For my new planner, I absolutely need a pouch to store pens and small notes or appointment reminders. To help you be well-prepared for the still young 2025, I’d like to show you the steps for Sewing a ruffled pouch, a practical and charming little accessory. The Lilli ruffled pouch wraps around a planner or notebook with an elastic band, keeping your pens easily accessible and less likely to get lost. The lovely ruffles make the pouch eye-catching as well.
I sewed the ruffled pouch entirely with the BERNINA 480. This machine features a thread cutter at the push of a button, a large bobbin, a variety of beautiful decorative stitches, and everything a sewing enthusiast could wish for.
Use a contrasting fabric for the ruffles to make them stand out.
On my Instagram and TikTok profiles, I share content about sewing, crafting, upcycling, and embroidery. You’ll find reels with tips and tricks for a variety of projects.
Materials needed for the Lilli ruffled pouch:
- Fabric scraps: cotton or lightweight canvas for the outer and inner pouch
- 20 cm (8 inch) zipper (4 mm teeth)
- 20–30 cm (8–12 inches) elastic band
- Optional: Ruffler #86
- Optional: Edgestitch Foot #10
Cut the fabrics as follows:
Please note that seam allowances are included in the measurements.
Cut from outer fabric (cotton or lightweight canvas without interfacing):
- 1 back piece: 12 x 20 cm (4 3/4 x 7 3/4 inch)
- 4 front strips: 4 x 20 cm (1.5 x 7 3/4 inch)
Cut from inner fabric (cotton or lightweight canvas without interfacing):
- 1 back piece: 12 x 20 cm (4 3/4 x 7 3/4 inch)
- 4 front strips: 4 x 20 cm (1.5 x 7 3/4 inch)
Ruffles in a contrasting color (optional):
- 2 ruffle strips: 5 x 45 cm (2 x 17 3/4 inch)
Let’s get started!
First, thread a zipper pull onto the 20 cm zipper. Seal the ends of the zipper with a lighter to prevent fraying. Be careful and avoid using the lighter indoors!
Preparing the ruffles:
Fold the ruffles in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press. You can gather the ruffles manually with two rows of basting stitches and a long stitch length, with an overlocker, or easily with the Ruffler foot #86.
The Ruffler #86 is a true marvel, and since I love ruffles, it’s a must-have in my sewing kit. This special presser foot allows for quick and precise creation of evenly spaced pleats. You can adjust settings to gather fabric after every stitch, every sixth stitch, or every twelfth stitch, and you can even control the depth of the pleats. It’s not only easy to use but also time-saving and highly precise.
The following video explains how to insert and use the ruffler in detail:
After correctly inserting the ruffler as per the instructions, set the stitch selector to 6. This means that every sixth stitch will create a pleat. Additionally, adjust the stitch length of the straight stitch to 3.5.
Place the ruffle strip between the ruffler blade and the separating tongue, with the open side of the strip facing right. Lower the presser foot and sew carefully and slowly, pleat by pleat. Ensure that the ruffle does not shift or distort. Repeat this step for the second fabric strip as well.
The straight stitch length is set to 3.5.
Close-up view
Your ruffle should now look something like this:
Repeat this step for the second ruffle as well.
Sewing the Zipper
Pin one strip of outer fabric, right sides together, to the zipper. Then pin the lining fabric strip with its right side to the left side of the zipper. This means the zipper will be sandwiched between the outer and inner fabric strips.
Sew the strips and the zipper at 0.75 cm using the Zipper Foot #4. Secure the seam at the beginning and end.
If the zipper pull gets in the way while sewing, lift the presser foot, leave the needle in the fabric, and slide the zipper pull back. Lower the presser foot again and continue sewing.
Topstitch close to the edge next to the zipper with a straight stitch. Repeat this step on the other side of the zipper.
The stitch length is set to 3.0.
This is how the pouch looks so far:
Sewing on the Ruffles
Pin the ruffle strip, folded by the ruffler, right sides together to one end of the fabric strip.
Next, pin the outer fabric strip, right sides together, to the ruffle.
Then, pin the lining fabric strip in the same way on the wrong side of the fabric.
Sew both the inner and outer fabrics with the ruffle and the two strips (inner and outer fabrics) together at 1 cm with a straight stitch.
Fold the outer and inner strips apart so that the ruffle is facing you. If the seam from the gatherer is still visible, you can remove it with a seam ripper.
Next, topstitch the unfolded seam close to the edge on both the outer and inner fabrics with the Edgestitch Foot #10.
I set the stitch length to 3.5, and I adjust the needle position to 2:
Detail view
Cut the excess ruffle to the length of the pencil case.
The front side of the pencil case is now complete.
Finishing the Ruffle Pencil Case
Pin the elastic band in the center, right sides together, to the ends and beginning of the zipper. The length of the elastic varies depending on the intended use of the pencil case. Measure the approximate length using a notepad or calendar. Then, sew the elastic in place within the seam allowance.
At this point, it’s important that the zipper is open.
Pin the back piece of outer fabric, right sides together, to the finished front piece.
Sew all the layers together with a straight stitch at 1 cm around the entire piece.
In the next step, pin the back piece of inner fabric, right sides together, to the inside of the front piece. Leave an opening of about 10 cm.
It is easiest to sew directly along the seam you already stitched on the outer fabric.
Cut back the seam allowance with pinking shears or regular scissors.
Turn the pencil case right side out through the turning opening.
Then, carefully hand stitch the turning opening closed, being careful not to sew the outer fabric.
Finally, press the pencil case, and you’re done!
Finished pencil case with a ruffle.
Der Beitrag Sewing a Ruffled Pouch “Lilli” – Free Tutorial erschien zuerst auf BERNINA Blog.