First Try At A Zip

Well, I gathered up my courage over the weekend and dove in.  Yes, I tried to put in a zip.  For most things, I can see how they fit together or how piece A would be added to piece B, but the zipper just baffled my brain.

Using a fabulous pattern by Kat, I tried to make a little pouch for myself as a trial run.

I love these little froggies, but couldn't figure out how I would use them in a quilt.  This seemed like a great chance to give them a happy home.  Now, I over estimated the possible size of the "feature" fabric, so there is a little strip of the cheery under the froggies that is lost.  Next time I will adjust my measurements a bit so the froggies are framed a little better.

The zip.  Humm.  It works.  It fits.  The little tabs look cute.  It's puckered on one side, but I think I know how to fix that moving ahead.  Normally I would not have used a blue zip with these fabrics, but with the poor selection of haberdashery shops around here that was my best choice.  Never fear, though, my Zipit zips just arrived!

 
Inside I lined it with a gold/yellow Aviary print that picked up the flowers next to the frogs.  I used the same fabric for the little zip tabs too.  There is room in here for a pocket.  I'll work on that as well.

The pouch is about 9 inches square, so you can easily fit in a rotary cutter or embroidery hoop.  I boxed the bottom so it stands up on its own.  At least it did when it was new.  It has been living in my bag the past few days and the interfacing is loosing its crispness.  I think next time I will try a batting to give it a bit more structure.

Ah, live and learn.  My first pouch.  My first zip.  I learned a WHOLE lot and have a bit of confidence to give it a try (tonight?) for my Mouthy Stitches partner.  Fingers crossed!