For tiny treasures, holiday treats, gift cards, and more, our Vinyl Pouch Trio is a wonderful “green gift wrap” solution. Use them now to add some handmade cachet to this year’s gift giving. Recipients can re-use them later to hold business cards, as a mini wallet or turn the Large pouch into a travel toiletry bag. Snaps and D-Rings make them extra flexible. The Large pouch finishes at 8” x 6” with a gusseted bottom. The Medium and Small pouches fold flat to 6” x 4” and 4” x 3”. 

Each pouch has a pretty snap flap in a festive quilting cotton. The flap folds over to the front, covering a fabric accent band that helps securely anchor the snaps through the vinyl. Snaps are easy to install and stay tightly set to withstand repeated opening and closing of these re-useable pouches. We used the Dritz Mini Anorak Snaps, and added a 1” D-Ring at one end of the accent band so you can clip the pouch onto another larger bag or tote. Or, as we did, you can add a paracord strap as a grab-and-go alternative.

There’s a pattern set to download below with all three flap sizes plus a full body pattern for the Large pouch. This full body pattern gives you easy-to-follow folding and cutting lines to help you create the bottom gusset. We chose this option over a traditional box bottom as an alternative that more easily forms the dimensional corners from a single rectangular vinyl panel.

If you’ve never sewn on vinyl, it’s easier than you might imagine. We have a full tutorial on sewing with laminates, vinyl, and oilcloth you can review for information on specific tools and techniques. But in general, it’s no harder than working with a stiff cloth substrate.

As mentioned above, the Large pouch would make a handy travel accessory. In today’s security conscious environment, there are more and more instances where see-through containers are mandatory. Not only is it handy for you to be able to see the contents of your pouch, it is likely to be required on your next trip. Yay for clear vinyl.

For all three pouches, the seams are sewn on the outside. This is an easier technique and it keeps the inside of the pouches free of any sharp vinyl edges.

Remember, you can’t iron vinyl (oooohhhhh, melting!) so all pressing of the flap and accent band should be done prior to attaching to the vinyl. If you use a pressing cloth and a low heat setting, you can do a little touch up, but be careful; it takes just a tiny touch with an iron to melt the vinyl.

If you love these little see-though gift pouches, you may also like our full-size Clear View Tote for Events and More. It’s the perfect tote for sports stadiums and other venues that allow only see-through bags. Or, check out our See-Through Box Bottom Zip Pouch, which finishes at approximately 9½” wide x 7” high with 1½” box corners. The full top zipper opens wide to allow you to fill it with everything from make-up and toiletries to office supplies to tech cords and adapters. 

Sewing Tools You Need

• Sewing machine and standard presser foot
• Straight Stitch foot; optional, but helpful to stabilize the vinyl when stitching
• Walking or Even Feed foot; optional – you could also use your machine’s built-in fabric feeding system, such as the great AcuFeed™ Flex system we often use on our Janome models
• New denim needle is a size 14-16; although we usually suggest starting every new project with a new needle, when working with a substrate like vinyl, it is especially important

Fabric and Other Supplies

NOTE: Amounts listed below are enough to create a set of three. However, we recommend printing out the patterns and carefully checking the cut list below in the Getting Started section to best determine your required amounts as you may wish to use different fabrics for the flap and band as we did on our large pouch or matching fabrics for both as we did on our medium and small pouches. Plus, the size of your fabric’s motif and the amount of fussy cutting required may mean you need larger pieces.

• Scraps or ⅛ yard cuts of 44”+ wide quilting weight cotton fabric for the flaps and snap bands
• Scrap or ½ yard of 44”+ wide 8-16 gauge clear vinyl for the bottom panels
• Scrap or ¼ yard of 20”+ wide mid-weight fusible interfacing; we recommend Pellon Décor Bond
• FIVE Mini Anorak Snaps; we used nickel
• THREE 1” D-Rings; we used nickel
• Seam sealant to seal the ends of the accent snap band
• Apx ½ yard of paracord or similar for each pouch; optional – the final length and type of cording is up to you – as is the decision to use it at all
• All purpose thread to match fabric – this thread will be used to stitch the fabric as well as the vinyl
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pen or pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors and/or rotary cutter and mat
• Seam gauge
• Seam ripper
• Straight pins and/or clips to hold vinyl
• If using paracord, lighter or match to melt and seal the cut ends

Getting Started and Pattern Download

1. DOWNLOAD AND PRINT: The three Flap patterns and the Large Pouch Body pattern.
   IMPORTANT: These pieces are arranged are four sheets, which have been bundled into one PDF file to make the download easier. Each page within the PDF is ONE 8½” x 11″ sheet. You must print the PDF file at 100%. DO NOT SHRINK to fit the page. There is a guideline on each page to confirm your printout is to scale.
2. Cut out the all the pieces along their solid outer line.
3. The Large Pouch Body pattern is made up of three pieces: A, B, C. Using the arrows printed on these pieces, butt them together to form the full pattern. Do not overlap. Tape in place.
4. If using the paracord, we recommend cutting it at the very end to best determine your favorite length.

