018: Tutorial: Pleated pouch (But moooommmm! I want to sew!)

Bag lady
Lately I have been sewing again in my free time between jobs (waiting to hear back from a company this week). A friend of mine doesn't know how use a sewing machine so she kicked started my sewing obsession by coming over to use it and making a great excuse to go to Jo-Ann's and pick up supplies. I started cutting out a pattern but ended up following a youtube tutorial after a botched (and not inner lined) bag. Bags are wonderful, glorious and just down-right useful!

First, my botched non-pattern/tutorial bag:

What went wrong? No lining or structure to it! Looks boring.

Second, my botched first attempt at pleated pouch style sans pleats:

What went wrong? Used felt instead of interfacing and didn't pleat!

Third, a great success even-though-I-didn't-follow-the-pattern/didn't-have-a-pattern-had-to-eye-ball-it bag:

My mom saw it and actually asked, "Did you buy another bag?" And I was like, "NOPE! I made it!" I am so proud.

Now for the tutorial part:
What you need:

zipper not pictured

1. Lining: I suggest a thick canvas like lining or something with weight on it but you can use a cute/simple pattern lightweight if that is all you've got. 
2. Interfacing: For the interfacing, get a medium-weight NON FUSIBLE interfacing.
3. Zipper: Size of zipper will determine the size of your bag, use 12" or more for a bigger bag. 7" makes a very small bag.
4. Outside: Choose three complimentary kinds. I suggest a solid, simple pattern (eg. stripes, dots or a two-toned style) and a cute pattern style.
5. Accents: You can add accents like ribbon or trim, especially to the seams or on the solid top part.

Measurments:

I eye-balled everything from the youtube video. This is the measurements from the bag I am picturing:

1. Lining: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
2. Interfacing: ~6.5"h x ~8"w
3. Zipper: 7"
4. Outside solid: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
5. Outside simple pattern: ~6.5" h x ~8"w
6. Outside cute pattern: ~6.5"h x~ 8"w (messed up on this one; the panels in total should match the width of the zipper with extra for seam allowance [hence my extra 1"])

My simple pattern                                       

My main cute pattern

Step one: sew your panels together.

Three panels sewn together

All the panels sewn together.

Step two: iron the seams flat.

Step three: pin the panels at the middle of the inner pleat fabric.

All the panels pinned to make the pleats.

Step four: add the topper to the outer pleated fabric.

Step five: sew the zipper face down onto the outside pleated fabric.

Step six: sew the inner lining and interfacing to the other side of the zipper. 

Repeat for other side.
Be careful to match your wrongs and rights sides unlike me who did it wrong three times on the second side of the zipper.

Step seven: sew the right sides together. Make sure to leave the zipper half unzipped when you do this AND leave a hole at the bottom of the inner lining for pulling the pouch inside out.

Step eight: sew the corners together to make the bottom of the pouch sturdy.

Step nine: Make sure to cut the excess to the corners.

Step ten: pull the entire pouch inside out.

Step eleven: sew the hole left in the lining for pulling through shut.

Last, the tutorial outcome:

I'm thinking about what other type of patterns I can make just by watching a youtube video. The pleated bag is so simple, I could probably make and sell these. I actually might. If anyone wants a commission I can do it for a reason price (materials not included, but I will make a trip to the store if I include that in the price too). :)