The cats out of the bag! One of our most popular fat quarter projects is now a video tutorial and making it’s DIY debut for your crafting pleasure. Are you ready to see why we think this zipper pouch is the purrrfect gift for any cat-loving friend? Check out the full, step-by-step tutorial below or follow along with the video tutorial to get started. 

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog
Featured cut-and-sew fat quarter projects

Materials 

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

  • 1 fat quarter of Bobbit Pencil Case by woodmouse&bobbit – we’re using Kona® Cotton Ultra
  • Fabric Scissors
  • Sewing Machine
  • 4” Zipper – You can also use a longer one and cut it down
  • Embroidery needle
  • Brown thread
  • Fiberfill (optional)
  • Fusible interfacing (optional)
  • Zipper foot (optional)

*Please note: The original Wood Mouse & Bobbit tutorial suggests using interfacing and fusible fleece. This tutorial does not use fusible fleece but we have used fusible interfacing on all the pieces to add additional structure. 

1. Cut out the pattern pieces. You should have the following pieces:

Face, Body, Back Body, Left Arm Back, Left Arm Front, Right Arm Back, Right Arm Front, Tail Front, Tail Back, Inner Front Lining, Inner Face Lining, Inner Back Lining, Wood mouse zipper dangle (optional), Tag (optional)

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

2. With right sides facing, sew the front and back arms together with about a ¼” seam allowance, making sure to leave the edges with the red dotted lines open. Turn each right side out and press flat.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

3. Repeat for the front and back tail pieces. Stitch the opening of the tail closed.

Optional: Fold the TAG in half, right sides facing, and stitch along the two long sides. Turn right-side out.

Attach the Zipper

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

4. Fold under & press the along the red dotted line at the bottom of the FACE piece. Repeat for strip at the top of the BODY piece.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

5. Pin the zipper to the face, lining up the dotted red line with the zipper teeth. Stitch in place using your optional zipper foot.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

6. Repeat to attach the front body. You should now have a complete cat front!

Pro tip: Before moving onto the next step, double check that your back body is the same length as the entire cat front. 

7. Fold & press under ½” at the bottom of the inner face lining and top of the inner front lining

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

8. With right sides facing, sew the inner face and front lining pieces to the back lining piece, leaving the mouth section open and ready to attach to the zipper later.

9. It’s time to make a cat sandwich! With right sides facing and the zipper open, pin together the front body and back body with the arms and optional tag positioned between the two layers. Make sure that your zipper pull is inside the stitch line, otherwise, it will not be functional when sewn. Stitch the body pieces together.

*If you prefer, baste the cat arms to the front body before stitching together.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

10. Clip your curves and turn your pencil case right sides out. Topstitch along the line that divides the head from the ears so they are no longer accessible from the inside.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

11. Keeping the lining “inside out,” insert it through the open zip mouth and smooth it out within the body of the pencil case.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

12. Then, hand stitch the folded edges of the lining mouth opening to the inner sides of the zipper.

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

13. Matching the tail up with the red cross mark on the back, attach the tail by hand stitching. We used a whip stitch, but you can also use a cross stitch or small button as decoration!

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

Optional: Sew the Mouse pieces together and flip inside out. Stuff the mouse a little with the fiberfill and stitch the opening closed. If you’d like, you can stitch a loop of ribbon, cord, or chain into the seam between the ears, ready to attach to the zipper pull later. And you’re done! 

Sew Up the Purrrfect Cat Zipper Pouch | Video Tutorial | Spoonflower Blog

Now that you’ve tried one cat-n-sew project, you might want to try them all! Emma Denson, the designer behind woodmouse&bobbit has you covered with her entire collection of dog and cat inspired fat quarter projects for all of your feline and fido friends.