Make a fun little organizer for yourself or a friend. Today on Beginner Sewing Projects, we show you how to make this DIY Accordion Pouch. This easy accordion pouch is the perfect accessory or gift for anyone. Kids can enjoy the pouches for organizing their sticker selection, art supplies, or small toys. Adults can utilize the pouches for organizing coupons, budgeting money, or other small items.
The accordion pouch can be customized with as few as two pouches to as many as five pouches. This tutorial will go over how to construct the bag with five pouches.
What You’ll Need:
- ½ Yard of Outer Woven Fabric
- ½ Yard of Lining Woven Fabric
- ½ Yard of Interfacing
- Thread to match
- 14mm Snap Button Kit
- Iron or heat press
- Thread Clippers
- Sewing Clips
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, & Ruler
- Sewing Machine
DIY Accordion Pouch
Step 1: Cut Fabric
The first step is to cut the fabric pieces. Cut the outer, lining, and interfacing fabric with the following measurements and quantities:
- Outer Fabric
1 – 5 ¾” x 15”
4 – 5 ¾” x 10 ¾”
- Lining Fabric
1 – 5 ¾” x 15”
4 – 5 ¾” x. 10 ¾”
- Interfacing
1 – 5” x 14 ¼”
4 – 5” x 10”
Step 2: Construct Outer Folding Piece
We will first construct the outer layer of the accordion pouch. We will need the largest pieces of the outer, lining, and interfacing fabric. First, take the interfacing. Fold the interfacing lengthwise and cut the corners of one side into a curve. Once cut, you can unfold the interfacing to be flat again.
Place the interfacing in the center of the wrong side of the outer fabric. Fuse interfacing on fabric with a hot iron. Cut the main fabric around the curved edges to match the interfacing. I did this after sewn, but it would probably be better to do this before so that it is easier to keep the same seam allowance going around.
Next, place the right side of the outer fabric to the right side of the lining fabric. Pin or clip together.
Sew the pieces together using a 3/8” seam but leave a 2” opening on one side.
Flip the piece right side out through the opening you left. You may want to iron the piece to flatten.
Last, fold the opening fabric inside to match the rest of the edges, and then sew a straight stitch around the entire piece as close to the edge as possible.
Step 3: Construct the other Four Pockets.
You will construct the other four pockets the same way as the folding piece but will not cut the curve in the corners. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the outer layer, place outer layer and inner layer right sides together, pin or clip together, sew around edges while leaving a 2” opening, and flip pockets right side out. End each piece by tucking the opening fabric in to match the rest of the edges and then sew a straight stitch around.
It should look like this when done.
Step 4: Sew Pocket Pieces Together
We will now sew each of the pocket pieces together. Start by placing the right side of the cover piece (longest piece) with one of the right sides of the pocket pieces. Align the bottom of the cover piece (the non-curved side) with one of the smaller edges of the pocket piece. Pin or clip the two pieces together at the aligned edge.
Once aligned, sew a rectangle starting about 1” to 1 ½” from the side and going up about 4”. The farther away from the edge, the easier it will be to sew the pockets together in the next step. To complete a 90 degree angle, make sure that you keep your needle in the fabric while turning the fabric at the corners. Sew a line about 2-2 ½” (or about 1” from the edge). Turn the piece another 90 degrees and end the rectangle by sewing a straight line down. You may want to create a small rectangle pattern like I did to keep each of them perfect rectangles. Just make sure that you sew a bit off the pattern so it is not attached to the fabric.
Next, you will sew another pocket onto the pocket you just sewn onto the cover. To do this, place the right side of the new pocket to the right side of the pocket already sewn onto the cover. You will start seeing the accordion form coming together. Clip the edges of the two pockets together and sew the same rectangle box like you did with the last pocket.
Continue doing this with the other pockets until you have sewn all of the pockets together.
Step 5: Construct Accordion Form
Fold the pouch together in the accordion form. Clip or pin each sides of the pockets together. You should have five pockets altogether.
Sew the edges of each side with a straight stitch to secure each pocket. You may want to backstitch at the beginning and end of each straight stitch to secure.
Step 6: Apply Snap or Closure
Finally, we will finish the project with a closure. I used a KAM snap by following the directions that came with the snaps; however, you could use other closures as well. You could also use a sew on snap for the closure or you can sew on an elastic loop to the top of the pouch cover and a button on the front of the first pocket for the loop to hold on to.
And that’s it! Now you know how to make this diy accordion pouch.This simple sewing project is so easy for even the most beginning sewer. This is a great gift for all ages. The simple design can be made to hold coupons, money, cosmetics, or even small toys.
If you liked learning how to make this diy accordion pouch, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
DIY Accordion Pouch
Sew this simple accordion pouch. It has room for all your small items in different pockets. Fun and easy!
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- The first step is to cut the fabric pieces according to cut list in post.
- For the outer layer of the pouch, take the largest piece of interfacing, lining, and fabric.. Fold the interfacing lengthwise and cut the corners of one side into a curve. Once cut, you can unfold the interfacing to be flat again.
- Place the interfacing in the center of the wrong side of the outer fabric. Fuse interfacing on fabric with a hot iron.
- Cut the main fabric around the curved edges to match the interfacing.
- Next, place the right side of the outer fabric to the right side of the lining fabric. Pin or clip together.
- Sew the pieces together using a 3/8” seam but leave a 2” opening on one side.
- Flip the piece right side out through the opening you left.
- Fold the opening fabric inside to match the rest of the edges, and then sew a straight stitch around the entire piece as close to the edge as possible.
- Repeat these steps to construct the other four pockets the same way as the folding piece but will not cut the curve in the corners. To sew pieces together, start by placing the right side of the cover piece (longest piece) with one of the right sides of the pocket pieces.
- Align the bottom of the cover piece (the non-curved side) with one of the smaller edges of the pocket piece. Pin or clip the two pieces together at the aligned edge.
- Once aligned, sew a rectangle starting about 1” to 1 ½” from the side and going up about 4”.
- Sew a line about 2-2 ½” (or about 1” from the edge). Turn the piece another 90 degrees and end the rectangle by sewing a straight line down. I made a pattern to make this easier.
- Next, you will sew another pocket onto the pocket you just sewn onto the cover. To do this, place the right side of the new pocket to the right side of the pocket already sewn onto the cover.
- Clip the edges of the two pockets together and sew the same rectangle box like you did with the last pocket.
- Continue doing this with the other pockets until you have sewn all of the pockets together.
- Fold the pouch together in the accordion form. Clip or pin each sides of the pockets together. You should have five pockets altogether.
- Sew the edges of each side with a straight stitch to secure each pocket.
- Add button or snap closure.
- Enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