Large Pouch – finishes at 8” x 6” with a gusseted bottom

1. From the vinyl, use the assemble Body pattern to cut ONE.
   NOTE: When working with a pattern on vinyl, it’s easiest to tape the pattern piece in place…
   
   And, to get the cleanest cut, use a ruler and rotary cutter.
   
2. From the accent cotton, fussy cut the following:
   ONE 9½” x 3” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, cut TWO
3. From the mid-weight interfacing, cut the following:
   ONE 9” x 1” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, but cutting on the seam line rather than the outer line, cut ONE
   NOTE: Remember, on all the pouches, you can use the same or coordinating fabrics for the flap and band.
   

Medium Pouch – finishes at 6” x 4” with a flat bottom

1. From the vinyl, cut ONE 6” x 8” rectangle.
2. From the accent cotton, fussy cut the following:
   ONE 7½” x 3” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, cut TWO
3. From the mid-weight interfacing, cut the following:
   ONE 7” x 1” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, but cutting on the seam line rather than the outer line, cut ONE

Small Pouch – finishes at 4” x 3” with a flat bottom

1. From the vinyl, cut ONE 4” x 6” rectangle.
2. From the accent cotton, fussy cut the following:
   ONE 5½” x 3” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, cut TWO
3. From the mid-weight interfacing, cut the following:
   ONE 5” x 1” strip for the snap band
   Using the Flap pattern, but cutting on the seam line rather than the outer line, cut ONE

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

LARGE POUCH

Create the flap

1. Find the two flap fabric panels and the one flap interfacing panel.
2. Center the interfacing on the wrong side of one flap panel so there is ¼” of fabric showing beyond the interfacing on all sides. The interfacing should be applied to the panel that will become the front of the pouch. If you feel one of your fussy cuts in better than the other, use this for the front panel. Following manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the interfacing in place.
3. Along the top straight edge, press down the raw edge ¼”. This helps create a sharp corner at each outer edge of the flap.
   
4. Place the interfaced and plain panels right sides together, flattening that ¼” top fold so you can stitch all the way to the top. Pin along both sides and across the angled bottom of the flap. The straight top of the flap remains un-pinned.
   
5. Using a ¼” seam allowance, stitch along both sides and across the angled bottom of the flap. Remember to sharply pivot at all the corners.
   
6. Press open the seam allowance and re-fold the top down along the original ¼” crease line.
   
7. Turn the flap right side out through the open top. Using a long, blunt tool, gently push out all the corners so they are nice and sharp. A long knitting needle, chopstick or point turner works well for this. Press flat.
8. Set aside the flap.

Create and place the snap band

1. Find the 3” strip of accent fabric and the 1” strip of interfacing.
2. Fold the fabric strip in half so it is now 1½” in width. Center the interfacing strip on one side, aligning one long edge with the fold. There should be ¼” of fabric showing beyond the interfacing at each end and ½” below. Following manufacturer’s instructions, fuse in place.
   
3. Pin along the long raw edge. Both ends remain raw.
   
4. Using a ½” seam allowance, stitch along the pinned edge.
   
5. Turn the band right side out through one open end. Press flat. If your fabric has a tendency to ravel, run a line of  seam sealant across both ends.
6. Find the paper pattern for the Body of the Large Pouch. Place it right side up on your work surface. Place the cut vinyl on top of the pattern so you are looking at the pattern through the vinyl; all the edges should be flush.
7. There is a shaded band on the pattern that represents the placement for the snap band. Overlay the fabric band, matching it to the paper pattern underneath the vinyl. The right raw edge of the band should extend beyond the vinyl by ⅛” – this end will wrap around, eventually being caught within the right side seam. The left raw edge of the band should extend beyond the vinyl by 1⅜” – this end will wrap through the D-Ring prior to being caught within the left side seam.
   
8. Wrap the right raw end around the edge of the vinyl and pin or clip in place.
   
9. Leave the left end of the band loose and extending out beyond the vinyl.
10. Starting at the wrapped-around end, edgestitch along one long side of the accent band through all the layers. You are stitching from the wrapped-around end all the way across the vinyl, to the very end of the accent band (in other words, don’t stop at the edge of the vinyl, keep stitching to the raw end of the fabric band).
    
11. Reposition and stitch the second side of the accent band in the same manner.
    

Create the bottom gusset

1. Using the three marked fold lines on the paper pattern as your guide, fold the vinyl panel in half along the center line. You are folding the panel in half, right sides together, so the cut ends aligned and the accent band is sandwiched between the layers.
   
2. Place the fold along a guide line on your cutting mat and tape the fold in place.
   
3. Fold down one side so this new fold is exactly 1” above the original fold.
   
4. Clip or pin this first fold in place then remove the tape so you can fold the opposite side of the panel in the same manner. You have created a 1” accordion fold along the bottom edge and now, both the front (with its accent band) and the back of the pouch are facing right side out.
   
