Heart Zipper Bag Tutorial

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and here at Little Fabric Shop, we have updated our Zipper Bag Tutorial with some cute foundation paper piecing hearts. This bag is the perfect size for make-up, office supplies, or even toiletries. We are gifting the bag to ourselves, but it would be a fun present to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

The Heart Zipper Bag sewing tutorial is an intermediate skill project. Knowledge of foundation paper piecing and attaching zippers is helpful in completing this handmade project. Little Fabric Shop has a sewing tutorial on how to use the Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) technique. Use the link below to access it. 

FPP Tutorial Link: Foundation Paper Piecing Sewing Tutorial

Let’s get started!

 

Heart Zipper Bag Link: Heart Zipper Bag Tutorial Download

 

Sewing Project Details:

Bag Finished Size: H: 6” x W: 9.5” x D: 4” 

Difficulty: Intermediate 

Seam Allowance: ¼” throughout pattern unless otherwise noted 

Dimensions: are writing height x width 

Backstitch: at the beginning and the end of all seams to lock stitches in place

 

Materials Needed:

1/8 Yard of Fabric for FPP Hearts

1/8 Yard of Fabric for FPP Exterior of Hearts

One Fat Quarter (H: 22” x W: 18”) for Exterior Fabric in Quilters Cotton, Linen, Woven, Canvas or Duck Fabric

One Fat Quarter (H: 22” x W: 18”) for Lining Fabric in Quilters Cotton, Linen or Lightweight Woven Fabric

One H: 22” x W: 18” for Fusible Fleece (such as Pellon 987F)

One 9” Zipper

Note: We used Century Solids fabric in the colors Red & Cottonball to create the exterior of the Heart Zipper Bag.

 

Supplies Needed:

You will need a Cutting Ruler, Scissors, Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, Pins, Binding Clips, Add-an-Eighth Ruler, Seam Roller, Zipper Foot or Walking Foot, Chopstick or Pointed Tool to complete this project.

 

Fabric Sides: 

 

 

Create 6 Foundation Paper Piecing Hearts:

By using the Foundation Paper Piecing Heart Templates on PAGE 8 (PDF tutorial download), create six hearts. You will need the 1/8 Yard Fabric for FPP Hearts & 1/8 Yard Fabric for FPP Exterior of Hearts to complete this step. Sew using an 1/8th inch seam allowance. The Add-an-Eighth Ruler is helpful in completing this step.

 

Cut & Assemble Exterior Fabrics:

Now that you have completed 6 Heart Blocks, Cut the Exterior Fabrics to the dimensions indicated below:

 

 

You will be creating two exterior fabric blocks that are identical. Begin by attaching Fabric D to the completed hearts utilizing the diagram below. You will use a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

 

Next, attach Fabric C to both sides of the pieced hearts and Fabric D as shown in the diagram below:

 

Attach Fabric A to the top of the pieced hearts and Fabrics D & C as shown in the diagram below:

 

Complete Exterior Fabric by attaching Fabric B to the bottom of the pieced hearts and Fabrics D, C & A as shown in the diagram below:

You should have two identical exterior fabric blocks.

 

Template Cutting for Exterior Fabric, Lining Fabric & Fusible Fleece Fabrics:

Using Cutting Template on PAGE 7 (PDF tutorial download), cut two pieces of each fabric - Exterior, Lining & Fusible Fleece. Make sure to place folded edge of fabric/fleece along red line on the Sewing Zipper Bag Template prior to cutting.

 

Step 1:

Iron Fusible Fleece to wrong sides of Exterior Fabric.

 

Step 2:

Sew all four zipper tape edges back at a 45° angle with a 1/8” seam allowance.

Step 3:

Attach zipper to the exterior of fabric. Place zipper WRONG SIDE up along the RIGHT SIDE of one of the Exterior Fabrics. Center the zipper along the top edge of the fabric.

Pin to hold in place. With either your zipper foot or walking foot, sew on with a 1/4” seam allowance. Your will need to open or close zipper as you sew to allow your presser foot to pass.

Place WRONG SIDE facing out lining fabric directly over the RIGHT SIDE of exterior fabric and sewn zipper making sure all sides of the lining fabric is lined up with the exterior fabric & sewn zipper.

Pin to hold in place. With either your zipper foot or walking foot, sew on with a 1/4” seam allowance. Your will need to open or close zipper as you sew to allow your presser foot to pass.

 

Step 4:

Fold fabric back so that zipper is outside along top of bag and both exterior and interior fabric are facing outward (WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and interior lining should be touching each other). Press to set seams.

Sew a 1/8” top-stitch seam along top edge of fabric making sure your sewing through both the exterior fabric and interior lining.

 

Step 5:

Attach remaining exterior fabric & lining to the other side of zipper tape. With the Right Side of sewn exterior fabric up, lay the other exterior panel along unsewn edge of zipper tape (WRONG SIDE facing up).

Make sure exterior fabric is centered on zipper tape. With a 1/4” seam allowance, sew along top edge. You will need to open zipper as you sew.

 

Step 6:

Flip over project so that the exterior fabric is on the bottom and the WRONG SIDE of lining fabric is facing out.

Place unsewn lining fabric WRONG SIDE out centered on top of zipper tape. Pin to hold in place.

Sew with a 1/4” seam allowance along top edge of zipper tape, lining & exterior fabric.

See diagram in STEP 5 for sewing example.

 

Step 7:

Fold fabric back so that zipper is outside along top of bag and both exterior and interior fabric are facing outward (WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and interior lining should be touching each other).

Press to set seams.

Sew a 1/8” top-stitch seam along top edge of fabric making sure your sewing through both the exterior fabric and interior lining. Backstitch at the beginning and end of seam to secure stitches.

 

Step 8:

Unzip the zipper halfway.

Open up the fabric so that WRONG SIDES of exterior fabric and lining are facing outward. Line-up exterior fabric with exterior fabric & lining with lining and pin to hold in place.

Zipper should be facing into the lining fabric.

Along the bottom edge of lining fabric, create a 4” gap in the pinning. This area will not be sewn.

See diagram in STEP 9.

 

Step 9:

Sew along exterior of bag with a 1/4” seam allowance. DO NOT SEW any of the four 90° cut-outs and the 4” gap along bottom edge of lining fabric.  Backstitch at beginning and end of each seam to hold stitches in place.

 

 

Step 10:

Press open 4” gap seams along the bottom of lining fabric.

 

Step 11: Create box corners

Pull the top and bottom layers of one corner apart, pinch together so that the top seam lines up with the bottom seam. Pin in place and sew across using a 1/4” seam allowance. Repeat with all remaining exterior and interior corners.

 

Step 12:

Turn the bag RIGHT SIDE out by pulling fabric through the 4” unsewn gap of lining fabric. Use a pointed tool to gently push-out the corners. Be careful to not push the pointing tool through the fabric.

 

Step 13:

Close the 4” gap in lining that was used to turn fabric by either hand sewing or machine sewing with an 1/8” seam allowance top stitch. Then tuck lining fabric into bag.

Give a gentle press to the turned fabric to set seams.

 

Congratulations! You’re Finished!

We created this tutorial to be shared. Sewing is a passion for us, and we love to create projects for our sewing community. Please pass this tutorial on to your sewing friends. If there are any projects you need help with or would like to see a tutorial for, please let us know. It is a joy to work with our fellow sewists and create handmade fabric pieces.

If you make a Heart Zipper Bag, please tag us on Instagram @little.fabric.shop so we can see your work and we can share your creativity to inspire other makers. Happy Sewing!