NASA-inspired Zipper Pouch (with Adjustable Pattern)

This zipper pouch is inspired by one of the lunar sample return bags from the Apollo 11 mission. The size in the included pattern is similar to the original, but I have simplified the rounded end to make it easier to sew.

The included pattern will fit a 13 or 14-inch laptop, albeit the latter a bit snugly. Because the pattern is so simple, you can easily adjust it if needed (see step 1).

• Fabric, preferably something heavy. I used a 65x30.5 cm piece for this model.
• A zipper, as long as the shortest edge and a bit extra to go around the sides (I cut a 35 cm length from a 40 cm zipper)
• Some webbing ribbon (I used about 100 cm)
• A short piece of cord for the zipper pull (optional)
• A small piece of heat transfer vinyl and a vinyl cutter (optional)

You will also need regular sewing supplies such as pins, thread and scissors. If you want to print the included pattern, you will need a printer.

If you want to adjust the size, the piece of fabric needs to be as long as you want the longest edge to be, including seam allowance.

The included pattern makes a pouch measuring 30.5 x 21.5 x 5.5 cm. The pattern makes a simple three-dimensional rectangle, so you can adjust this to whatever you need for your project. If you want to make the exact size as shown in the pictures, you can skip ahead to the next step.

If you want to make your own pattern, you can do so using the following steps. I made this pattern using Adobe Illustrator, but you can also do it by hand. If you do it by hand, using grid paper will make it easier to get straight lines.

1. Measure out the area for the top/bottom piece. These should fit whatever you want to keep inside your pouch. You can go a bit smaller for a more snug fit, but this will make the sides of the pouch bulge out if it gets too tight.
2. Measure out the side pieces, both long and short. The wider the piece, the more you can fit inside your pouch.
3. Add seam allowance to all sides of the top/bottom piece and the long edges of the side pieces. I prefer a 10 mm seam allowance, but you can use whatever you prefer.

The downloadable pattern can be printed with a regular household printer. I have included versions for both A4 and 8.5x11" paper. Do not scale the content when printing, and lay them edge to edge as shown in the picture. Your printer will not print all the way to the edge, but given the straight lines, this will not be a problem as long as you line the pieces up accurately.

Cut out the pieces from your chosen fabric.

Sew together three of the edge pieces, one short and two short with the short in the middle. While sewing, overcast the edges as you go with a zigzag stitch to prevent the edges from fraying.

Press the seams open with an iron, with the fold facing towards the middle.

Place and pin down the zipper on the outside. If your zipper is too long, you can shorten it by hand stitching the end and cutting the excess. The cut edge will be covered by the ribbon later.

Sew the zipper to the fabric. If you sew towards the outer edge of the zipper, this stitch will be covered by the ribbon later, so the thread colour does not have to match the zipper.

Move the zipper head out of the way while sewing to make it easier to get a straight stitch. You can use a zipper foot if your sewing machine has one, but a regular foot will work as well.

Open the zipper with your fingers and make a line in the middle. Cut open this line, but leave about 10-15 mm from the edge uncut. Make a diagonal cut from this point to the corners (see the picture). Press the cut edge open from the back.

Stitch around the edge of the zipper opening to secure it. This stitch will be covered by the ribbon later.

I decorated a piece of the ribbon with some heat transfer vinyl cut with a desktop cutting machine. If you do not have access to this, you can use a permanent marker or paint to personalise your ribbon. Do this before pinning the ribbon to the fabric.

Download the SVG for the exact decoration shown in the picures, or make your own! The Apollo Lunar Program used Futura Bold or Futura Bold Condensed for many of their labels.

Pin a piece of ribbon to the outside edge of the zipper. The ribbon lengths should be slightly longer than the zipper. Sew the ribbon, starting with the edge facing towards the zipper. Repeat for the other side.

Cut a smaller piece of ribbon, a bit less than twice the width of the short edge of the ribbon and zipper. Press with an iron, and attach on each side.

Pin the fabric pieces together to make a box shape. Start with the corners, and pin the bottom short edge piece last.

Pin the corners vertically to make the assembly easier.

Sew the pieces together, starting with the bottom short edge corners. Continue with the other edges. Remember to overcast the edges as you go with a zigzag stitch.

It can be a bit difficult to reach the corners on the first pass but sew as close as you reasonably can. When you have sewn all the edges, you can go over the corners again.

Remove any loose threads, open the zipper and turn the pouch right side out. Check the corners to make sure you have reached all the edges.

If you'd like, you can topstitch the edges to emphasise the box shape. Fold the sewn edge towards the short side, and make a straight stitch all the way around. Repeat for the other side.

It can be a bit difficult to reach the inner corners, so take your time and go slowly to get a nice end result.

You can also add a piece of cord to the zipper to make a zipper pull

By this point you should have your very own zipper pouch! I hope you found these instructions helpful, let me know in the comments if you have any ideas or questions!