Doily Flap Pouch

by watchmeflyy in Craft > Sewing

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Doily Flap Pouch

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I've seen pictures of these around the internet, and I loved the idea of using a hole in the doily as part of the closure. I finally got around to making one for myself so here's how I did it.
These would be perfect little presents for the holidays, and you could even use one of your grandmother's old doilies to make this gift for her.

Materials

Here are the ingredients necessary for this project:
-- crochet hook
-- knitting yarn or crochet thread (I think I used crochet thread size 10, but it's been awhile since I bought it. ^^)
(NOTE: You could just purchase a doily if your crochet skills aren't up for this, but crocheting it yourself just makes everything more special and personalized.)
-- fabric (exterior and liner) (7.5" x 5" for my final size of 3.5" x 4.25", but feel free to adjust to your needs. I just got the width of my doily, included 0.5" to make the pouch's mouth bigger than the doily, and added .5" for seam allowance to get the width. For the length, I estimated how long I wanted the pouch (3.5") and doubled it before adding 0.5" for seam allowance.)
-- a button for the closure
-- sewing needle and thread
-- scissors
-- scrap paper
-- pencil

Optional:
-- sewing machine

Making the Doily

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I followed a pattern from a book that I borrowed from the local public library so I can't post the pattern I used. The book was this one. (I can't read Chinese but the diagrams are easy to follow.) You could also search online for doily patterns; try this, for example. Of course, there is the other option of buying one from a craft store or using your grandmother's doilies. But even if you don't know how to crochet, doily-making is fairly easy; just search for a tutorial online and try it out!

Regarding the doily:
-- The diameter should be the same as the width you want for your pouch.
-- If you plan on using the pouch for small, thin objects such as buttons or pens, choose a doily that doesn't have relatively big, lacy holes.
-- Make sure at least one hole is big enough for your button to go through. This will be part of the closure.
-- I suggest you make the last round using double stitches to add strength to the flap. If you look at my doily, the outer round is just double stitch after double stitch.

Cutting the Fabric

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On a piece of paper, cut out a rectangle, its width being the same as your desired pouch's (plus 0.5" as seam allowance) and the length being twice the height of the finished pouch's (plus 0.5" for seam allowance). Mine was 7.5" by 5", and the final dimensions of my pouch were 3.5" x 4.25".

Put this rectangle on the fabric you'll be using as the lining and cut out a rectangle of fabric. Repeat for the exterior fabric as well.

Sewing

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Fold the rectangle of fabric you're using as the exterior with the patterned side in and sew along two cut edges to make a little pocket (see image for a visual guide of what I mean). Do the same thing (again, patterned side in) with the lining fabric, but leave a small hole (about 1 inch long) for turning the pouch inside out later.

When you're done with the exterior fabric, flip it inside out and sew the doily (along the diameter) to the top part of the pocket. Once you're done, cut half of the doily off so that half remains attached to your pocket.

Attaching Lining to Exterior

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Flip the exterior fabric back again and line up the edges of the lining fabric and the exterior fabric as shown. Sew all along the edge of the mouth.

Flipping Everything Inside Out

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Now turn the soon-to-be-pouch inside out: slowly pull fabric out of the hole you left in the lining until the fabric is completely flipped.
Afterward, close the hole however you prefer; I would suggest the ladder stitch, but you could also just pinch the two sides together, making sure the raw edges are folded inward, and push your needle through the layers along the hole (the ever-simple whip stitch).

Finishing...

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Push the lining fabric into the pocket of the exterior fabric before sewing around the edge of the pouch's mouth so that the two parts (exterior and lining) don't come apart.

Button

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Then grab your button and position it where a hole in your doily would make the perfect closure. Make sure the doily's hole can fit around the button so that the closure will work. Sew the button to your pouch, and YOU'RE DONE! Time to show off your new pouch to hordes of jealous admirers. ;)