Introducing my Sunrise Zipper Pouch! It's the 3rd pouch in my Zipper Pouches to Gift Series.  I love the idea of making something pretty to give to a friend to lift their spirits. This one is inspired by the beautiful sunrise. 

When I was little, I loved to sing "Tomorrow" from the "Annie" movie soundtrack. My hair was red and a little curly and my mom always said I could be in that play so I used to imagine I was Annie singing "the sun will come out, tomorrow!"

I am lucky enough to live near the beach and occasionally we get up early and go see the sunrise. I love the promise of a new day, a re-birth, a fresh start that sunrise brings. 

It helps me remember when life knocks you down you always get a second chance. The sun will always rise again. Get up - keep going - stand strong - Spread your goodness like the rays of the sun. Now with those thoughts in mind, let's make a Sunrise zipper pouch!

Sunrise Zipper Pouch Tutorial

To make a Sunrise Zipper pouch You'll need:

• 1/4 yard or fat quarter exterior fabric, quilting cotton
• 1/4 yard or fat quarter lining fabric, quilting cotton
• Yellow solid scraps at least 6'' x 6'' for the Sun Rays
• Yellow print scraps at least 6'' x 6'' for the Sun Circle and 2''x 14'' for the strap
•  2 pieces about 6''x 6'' each of Paper backed fusible fabric adhesive, such as Heat n Bond Lite
• 1/4 yard interfacing , felt, fusible fleece, or cotton quilt batting
• zipper, 9 inches or larger
• aluminum foil
• an Iron

Cutting Instructions

From the exterior fabric (pink)

• cut 2 rectangles 7'X 9'' 

From the Sun Circle fabric

• cut 1 strip 2'' x 14'' for the strap 

From the yellow fabric

• cut 6 strips 2'' x  6 1/5'' for the sun rays 

From the lining fabric

• cut 2 rectangles 7'X 9'' 

From the interfacing

• cut 2 rectangles 7'X 9''  
• cut 1 strip 1/2 '' x 14'' 

From the paper backed fusible adhesive

• cut 2 - 6''x 6'' pieces of paper backed fusible fabric adhesive
• cut one 6'' x 6'' piece into six 1'' strips

Prepare the Sun applique

1. Using a bowl or a downloadable Circle Template, trace a 5'' circle onto cereal box cardboard and cut it out. Trace the same circle onto the paper side of the paper backed fabric adhesive. Cut the circle out right on the line. 

2. Using an iron, fuse the paper backed adhesive circle to the wrong side of the sun circle fabric. Cut around the circle leaving about 1/2 inch of fabric around it on all sides. 

3. Cut a piece of foil about 1 inch bigger than the fabric circle on all sides. Place the fused sun on the foil and then place the cardboard circle directly over the fused circle.

4. Gently lift up the foil and fold it over on all sides of the sun. Cover the foil circle with an extra piece of fabric and iron the foil covered circle. The heat will travel through the foil and press a perfectly curved edge.

5. Gently open the foil and remove the cardboard. Peel the paper backing from the circle. Press the edges of the curve and fuse them to the adhesive. Be careful not to touch the iron on to the glue in the center.

6. Fuse the adhesive strips to the back center of each sun ray strip. Fold and press the long edges toward the center using the edge of the paper as a guide.

7. Peel off the paper backing. Carefully press the folded edges so they fuse to the center adhesive. Do not touch the iron to the glue.

Sewing Instructions

Applique the Sun to the Front:

1. Baste the exterior rectangles to the pieces of interfacing. I am using felt for my interfacing. I sewed around each piece with a long basting stitch.

2. Place a basted exterior piece on an ironing board and position sun circle on top.  I put the circle on the lower left corner of the rectangle matching the circle edge to the corner.  You can place it where ever you want. Maybe in the center like a real sunrise or the opposite corner.

3. Place the sun rays around the sun. I fit about 7 rays on mine. Cut one strip in half to use on the shortest rays.  If your sun is in the center bottom you may need to make extra rays.  Evenly space out the rays paying particular attention to the space between them along the curve of the sun and away from the curve about an inch or so out.

4. Once everything is in the right place, fuse the outer half of the sun rays in place with an iron. Also fuse the center of the sun but not the outer edges. Gently lift the edges of the sun and tuck the ends of the rays behind them. Fuse the ends in place with an iron but do not fuse the edge of the sun yet.

5. Sew around each ray with matching thread. Fuse the sun in place.  Stitch around the circle. 

6. Trim the excess rays and sun from around the rectangle. 

Make the strap:

7. Take the strip of strap fabric, fold it in half lengthwise and make a crease using an iron. Open the fold. Fold the raw edges to the center leaving a little gap between them and press.

8. Insert the strip of interfacing under the fold on one side. Refold all the folds and press. Topstitch 1/8 inch away from each folded edge.

9. Fold the strap in half matching the raw edges. Baste the strap to the front of the Sun piece about 1 1/2'' down from the top.

Insert the zipper:

10. Lay the pouch front right side up. Center the zipper, with the teeth facing down, along the top of the pouch front . My zipper happens just the right length, if you have a longer zipper it will hang over the ends. That will make it easier, trust me.  Place a lining piece, face down, over the zipper and pouch front to create a little zipper sandwich. Make sure the both rectangles line up. Pin in place. Tip: You can use the glue from a gluestick to glue the zipper in place instead of pinning. I am using these binding clips.

11. Change the foot on the sewing machine to a zipper foot. Unzip the zipper all the way if possible to get the zipper slide out of the way. Stitch along the zipper about 1/4''-3/8'' inch away from top edge. Move the zipper slide as you sew if necessary by leaving the needle down while you make adjustments.

12. Fold the rectangle pieces away from the zipper and press. Topstitch along the pressed edge about 1/8'' away from the seam line.

13. Place the other lining piece  on the table right side up. Center the other half of the zipper, teeth up, along the top of the lining piece. Lay the other exterior piece on top facing down. Sew the zipper sandwich using a zipper foot.

14. Press the lining and exterior rectangles away from the zipper. Topstitch along the pressed edge.

Finish the Sunrise Zipper Pouch:

15. Unzip the zipper to be about half way open.

16. With right sides together, match the lining pieces and exterior pieces. Make sure the topstitched zipper seams line up. Pin around all the sides. 

Here's a side view where the topstitched seams line up.

17. Starting at the bottom of the lining, stitch around the perimeter with a 3/8'' seam allowance. Leave about a 2 1/2'' opening in the lining for turning.

18. Trim off the corners of the exterior side. no need to do this for the lining.

19. Turn the pouch right side out through the opening. You can unpick it a little if it is too tight. Push out the seams and corners and press it flat.

20. Tuck in the raw edges at the opening of the lining fabric and press it closed. Sew the opening closed.

And you are done making the Sunrise Zipper Pouch!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think! If you liked this tutorial share it with a sewing friend or Pin it for later! If you make a Sunrise Zipper Pouch I'd love to see it!! Tag me @bluesusanmakes and use the hashtags #sunrisezipperpouch #bluesusanmakes.

Connect with me on Facebook or Instagram and let  me know if you enjoyed this sewing tutorial. 

Happy Sewing!

More zipper pouch tutorials you may like...

• Rainbow Zipper Pouch
• Ruffled Heart Zipper Pouch
• The Girlfriend Clutch
• DIY Diaper Bag - just a big zipper pouch!