Axolotl Earbud Pouch Free Sewing Tutorial

Use my free sewing pattern to sew an adorable axolotl earbud pouch for back-to-school!

For me, back-to-school is all about the supplies. And even though it’s been a minute since my child has been in back-to-school mode, I still get excited thinking of all the cute things I could make to celebrate the fresh start to a school year.

One of my favorite back-to-school sewing projects is a little zip pouch on a swivel hook or split ring. Something that will hold earbuds and a little pocket change (and probably some cute erasers, too!), and will also look cute hanging from a backpack.

And how cute would this little pink axolotl be hanging from a backpack? That sweet smile and those gills!

I’ve got a free sewing pattern (with cut file) for you below.

This little guy is just the right size to hold your smallest essentials. A zipper sewn into the back makes an easy closure. And with a swivel hook, you can clip this guy to a backpack or keychain.

I made mine as a pink axolotl using light pink for the main fabric and a dark pink for the gills. But axolotls come in other colors too so the pattern doesn’t specify what color fabrics to use.

You won’t need that much fabric of either color to make the pouch. None of the pattern pieces are very big so you may be able to cut this from scraps you have on hand. And if you’re headed to the fabric store, a fat quarter (or even a standard quarter yard) of each color will be more than enough to make this project.

The cute little face is made using Heat Transfer Vinyl. You’ll need black and white vinyl, but you won’t need much of either color. Small scraps will do.

Finished measurements are approximately 3 3/4“ tall x 4 ¼” wide for the pouch itself, or 6 ½” wide including the gills.

Supplies

Main Fabric – large scraps or fat quarter quilting cotton (light pink)

Gills Fabric – scraps quilting cotton (dark pink)

Lining – large scraps, or fat quarter quilting cotton (I used same light pink as the Main fabric.)

Fusible Fleece- large scraps or ¼” yard

Nylon zipper at least 6” long. Don’t use a zipper with metal teeth!

½” swivel hook

½” wide twill tape – 1 piece 2” long

Heat Transfer Vinyl – white scrap at least 1” tall x 3” wide

Heat Transfer Vinyl – black scrap at least 3” tall x 3” wide

Free sewing pattern -Axolotl Earbud Pouch

Free cut file: SVG format (for Cricut) or Studio3 format (for Silhouette)

All seam allowances are ¼” unless otherwise stated. RST = Right Sides Together.

Prep

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse the fusible fleece to the backs of the Face, Back Top, Back Bottom, and Gills pieces. (You’ll only fuse fleece to half of the Gills pieces you cut out. Each finished Gill will be made of one piece that has fusible fleece, and one that does not.)

If you’re using a different fabric for the Lining and the Main fabric, make sure that you’re fusing the fleece to the backs of the Main fabric pieces.

Sew the Axolotl Gills

Place Gills pieces RST (one piece with fleece backing, one piece without fleece backing per pair).

Sew around curved sides, leaving straight edge open.

Clip curves, turn right side out.

The easiest and fastest way to clip all those tight curves is to use a pair of pinking shears to trim the seam allowance. This removes excess fabric and cuts notches all at the same time.

Sew the Axolotl Face

Use your cutting machine to cut the Face Details from the Heat Transfer Vinyl.

Cut the main face (eyes and mouth) from black Heat Transfer Vinyl.
Cut the pupils (small circles) from white Heat Transfer Vinyl.

The face details in the cut file have some pretty thin lines. For easier weeding, use a slower speed and 2 passes to cut the file. In my Silhouette I used a speed 3 and 2 passes. Adding weeding boxes around the designs will also help make it easier to weed.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to add the heat transfer face design to the Face piece, centered horizontally and vertically.

Now to baste all those gills pieces in place along the sides of his face! It can be difficult to get all those pieces placed at exactly the right angle. Here’s what I do for easiest and most accurate placement:

Cut the paper Placement Guide out and place it directly on top of the Face.
Place the Gills where indicated on the Placement Guide.
With the Placement Guide still sitting on top of the Face, baste the Gills in place around the edges of the Face using a 1/8” seam allowance. You’ll be sewing through the paper Placement Guide when you do this.
Once all of the Gills are basted in place, remove the Placement Guide by tearing it along the stitch line.

Thread the twill tape through the end of the swivel hook, bringing the ends together to make a loop.

Place the twill tape (with swivel hook) along the left edge of the pouch ½” the top Gill, raw edges aligned and right sides together. Then, baste in place with a 1/8” seam allowance.

Sew the Back / Install the Zipper

Start by making a sandwich with your zipper and the Top Front pieces. Place the Lining piece right side up, then the zipper right side up, and finally the Main Fabric right side down – with raw edges touching.

Stitch the layers together, using a zipper foot to stitch close to the zipper.

The zipper will be longer than the fabric pieces. Just sew it in and let the extra zipper hang off the edge. We’ll trim it down later.

Turn right side out and press. Top stitch close to the zipper.

Now sew the Bottom Front pieces to the other side of the zipper in the same manner. Place the Lining piece right side up, then the zipper right side up, and finally the Main Fabric right side down, raw edges touching. Stitch the layers together with the zipper foot.

Turn right side out and press. Top stitch close to the zipper.

UNZIP THE ZIPPER at least halfway.

Set your machine to a wide zig zag and a very short stitch length (as you would to create a satin stitch). Stitch the open ends of the zipper together, 1/8” in from edge of pouch. Sew at least 3 stitches to make sure it’s good and secure.

You’ll need to angle the stitches to (somewhat) match the angled sides of the oval pouch.

Trim off the ends of the zipper. Now your zipper is exactly the right size for the pouch!

Assemble the Axolotl Earbud Pouch

Place the Face piece on top of the Face Lining, WRONG SIDES TOGETHER. Glue baste the layers together around the edges.

Glue baste the Lining and Main fabric layers of the Back together in the same way. These layers are already attached together at the zipper, but go ahead and glue baste around the edges.

Press around the edges of these pieces with a hot iron to dry the glue.

With the zipper unzipped almost all of the way, place the Face and Back pieces RST. Sew around the outside with a ¼” seam allowance.