DIY Zipper Pouch Sewing Tutorial for Happy Planner

See how to create a DIY Happy Planner zipper pouch to keep your pens and planner supplies always at the ready!

A new year means it’s time to set up my planner. Between my library job, my blogging, and taking care of my family, I absolutely need a planner to keep my schedule in order. I’m a huge fan of the Happy Planner system because they have so many components and accessories you can combine to create exactly the setup you need. And they’re super cute to boot!

If I’m being honest, I do most of my planning while sitting on the couch watching mindless TV. I don’t have a dedicated office in my house so I’ve got to be flexible. One thing that makes this easy is keeping my pens and sticky notes right with my planner. That way wherever I’m working in my planner, I’ve got the tools I need right there to work most effectively.

I made this zipper pouch for my Happy Planner that has made it so much easier to keep my pens and tools handy. I’ve got an easy sewing tutorial for this zipper pouch below showing how.

There’s an elastic band sewn into the pouch so you can wrap it around the front of your planner. With the pouch attached to the front cover, you’ll always have your pens at the ready. And the zipper down the middle makes it easy to grab what you need.

Zipper pouches are actually quite easy to sew so even if you’re beginner you can totally make this project.

Finished measurements are approximately 4” wide x 8” tall.

The tutorial for my Happy Planner zipper pouch includes options for a Big Happy Planner (that’s the size I use) or for a Classic Happy Planner. If you use a different planner, just adjust the length of the elastic band to fit your planner.

Supplies

Main fabric – 2 pieces, 4 ½” wide x 9” tall

Lining fabric – 2 pieces, 4 ½” wide x 9” tall

Fusible fleece – 2 pieces, 4” wide x 8 ½” tall

Zipper at least 10” long

1” wide elastic – 1 piece 13 ¾” long for Big Happy Planner, or 11” long for Classic Happy Planner

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

Prep

Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse fleece to the back of your Main fabric pieces.

Install the Zipper

Start by making a sandwich with your zipper and bag pieces. Layer one of your Lining pieces face up, then the zipper face up along one edge, and then a Main fabric piece face down.

Your zipper will be longer than the bag pieces. That’s on purpose. With a longer zipper you can sew it in with the zipper pull on the portion of the zipper tape above the fabric, so you don’t have to maneuver the presser foot around the pull.

Use a zipper foot to sew along the zipper.

If your zipper is the same length as your fabric, stop stitching when you get to the zipper pull. With the needle down into the fabric, raise the presser foot and pull the zipper pull past where you’re stitching. Put the presser foot back down and resume sewing.

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

Repeat with the remaining Main and Lining fabric pieces on the other side of the zipper. Make the sandwich with the Main piece face up, then the zipper face down along one edge, and then a Lining piece face down. Sew along the zipper.

Turn the fabrics right side out and top stitch close to the zipper.

UNZIP THE ZIPPER at least half way (but not so far that the zipper pull is past the end of the fabric).

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 pencil case. Sew at least 3 stitches to make sure it’s good and secure.

Assemble the Pencil Pouch

Flip the layers so the Main fabric bag pieces are right sides together, and the Lining pieces are right sides together.

Stitch the Main bag pieces together down long side with ¼” seam allowance. Stitch the Lining pieces together down long side with ¼” seam allowance. Leave the sides open.

Turn right side out so the Main fabric (and elastic) is out the outside and the Lining is on the inside, then press.