I thought it would be a great idea to sew up some zippered pouches to give as Christmas gifts this year. Easy enough, right? Well, I’ve always struggled with word problems, and written pattern instructions are just word problems to me. I get lost, dazed and confused very easily! That’s why I have to use patterns that have lots of pictures, or I’ll find online tutorials that have lots of pictures. Even then, I can make anything a lot harder than it has to be! I started my Christmas pouch sewing with this cute little kit that I got at Strawberry Patches during the shop hop of 2011. Nothing like waiting a while, eh? The tutorial on Suzanne’s blog was easy to follow, and I was very pleased with the results!
Next, I decided that I was ready for the Open Wide Zippered Pouch on Noodlehead’s blog. Here’s where my struggles with word problems come in. I missed a particular step, and consequently got stuck, struggled, ripped stitches, and re-sewed a few times. Few, as in, IT TOOK ME ALL DAY to do my first pouch! It’s really not so hard, if you don’t miss a step or three. I was determined to plow through, and I finished this one before I quit for the evening. The seed packet fabric is called Sewing Seeds Catalog from Quilting Treasures. The red zig zag fabric is from the Mama Said Sew line by Sweetwater for Moda.
On Sunday evening, I decided to try making another one. I am very happy to say that I got it done in about 2 hours! That is a huge improvement! It had a lot to do with realizing that I’d skipped some important steps in the directions the first time. 
I’d have probably been done sooner, but I was watching Miracle on 34th Street while I sewed.
All of the fabrics except for the pink Essex linen, which I purchased at Birch Fabrics, came from Strawberry Patches. After I do a couple of hours of quilting today, I’m going to cut out some more pouches, and make them assembly line style. I may actually get zippy at this by Christmas!
These pouches are adorable!!! You’re sewing for pleasure and its always so rewarding! I love MO34th street!
What is MO34th street?
You are going to slap ur head! (M)iracle (O)n 34th Street= MO34th Street. Lol, my friend!
OH GEEZ! *slap slap*
Zippy! Ha, ha, ha! I still have my pouch kit from SP 2011 too. Oh, and Miracle On 34th Street is my favorite Christmas movie. Going to watch it tonight while I stitch.
Each one is cuter than the next.:)