Selvedge Magic Name Pouch Tutorial

The new Ruby Star Society Selvedge Magic has hit our store and I couldn't be more excited to finally have it available so everyone can make the these fun little pouches for all the people they love! 

My favorite thing about these pouches is the ability to customize them for whomever you're planning to make and share them with. There are so many people I know with uniquely spelled names and this is the perfect way to honor them and make them feel special!

You can download a printable for this project here. And if you are new to sewing pouches and installing a zipper, check out one of our many videos on our YouTube channel here to watch me do that step.

A few things to share about this fabric.... the repeat on it is 18" and the letters are 1.5" tall by 1.25" wide. 

I cut up my yardage and used this Artbin to store them separated by letter. This was a little more work on the front end, but I appreciate not having to be constantly trying to cut out a specific letter from yardage. 

After I select my letters, I sew them together and carefully press the seams open. Since the pieces are little this helps it lay a little flatter. 

Then I make a patchwork background for the front. You can cut from a variety of prints, or use leftover 2.5" squares from other projects. You can also use one fabric as well - check out the printable (linked above) for more details on this. 

I have found that with five letter names, this turns out to be a perfect 4.5" wide so you don't need to do any print matching. For names shorter or longer than 5 letters, you will need to do some print matching as seen below. I use 1.5" x 2.5" strips of background prints for the middle panel that I am piecing with the name. You can see what I mean in this photo of some I recently made for some favorite people of mine ... 

(If you are making a name longer than 8 letters, I would recommend sizing up the pouch to 6.5" x 10.5" wide.)

Then I sew a strip of (4) 2.5" squares to the top and bottom for a pouch front measuring 6.5" tall x 8.5" wide. 

Once I have the front made, I will quilt it to Soft & Stable and shape it with a 1" square cut out in each bottom corner to box the pouch later. 

To make the back, I have done this in two ways... one method is to continue the scrappy theme with patchwork from my scrap bin of 2.5" squares. Make a panel of 3 rows of 4 squares to make a 6.5" x 8.5" panel. Quilt and shape in the same manner as the front. 

Another method is to quilt a piece of the coordinating Selvedge Magic Icons print, trim to 6.5" x 8.5" and shape with the corner cutouts. 

*Note: I stay stitch 1/8" from the edge of all panels when I am making a pouch before I install the zipper - this keeps all layers in place nicely as I am manipulating the bag when installing the zipper and then turning it right side out at the end.

I use zipper tabs in most of my projects. My zipper length with tabs is always 1" shorter than the width of the pouch front. In this case, that means they are 7.5" wide.

Install the zipper and turn your pouch right sides out. (Again, if you need help with the assembly process, check out a video on our YouTube channel.)

I have to warn you ... these are addictive to make AND you're going to be making people's day when you gift these. Which is, in my opinion, THE BEST part of being a maker ... sharing your work with others. 

Here are some more photos for you ... 

The two styles of backing I use ... 

And it's fun to add a name to the side of a bag like on this pocket of my recently finished All Things Tote by Knot & Thread. 

Make it even more special with a unique label on the side ... add this after quilting but before installing the zipper. This cute cat label I added on to fellow cat lady friend of mine.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and I can't wait to see your projects - tag me @sewlux on Instagram!