5. This is a bit challenging to show in a photo since the vinyl is clear. But, if you think of it as an accordion or Z fold, you’ve got it! There are folding guide lines on the paper pattern; we recommend using the paper pattern to practice the fold.
   
6. With your bottom fold in place, find the paper pattern once again. Fold it in half along the top of the three dashed lines. Cut away both bottom corners from dot to dot, creating a 45˚diagonal edge at each side of the paper pattern.
   
7. Place the paper pattern over the folded vinyl, taping it in place, and slice through ALL the folded layers of the vinyl along each diagonal line.
   
8. Flatten out the bottom so the angled ends align at each side, creating a point or triangle. When flattened, each side of the triangle is now just two layers.
9. Edgestitch from the outer edge to the extending point of the triangle, pivot at the point and stitch to the opposite outer edge. Keep your stitching as close to the cut edges of the vinyl as possible. About ⅛” is recommended.
   

Add the flap

1. With the bottom gusset corners sewn, but the sides of the pouch still un-sewn, you’ll place the flap.
2. Find the flap. The straight top edge is folded but still open. This straight edge is placed ½” below the top cut edge on the vinyl on the back (the side without the accent band).
3. Since the vinyl is see-through, it can be helpful to once again use the grid lines on your cutting mat as a guide. Place the back cut edge along a guide line, taping it in place at several intervals. Measure ½” down from the cut edge and mark across the tape (you’re marking on the tape because pen pencil marks tend to just wipe off the vinyl as soon as they’re made).
   
4. Place the folded edge of the flap along the ½” marks.
   
5. The flap should be the exact width of the vinyl panel. Pin in place across the back. The front vinyl panel should be folded down and out of the way. You are attaching the flap through just the back layer… otherwise, you’d just sew the pouch shut!
   
6. Edgestitch along the flap through all the layers. This secures the flap in place and seals the opening in the flap originally used for turning.
   

Stitch the sides, including edgestitching the flap

1. Finally, you can bring the sides of the pouch together. Their cut edges should be flush from the point of each corner gusset up to the top. Pin or clip in place. At the right side, that raw end of the accent band should still be wrapped around and is now sandwiched between the vinyl layers.
   
2. Find the 1” D-Ring. Insert the loose left end of the accent band through the D-ring.
   
3. Bring the end around and insert it between the vinyl layers. It is inserted about ⅛” to the inside. Pin or clip in place.
   
4. Starting at the outer point of one gusset corner, edgestitch up the side through both layers of vinyl and across the accent band. We used clips to hold our layers, removing them as we went.
   
5. Continue stitching from the vinyl right up onto the flap itself, creating the neat edgestitching that finishes the perimeter of the flap. Remember to pivot at each of the angled corners along the top of the flap as you move across the flap.
   
6. Continue down from the flap back onto the vinyl layers of the opposite side. Stitch across the accent band, securing the D-ring in place. End and lock the seam at the point of the opposite gusset corner from where you started.
   

Add the snaps

1. Find the trimmed paper pattern piece for the flap. Cut out the marked holes for each of the flap snaps. Place the paper pattern into position over the front of the fabric flap and mark the snap positions through the holes with a fabric pen or pencil.
   
2. Find the Mini Anorak Snaps. You’ll need two sets for the Large Pouch. Insert the top half of the Snaps. If you purchased the Dritz snaps, they include their own snap tool.
   
   NOTE: If you are brand new to working with snaps, you can take a look at our Metal Snaps Tutorial.
3. With the top halves of the snaps in place on the flap, fold the flap down into its final position so the bottom of the flap aligns with the bottom of the accent band. Use the top halves of the snaps as your guide to mark the bottom half positions on the snap accent band.
4. Using the snap tool, set the bottom halves of the snap sets through the snap band and the front vinyl panel.
   
5. If you chose to add a paracord tie, add it now, looping it through the D-Ring in the same manner as you’d attach a gift or price tag. Cut the tails to your desired length. Because the paracord is 100% polyester, the raw ends can be lightly melted with a flame to seal.
   

MEDIUM AND SMALL POUCHES

1. These pouches are made in the same manner as the Large pouch, but without the gusseted bottom. These pouches simply fold in half, creating a flat, envelope style finish.
   
2. The other difference is how to position of accent snap band. Because the Medium and Small pouches are constructed to form a simple flat fold, there is no pattern needed for the body of either of these, which means there is no shaded positioning band to follow. Instead, simply position the top of the band ¾” down from the top cut edge of the vinyl. The centering side to side (⅛” to the right and 1⅜” to the left) is the same as for the Large pouch.
   
3. The flaps are placed in the same position as described for the Large pouch above: the straight edge of the flap sits ½” down from the top cut edge of the vinyl.
4. As with the Large pouch, insert the Mini Anorak Snaps into the flap on the Medium and Small pouches using their flap paper patterns as a guide. Place the top halves first.
   
5. Then use the top halves to mark the position on the snap band for the bottom halves. The Medium pouch has two snaps and the Small pouch has just one.
   
6. Loop the paracord onto each D-Ring if choosing this option.

Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation and Instructional Outline: Debbie Guild