project: mini fabric donut pouch

Very often I do things backwards. For example, buying a supply and then figuring out why I need it or how I'll use it. Have you done that? I'm sure all creative folks do that. Something similar happened with today's project. I stitched up the donut first, then decided to come up with a project to use it for.

I really do enjoy the process of thinking this way, especially with embroidery, because it's great for using pieces that you've stitched just for fun, but want to find a purpose for. The difficulty is that you're limited to the size of the fabric that you're stitching is on. Fortunately for all of those little odd bits of embroidery, this mini pouch doesn't need much extra fabric around the design.



Here's what you'll need:

fabric for outside: about 6 x 11 inches
fabric for lining: about 6 x 11 inches
wool felt: about 3.5 x 4.25 inches
a piece of small-ish embroidery
velcro
embroidery floss
sewing machine

Pouch Template PDF

The donut I stitched is from my new Donut Shop pattern set, available in my Etsy shop and on Kitschy Digitals.




Using the template, cut out two pouch pieces from both the outside and lining fabrics. Cut out one flap piece from felt. Sew the loop side of a velcro piece to one of the outside pieces, positioning it as shown on the template.

Pin the velcro outside to a lining piece, right sides together. Pin the other outside and lining piece, right sides together, with the felt flab between the pieces. Sew across the top of both. You'll have side pieces that look like what you see above.



Pin these two sides right sides together matching outside to outside, and lining up the center seams as best as you can. Press and/or pin the seam toward the lining.



Sew around the pouch, leaving an opening in the lining side to turn it right side out.

It seems as though I like to challenge myself by making the opening just a bit smaller than it should be. Always. I'm glad my mom and grandma taught me to backstitch all my openings, so I don't pull the thing apart. Seriously...I must have some sort of condition that causes me to underestimate how much of an opening I need. But back to the making...



Turn the back right side out through the side, and stitch the opening closed. Stuff the lining into the bag.



Fold the flap over and find the correct position for the hook side of the velcro. You can alter how tight the flap will be by where you sew on the fastener. Once you know where you want it, sew it in place on the flap.



Cut out around the embroidery and stitch it onto the flap using embroidery floss and running stitch to finish it off.




With that you have a little pouch for holding cute little things. I don't recommend that real donuts go in here, but maybe you use it for your donut run cash! It's also just the right size for a few makeup necessities or for holding some little toys to keep little ones busy.