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There is nothing worse than a floppy zipper pouch. But a crisp, structured full body pouch is a delight to behold. Today I am going to share the best interfacing to use for sewing gorgeous zipper pouches. You’ll never have another zipper pouch flop.
The pattern shown above is my Nesting Travel Pouch Pattern available here. If you want the free PDF for the simple zipper pouch shown below, as well as four additional projects, you can sign up for my email newsletter by filling out the form below.
Interfacing for the outside of your Zipper Pouch
For the outside of my pouches I love the look and feel of Fusible Fleece. The loft gives such a soft and squishy feel to the pouches. Another benefit is that when adding quilting stitching, it has the thickness to show off the stitching and give it that cozy quilted feel. I like it better than batting because it is more tightly woven, which adds two advantages. First, it makes it more dense and therefore gives more stability to the pouch. Second, because the fibers are tighter, it’s possible to quilt the pouch without needing a backing fabric and it doesn’t stretch as much.
You can find fusible fleece at most sewing supply stores such as JoAnn. I have linked to Fat Quarter Shop to show their selection of fusible fleece so you can get an idea of what you are looking for. I have tried both Pellon and Heat n Bond versions and they are both great.
Image above shows my Pretty Patchwork Pouches pattern available exclusively in my Let’s Sew Friends Membership.
Interfacing for the inside of your zipper pouch
When sewing small pouches, especially flat ones, I don’t always add interfacing to the lining. However, if I am sewing a pouch that I want to be able to stand up, like these Pretty Patchwork Pouches, adding interfacing to the lining helps add so much more stability to the pouch.
For the lining I recommend a medium weight fusible interfacing such as Pellon 808 Craft Fuse or SF101 Shape Flex. Both are great options.
Interfacing Tips and Tricks
First, no matter which type of interfacing you are using, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for fusing. Some require steam, some don’t want steam at all. You will get the best results when you take the time to install the interfacing correctly. And since we’re on the topic, be sure to keep the heat on long enough. Fusing interfacing can be a long boring process when you just want to get sewing already. It’s important, though, that you keep at it- the results will speak for themselves!
Next, give yourself a little margin with your interfacing. There’s nothing worse than getting glue on your nice iron, so make sure to cut your interfacing slightly smaller than the fabric you are fusing it to. For thicker interfacings, such as fusible fleece, I try to keep the bulk out of the seam allowance, so I cut it approximately 1/2″ smaller than the fabric. For thinner interfacing, it’s not as important, so I will cut it 1/8″ to 1/4″ smaller. This little margin will help make sure you don’t accidentally glue your iron. If you really want to get interfacing all the way to the edges, use a press cloth to make sure you protect your iron.
Finally, a tip about buying interfacing. Watch for sales, especially if you have a JoAnn or other craft store near you. It will often go on sale for 50% off and who doesn’t love a deal? You can find interfacing in packages or on bolts, so be sure to look in both areas of your shop to see what’s available.
Final Notes
Interfacing is an amazing tool in your sewing skill set that can help with shape, structure and finish for your projects. I hope you will give it a try! If you want to know how to make the tote bag shown above, I have a tutorial here.
If you have enjoyed this tutorial and want to learn even more sewing tips and tricks, you may be a great fit for my membership program Let’s Sew Friends! Each month I share an exclusive new pattern. Live classes (that are also recorded) sharing all my best tips and tricks for each new pattern are included. Plus I offer bonus patterns each month. There is also a Sew Day where we gather and sew over Zoom. It’s my favorite place and I would LOVE to have you join us. You can find out more information by clicking here.
