Thanks!  I’m not sure on the Kit, I’ll go on and check it out. But it might be an actual forever project for me lol. Thanks

I'm continuing to work on my heritage family photo scrapbooks but at night, I like to watch TV and work on sewing.   The sewing I've been working on are my EPP projects. I work on one until I arrive at a point where I am stalled, for one reason or another, then I move onto a different EPP project.  I typically avoid machine piecing because I *know* once I start with the machine sewing, I'll devote more and more time on those projects instead of my scrapbooks!  :-)

HOWEVER, I had been looking for <something> in my sewing room, became majorly distracted and segued into re-organizing the various storage containers in my sewing room and purging those things I have decided that I simply don't want/need any longer.  It's felt fairly liberating.  :-)

One small amount of leftovers from some project ... a strip set of batik & white-on-white that was used in making 9-patches of 1/2" squares.  I had a certain amount of strip sets leftover and just COULD NOT toss them.  But at that time, I also didn't DO anything with them .. I just tossed them into a box.   Well, in the looking for <something>, I came across those strip sets and decided, right then and there, that I would just MAKE the extra blasted 9-patches so that the strip sets wouldn't be laughing at me.  So, I did.

Now, I had quite a few fairly small 9-patches ...  they are only 1-1/2" square!   I needed to pair them with some other fabric.  I came across a nicely deep orange fabric that had been used in some Easter project, as there were carrots printed on the fabric.  :-)   The printed carrots are rather subtle since it is a tone-on-tone effect.   I only had a little bit of it but cut 1-1/2" squares to work with the 1-1/2" 9-patches.  

What I made was another zip pouch.  Not that I needed another zip pouch or that any of my daughters need another zip pouch but I just like making them.  :-)  My absolute, all-time favorite tutorial for zip pouches is the Open Wide Zip Pouch.  I like it because it completely avoids that nasty business at the end of the zippers and allows the zip pouch to be opened to its full amount.  

As a variation, I decided to put a zippered pocket in the lining .. just because I can.   Here is the result of an evening's machine sewing ... a 8-1/2"L x 6"H x 2"D zip pouch.  The boxed corners make the base slightly smaller than the top: 6-1/2"x2". 

Voila ... no more strip sets!  no more small 9-patches!  no more UFO laughing at me!  Bonus: no more orange fabric either!  LOL!

What a darling little zipper bag!  Win/win-- you use up some blocks and stash and get a cute little bag.  I "pinned" the link for "one of these days".  I've got a boatload of those little 3.5 inch 9patches too.  they have been my leader ender pieces for a long time.  So far I have 2 nap sized tops made with them and still have more to work on.  Will share photos whenever I get around to quilting them

Lynne,  If you use that tutorial, I'd suggest you follow the measurements for the first time though.  That way, you'll see how it all goes together and the proportions.  However, in subsequent creations, feel free to use whatever measurements you want or whatever your fabric scraps dictate.  The 9-patch zip pouch I shared certainly didn't follow the tutorial's measurements!

The tutorial has you use a separate lining, which finishes off the inside beautifully.  However, I think it lacks one essential finishing point .... if you follow the tutorial as it is written, the lining is attached to the exterior *only* at the zipper edge.  This means that when you are scrabbling around inside for something, it is entirely possible and probably  inevitable that as you pull your items out of the pouch, the lining will pull up also.  I knew this would drive me nutso.

So, I added one more step, just before you stitch up the opening in the lining (for turning the pouch inside out).  This step attaches the boxed seamlines of the exterior & lining together so that even if you specifically grab the lining inside, it will NOT pull out on its own.  This will keep the lining inside the pouch.   

If you ever get around to using the tutorial, contact me and I'll guide you through my extra step.  It doesn't take more than 5 minutes total but adds a whole lot of functionality to the pouch.  :-)

If I make it to the retreat would you show me how to make the bag with the zipper inside.

Lynne did you ever make your trip to Puduache.? There not must to see there.

Sure, Viola.  I'd be happy to.

I LOVE your little bag, Pirate! That's so cute!

Thanks for the additional info! I have made a few zippered pouches and do know how to "box off" the bottom so the lining won't come out, but I didn't know how to make that big opening.  They could make some cute gits to have on hand at Christmas.

Yes, I did but it was just for one day.  It was just enough to get away for a bit of new scenery.  Of course, I went to Hancocks and I like it down by the riverfront.  After last year's accident, I hope I get over this nervousness about traveling solo.