Double Sided Zipper Pouch (In-the-Hoop)

This in-the-hoop zipper pouch is twice as nice! Decorative embroidery on the front and back combines with a convenient zipper to create a polished pouch that's perfect for storing all your treasures. Stitch this design for yourself, or to make charming gifts for family and friends!

When you download the in-the-hoop zipper pouch design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size.

Open and print each dieline file using embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines without software. We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link, learn more about affiliate links here)

To begin preparing the fabric pieces, cut two rectangles out of the main fabric that are twice as big as the front (file "b") top and bottom pieces.

Fold both fabric pieces in half with wrong sides together. Press the folded edge, and spray the wrong side of the fabric with temporary adhesive to hold the folded fabric together.

Adhering the two folded sides together will help prevent shifting, and make the pieces easier to cut.

Then spray the back side of the two front piece (file "b") paper dielines with temporary adhesive. Smooth them onto the right side of the fabric, matching one edge up with the folded side.

Cut the two front pieces out on the fold, and remove the paper dieline.

For the back dieline piece (files "a"), simply spray the paper dielines with temporary adhesive, and smooth them onto the right side of the flat, unfolded fabrics. Then cut out the shapes, and remove the paper.

Now that the fabric pieces are ready, hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer tightly. Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Load the back embroidery file (file "a") onto the machine, and begin to embroider the design. The first thing to sew will be the "back piece dieline". This marks the area on the stabilizer where the fabric piece will be placed.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the back of the fabric piece with temporary adhesive, and smooth it in place right inside the sewn dieline.

Reattach the hoop on the machine, and continue embroidering the design.

A tackdown stitch will sew next. This binds the fabric piece to the stabilizer for the remainder of the design.

Then follow the color change sheet, and embroider all the inner details of the design.

Once the embroidery is finished sewing, trim or tear away the excess stabilizer from around the back piece.

Once the back (file "a") is completed, hoop another piece of tear-away stabilizer, and load the front (file "b") onto the machine. The first thing to sew will be the "zipper dieline". This marks the place where the zipper will be placed on the stabilizer.

The zipper dieline sews a box with a center line through the middle.

To place the zipper correctly, close the zipper, and match up the center of the zipper (the teeth that zip and unzip) with the sewn center line.

Make sure the wrong side of the zipper is against the stabilizer, and tape it in place. The zipper should hang over the hoop on both sides, and will be trimmed away later.

Once the zipper is taped down, place the hoop back on the machine, and embroider the "zipper tackdown" step.

This will stitch the zipper to the stabilizer, and hold it in place for the remainder of the design.

Don't worry if it sews over the tape; it can be easily torn away from around the stitches. Then remove the tape before continuing to embroider.

Remove the tape, and embroider the "top front piece dieline" step. This will sew out an outline where the top front fabric piece will go.

Spray the back side of the folded top fabric piece with temporary adhesive. With the folded edge against zipper, smooth the fabric piece inside the sewn dieline shape.

Then continue to embroider the "top front piece tackdown" step.

Repeat the previous steps to embroider the "bottom front piece dieline", place the fabric piece, and embroider the tackdown.

Again make sure the folded edge is against the zipper.

Then follow the color change sheet to embroider all of the inner details of the design. Stop before sewing the "finishing seam".

Before sewing the "finishing seam" step, stop the machine and remove the hoop without unhooping the design.

It is very important to move the slider (also called the pull tab) of the zipper to the center of the fabric pieces. This will allow the zipper slider to be on the finished pouch. If you do not move it, the zipper will be unusable, so do not forget!

To add a wrist strap, cut a piece of ribbon, cord, or sew a fabric strip that is 12"-15" long. Fold it in half, and place the looped end on the inside of the pouch (so the raw ends hang over the edge of the fabric).

Tape it in place, and make sure it is positioned where the loop will not get caught in the final finishing seam.

Lay the back piece (file "a") on top of the hooped front piece (file "b") with right sides together.

Match up the outer edges, and tape the back piece in place around all four sides of the design.

Place the hoop back onto the machine, and embroider the final "finishing seam" step. This will bind all the layers together, and create the final shape of the pouch.

Once the design is finished sewing, tear away the excess stabilizer from around the design.

Then carefully remove the stabilizer from the back of the front side of the design to uncover the zipper and give it more flexibility. Using the point of a seam ripper can help to pull up the pieces of stabilizer.

Then repeat to remove the stabilizer from the back side of the back piece as well.

After all the tear-away stabilizer is removed, trim away the excess fabric by cutting around the finishing seam. Only leave about a 1/4" of seam allowance around the shape for best results. Also cut both sides of the zipper off about 1/4" away from the finishing seam.

Finally, turn the pouch right side out through the open zipper. Remove any tape, and press the edge if using a fabric that doesn't melt. The zipper can be opened more while its inside out to help make the whole bigger when turning.