Owl Pouch Tutorial - scrapbusting project

I've seen a lot of owl purses and bags around and finally decided to try making one for myself! I chose to make a small zipped pouch - trying a different method for the zip to usual, and I'm really pleased with the result!

The finished pouch is approximately 13 x 9 x 5 cm (5 x 3.5 x 2")

I made it using just fabric scraps and a small zip.

Another great idea for a small gift or stocking stuffer!

Here's how to make one of your very own!

First cut your pieces.

You will need.

2 pieces Inner Fabric 16 x 12 cm (6.25 x 4.75")

1 piece Outer Fabric 16 x 12 cm (6.25 x 4.75")

3 pieces Outer Fabric 16 x 5 cm (6.25 x 2")

1 Zip 18 cm (7")

2 pieces Outer Fabric 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2")
4 Pieces Outer Fabric  12 x 3 cm (4.75 x 1.25")

Small white, black and yellow scraps for eyes and beak. Felt is ideal - or if you have scraps with fusible webbing.

Cut a paper rectangle 4.5 x 4 cm (1.75 x 1.5") and round 2 corners to make a 'feather' template. Use this paper template to cut your owl feathers - 12 pairs of assorted patterned fabric. 

(see above picture for the approximate shape)

The Feathers

Take each of your 'pairs' of feathers and with the fabric right sides facing, stitch around 3 edges. Then turn each one right sides out - a chopstick may help!

Now you want to attach your feathers to your front panels.

Take two of your outer fabric pieces, 16 x 5 cm (6.25 x 2").

Pin 6 'feathers' along the top of each piece, slightly overlapping them. You should have a small gap on either side of the feathers.

Stitch these into place along the top edge and remove the pins.

Then place one piece face down on top of the other, pulling the feathers out of the way.

If you gently pull the top piece back you should see the feathers all pointing downwards like this. Stitch along the top line where you have pinned.

The face

Cut eyes and a beak from your white, black and yellow fabric, and place in the centre of your final outer fabric piece, 

16 x 5 cm (6.25 x 2").

 I keep all the scraps from my appliqué projects, so I always have scraps ready to cut and iron into place. But felt or other stiff fabric would work - you could pin or glue into place, then run a tight zig- zag or appliqué stitch around all the edges.

Place this piece above your two feathered pieces. This will make up your front pouch panel.

Flip the top face piece over and pin along the top edge to the top of your feathered panel. Stitch along the top edge where you have pinned.

Outer pouch

Now your outer fabric pouch pieces are ready to join together.

Place these two pieces right sides together and pin, then stitch around the side and bottom.

Now you're going to 'box out the corners'. Reach inside the pouch and open up the corner a little. Pinch the corner from the outside so the side and bottom seams are in line with each other. Place a pin across the corner.

Repeat this with the other bottom corner. Your pouch should now look a little like.. an owl!

Stitch across each corner about 2.5 cm (1") from the pointy end. Then snip off the triangle corners outside your lines of stitching.

Turn your pouch right sides out. This part is now finished!

Inner pouch

Take your two inner fabric pieces and place them right sides together. Pin and stitch around the sides and bottom, but this time leave a gap in the bottom. You will need this to turn the pouch out at the end.

Box out the corners of your inner pouch in the same way as you did for your outer pouch.

The Zip

Take your two outer fabric pieces, 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2")

Fold each one in half, right sides facing and stitch down the two sides.

Trim the seams close to your stitching lines.

Turn each piece right sides out and slip over the ends of the zip.

Tuck the raw edges in on both sides and pin, then top-stitch around all four edges of your fabric zip end.

Now take your final four outer fabric pieces, 

12 x 3 cm (4.75 x 1.25").

Note - my pieces are slightly bigger in this picture - 5cm instead of 3cm. I cut them down after I'd stitched them when I realised they needed to be shorter!

For each piece turn the shorter edges over a little and stitch to hide the raw edges.

Place two pieces, right sides together on either side of the zip with the raw edges lined up with the zip edge. Stitch using your zipper foot.

Pull back both pieces from the zip teeth and top stitch.

Repeat this with the other two outer fabric pieces on the other side of the zip.

Putting it all together

Open up your zip and place it upside-down over the top of your outer pouch, so that the right sides of both fabrics are facing. Pin both sides to the main pouch, lining up the raw edges. Then stitch in place.

Now push the outer pouch piece inside the inner piece so that the right sides of both fabrics are facing each other. The inner pouch is inside out, and the outer pouch is the right side out.

Line up the top raw edges and pin, then stitch all the way around.

Now turn your pouch out through the hole you left in the bottom of your inner pouch.

 Hand stitch the opening closed.

Push the inner pouch inside and your Owl Pouch is now finished!

Fill it up with whatever you choose. Money, toiletries, small pens and pencils, are just a few suggestions.

I think this pouch is the perfect size for a nail care kit!

For the free downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

I have over 100 free sewing tutorials to make all kinds of things and for all levels of sewing ability.

So do go and take a look at 

My Free Tutorials Page.

Bright and colourful turtles and tissue holders - more clothes upcycling

I'm continuing upcycling the last of the clothing for my girls school carnival, which is in just 4 weeks time!

After the softie turtles I made last week were all a little grey,

I decided we needed some with a little colour!

I forgot to take pictures of the clothes before I cut them up - but they are made from a selection of shorts and t-shirts.

My girls have been helping me out today too - giving each turtle a name and a character, for example, this is Sparkle,

this is Lily,

and this is Missile.

So here are all the turtles together - a much more colourful bunch now don't you think?

My girls also did some sewing too yesterday!

They made a whole heap of tissue holders from jeans and other trouser legs for the stall.

So nice that they can make things for the stall and be so involved with it. The idea is to get is set up this year as a concept, then try to help the kids at the school do a lot of the upcycling themselves next year!

To see what else I've upcycled from clothes so far for the school carnival go here.