch is a great organizer for a backpack or handbag. With a wrist strap or shoulder strap, it turns into a stylish accessory.

Sewing a Double Zipper Pouch – No Pattern Needed

The Double Zipper Pouch requires only a few fabric pieces and doesn’t even need a printed pattern. You can easily cut the pieces using a rotary cutter or scissors and a quilting ruler.

For the outer fabric, materials like canvas, cotton, oilskin, corduroy, or standard backpack and bag fabrics work well. For the lining, choose a lightweight woven fabric to prevent bulk. Today, I am sewing the Double Zipper Pouch on my BERNINA 570 QE using the Reverse Pattern Foot with Clear Sole #34 as well as a zipper foot.

Reverse Pattern Foot with Clear Sole #34

For forward and reverse-feed stitches ✓ The clear sole ensures a good view of the sewing area ✓ The red markings allow accurate and careful sewing ✓ For 5.5 mm and 9 mm machines ✓

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BERNINA 570 QE

Boasting an extensive stitch library for sewing, quilting and embroidery the BERNINA 570 QE offers maximum precision when free-motion sewing, thanks to the BERNINA Stitch Regulator.

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Materials Needed

Outer fabric (oilskin, corduroy, canvas…) 20 x 50 cm
Lining fabric (lightweight woven fabric) 20 cm x full width of fabric
Fusible fleece H630, 20 x 50 cm
2 non-separating zippers, 20 cm each
Labels and embellishments as desired
Matching sewing thread
Optional: 1 or 2 D-rings and swivel hooks, as well as matching strap material and an adjustable buckle for a desired carrying option

The Cutting

The cutting of the Double Zipper Pouch is done without a paper pattern. You can simply cut the pieces with scissors or a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler:

2x outer fabric: each 13.5 x 23 cm
4x lining fabric: each 13.5 x 23 cm
2x fusible fleece H630: each 11.5 x 21 cm

Sewing the Double Zipper Pouch – Instructions

General Information Before Sewing

Unless otherwise stated, the seam allowance is 1 cm. Secure the seam at the beginning and end. You should adjust the stitch length according to your material selection. For my outdoor fabric and oilskin, I sew with a stitch length of 3.5, and for topstitching, I use a stitch length of 3.8.

Preparing to Sew the Double Zipper Pouch

First, iron your fusible fleece onto the back of the outer fabric pieces. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the fleece. Important when applying fusible fleece: apply pressure only in specific spots with the iron or press, and do not move the iron back and forth (otherwise, you will flatten your fusible fleece).

If you want to decorate the front of the Double Zipper Pouch with labels, embroidery, patches, etc., now is the time to do it.

Next, mark the center of the long edges of the outer pieces with a small notch – a tiny cut within the seam allowance. To do this, fold the short edges together and cut a small V-shaped notch in the resulting fold. Mark the center of the zipper tapes using a fabric marker.

Sewing the Double Zipper Pouch – Let’s Get Started

Then, place the first zipper right sides together on the right long edge of the front outer piece and pin it in place with fabric clips.

Fold the ends of the zipper tapes towards the edge and pin them in place.

Attach the zipper using a seam width of 0.75 cm on the sewing machine, using a zipper foot.

Pin the second zipper right sides together on the still free long edge of the front outer piece. Again, fold the ends of the zipper tape towards the edge and secure the zipper with a 0.75 cm seam width.

Now, add the first lining piece. Pin it wrong sides together to the zipper tape on the right long edge of the front outer piece. The fabrics should be facing each other right sides together, with the zipper in between.

Sew the seam with a 1 cm seam allowance.

Now repeat these steps on the opposite long edge. First, pin the lining piece wrong sides together onto the zipper tape attached to the left long edge. Sew the seam with a 1 cm seam allowance.

Now, each side of the front outer piece has a zipper tape and a lining piece attached.

Next, fold one lining piece inward, wrong sides together. Topstitch the edge of the zipper through both layers with a narrow edge stitch.

Repeat this on the opposite side: fold the fabrics wrong sides together and topstitch the edge of the zipper with a narrow edge stitch.

This is how it looks when you fold the lining pieces back to the sides:

Now, turn the sewing piece inside out and fold the lining fabric towards you so that the right fabric side is visible.

Then, take the corresponding lining piece and pin it with the right fabric side onto the still free backside of the zipper tape. The lining fabrics should be right sides together.

Now, turn the sewing piece right side out. Fold the tapes back to the edge and secure everything with clips. Sew the seam with a 0.75 cm seam width on the machine.

Double Zipper Pouch – The Second Outer Piece

Next, attach the second outer piece. Pin it to the still free right side of the zipper tape that you just sewed to the lining.

Now, close the seam with a 1 cm seam allowance.

Then, fold both the outer and lining fabric wrong sides together. Topstitch the second side of the zipper tape on the outer fabric with a narrow edge stitch.

Next, turn the sewing piece inside out again. Pin the last lining piece with the right fabric side onto the left side of the still free zipper tape.

Turn everything right side out again. Fold the zipper tapes back towards the edge as before. Close the seam with a 0.75 cm seam width using the zipper foot.

Now, pin the still free side of the back outer piece of the Double Zipper Pouch right sides together onto the zipper tape. The outer pieces should be facing right sides together, with the zipper in between.

Close this seam as well with a 1 cm seam allowance.

Now, topstitch this final edge with a narrow edge stitch. Since all the parts are now connected, this seam is a bit trickier. Open the zippers as much as possible and start the seam at the top edge.

Attaching Holders

Of course, you can sew the Double Zipper Pouch without any holders, simply as a small pouch. For the holders, you have several options: you can attach one or two D-rings to carry the pouch with a wrist strap or as a crossbody bag.

For the holders, you will need a D-ring and a 7 cm long strap piece in the appropriate width. Thread the strap through the D-ring. Secure it with clips, positioning it 2.5 cm from the long edge within the seam allowance (i.e., less than 1 cm seam width) at the top edge of the outer fabric.

Make sure to attach the strap only to the outer fabric. You may need to push the lining fabric aside for this.

Final Stretch – Completing the Double Zipper Pouch

Now, turn everything inside out. Align the outer pieces and the corresponding lining pieces right sides together and secure everything with clips. Pay special attention to aligning the transitions between the outer and lining fabrics carefully.