I’ve been just about bursting at the seams to share this project here! Sara of Sew Sweetness has come up with another winner of a pattern: the Filigree Double Zip Pouch.

I jumped at the opportunity to test this one because I saw that Sara offered instructions for how to add ribbon to the bag. I’ve had some Renaissance Ribbon in my stash for a while, but wasn’t really sure of a nice way to add it to my projects. Not to mention the functionality of a pouch with 2 separate zippered compartments.

Here’s what you can expect from the pattern:

• 3 different sizes included in pattern
• instructions for how to quilt exterior of bag (optional)
• instructions for adding ribbon to exterior of bag (optional)
• step-by-step instructions
• color photos for most steps in the process

I think this pattern is suitable for a confident beginner.

I had so much fun making this bag! There were a few firsts for me. I’ve never quilted vinyl before, and actually the pattern doesn’t call for vinyl, but I found this silver vinyl remnant and wanted to give it a try. I decided lime green thread would be really out there: crazy enough to tie in the Tula Pink fabric and ribbon to the silver vinyl. I’m pretty pleased with the result! As I mentioned earlier, digging in to my Renaissance Ribbon stash was also a first, and I’m so happy to have found the perfect project for the rest of my stash. The pattern walked me through both techniques quite nicely.
Word to the wise: if you’re going to use vinyl like I did, be smarter than me and make the zipper tabs out of cotton. They weren’t impossible in vinyl, but would have been nicer in cotton.

I need to talk about this bag! I made the large, and look at all the stuff that fits in there! Those are all full size products, and there was room for more. I could just about fit my iPad in there, but not quite.  You could easily use the large as a toiletry bag, with your hair products in one side, and makeup in the other. Sara is also genius enough to suggest using 2 different zipper colors in order to differentiate each side of the pouch. The pouch uses a foam stabilizer, so your items have a bit of padding, plus the bag maintains its shape and adds a lovely quilting effect.

I also love that you can use a few different fabrics for this pouch, and it really doesn’t require a whole lot. I got both these Tula Pink prints from Fabric Spark, and the Sea Debris in Seaweed (left) is actually one of my all time favourites, but it’s out of print, so I don’t want to use up a big chunk of it all at once.

The bag has a side/bottom panel, which allows it to stand up on its own and makes the pouch a bit roomier as well.

I can’t wait to make more of these, in the other sizes too! The small is going to be perfect in my purse, and I think the medium makes a really nice craft pouch. Any of the three sizes would make amazing gifts.

Quilting and adding the ribbons took a fair amount of time, but those are optional features, so I feel this bag can be a really quick sew, if you make it without the quilting and ribbons. I’m going to try a few in cotton next, and maybe some more adventurous quilting.

• Anna Maria Horner and Tula Pink Renaissance Ribbons, available at Hawthorne Threads
• Zipper tape and pulls from Paccana
• Zipper Charms from Tonic and Lime Designs
• Quilting cotton lining fabrics are both Tula Pink designs from Fabric Spark
• Pellon Flex Foam, available at Funky Monkey Fabrics

The pattern is now available, so head on over to Sew Sweetness and pick up a copy.
What will you put in yours?