By Cher
Make a Small Leather Pouch
Sewing leather isn’t hard… In fact, it’s quite easy especially when you have the right tools! This project is a beginner tutorial with links to a few inexpensive tool kits for sewing leather. In the process, we’ll make an easy to sew DIY leather pouch with a zipper! (Don’t let the thought of sewing a zipper scare you – this is super-easy stuff!) The pouch has a box bottom, and the tab on the end of the zipper has a clip or keychain on the end. This little pouch is perfect for holding earbuds and a charging cable, or coins and bills!
I’m sewing my leather pouch on my regular sewing machine, with needles specifically used for leather. See my tips for sewing leather before getting started!
The Right Tools
Let’s start with a few tools… If you plan on hand-sewing leather, this kit from Amazon (<– affiliate link!) is the perfect kit for beginners. It includes the tools to punch the holes for sewing, several needles, thread, a sewing awl and a tape measure all in an inexpensive pack. It’s the perfect way to get familiar with sewing leather without having to spend a lot of money.
For machine sewing, you’ll want to make sure to use needles specifically for sewing leather (<– affiliate link!) and use a long stitch. Binder slips come in handy for holding the pieces together since regular pins cannot be used (they will make holes in the leather and weaken the material)!
The Project
Leather can be found in hobby stores, specialty shops (like Tandy Leather) or online. I bought the piece used in this tutorial at a thrift shop, and thought it would look fabulous with a contrasting zipper and thread. I also punched a hole in what would be the zipper tab (a piece of leather sewn on the end of the zipper) and added a loop with a heart-shaped lobster clip.
Materials Needed
- A piece of leather at least 6″ x 8″
- Needles and thread for sewing leather (Bonded nylon thread works best!)
- Binder clips
- 7″ all-purpose zipper
- 1″ D-Ring, key ring or lobster clip, optional
Step One
For this little leather pouch, we will cut one rectangle of leather at 6″ high by 8″ wide. Also, cut a piece of leather 1″ wide by 3″ long.
Step Two
Fold the 1″ x 3″ piece over the end of the zipper and use binder clips to hold the piece in place. Replace the needle in the sewing machine with the needle for sewing leather, and start sewing the tab to the zipper using a long stitch (I set my stitch length at 4). The seam will be approximately 1/8″ away from the edge. When you turn the corner to sew across the end of the zipper, take caution because the needle can hit the zipper and break. I turned the wheel by hand and fed the leather through very slowly! Pull the upper thread to the back and tie the threads in a square knot.
Step Three
Now, it’s time to sew the zipper to the rectangle… Open the zipper and align the edge of the leather against the teeth of the zipper. Use binder clips to hold it in place. Use a zipper foot on the sewing machine, and sew the zipper in place with the seam approximately 1/8″ away from the teeth. Repeat for the other side.
Step Four
Turn the piece inside out. Make a mark about 1″ up from the fold on the inside. Start sewing at the mark and continue to the zipper. To make the box bottom, pinch the edges so that the center of the fold lines up with the seam. Use binder clips to hold everything in place then carefully sew the seam. Turn the pouch inside out.
Step Five
Punch a hole in the tab and add a loop for a keychain or clip.
Sewing the zipper wasn’t so bad, was it? Stay tuned for other sewing projects using leather and if you have questions about this easy to sew DIY leather pouch, leave a comment below!
Originally posted 2020-09-12 08:00:48.