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Tame Your Budget With a Lined Zippered Pouch Tutorial

Even in our digital age many people still use cash for certain things, like groceries, gasoline and clothes. It’s a great way to stay on budget, but there are challenges too. Keep track of your cash with this lined zippered pouch tutorial.

Close-up of handmade, lined zippered pouches labeled "gas" and "groceries," set against a background of cash and a pen. Text reads: "Create a lined zippered pouch and stay on budget this year." The image highlights budgeting with homemade pouches.

Our family has used the envelope system since before Dave Ramsey made it popular. I was a waitress during college and my husband was a waiter during graduate school, so we had to have a way to divide up our cash or else it would just get spent. So, we used envelopes.

But paper envelopes wear out and don’t hold coins very well, so we needed to come up with something different. Lined zippered pouches were the answer!

I made zippered pouches for each budget category that used cash – so not our mortgage or car insurance. They worked great! I could easily keep receipts, paper bills and coins in the pouches. And they looked much better than paper envelopes.

You can use this lined zippered pouch tutorial to make cash envelopes, make up bags, pencil bags, and many other things. Just adjust the size of the fabric.

How to Make Lined Zippered Pouches

Today I’m going to show you how to make your own budget zippered pouches. You can use this same idea and make pouches in all different sizes to use as pencil pouches, a makeup bag, coin purse, etc.

Feel free to make these plain, but I like to add a little muslin fabric to the front and stamp it with the category. You can also use fabric markers if you don’t have stamps.

Supplies:

A lined zippered pouch made of floral fabric rests on a wooden surface, showcasing a pattern of red and blue branches and leaves. A white zipper runs along one side, enhancing its charm. In the bottom right corner, a logo with the text "Roots" adds a touch of authenticity.

When you cut your fabric make sure the fabric length is the same as the entire length of the zipper, which will be a little longer than the size listed on the package. Two pieces will be the outer pieces and two will be the lining.

A close-up of a lined zippered pouch showcases fabric with a white strip sewn on, featuring floral embroidery in red, blue, and beige. Pins and needles are scattered across the fabric, while the "Rootsy" logo adorns the bottom right corner.

Cut the muslin fabric and pin it to the right side of one of the outer pieces of fabric. Zig zag stitch the muslin to the fabric.

A close-up of a person aligning a zipper with two pieces of patterned fabric on a wooden surface, crafting a lined zippered pouch. One piece has a floral design, and the person's fingers are visible holding the fabric.

Now make a sandwich by placing one lining piece right side up, then the zipper, then one outside piece wrong side up. Line up the top edges and make sure the fabric is the entire length of the zipper and pin. Using a zipper foot, sew across the top, close to the zipper teeth.

A piece of fabric with a floral pattern in blue and red, featuring a horizontal white strip in the center, evokes the charm of a lined zippered pouch. Laid on a wooden surface, it subtly reveals the word "Roots" in the bottom right corner.

Now fold back the fabric pieces so that you can see the other side of the zipper.

A piece of light fabric with a delicate floral pattern, destined to become a lined zippered pouch, rests on a wooden surface, secured with yellow pins along the edges. The fabric features subtle pink and green designs. The word "Roots" is partially visible in the bottom right corner.

And make another zipper sandwich by putting the liner right side up, then the zipper, then the outer piece wrong side up. Pin and sew with a zipper foot.

A piece of beige fabric with a floral pattern featuring red and blue accents, laid flat on a wooden surface. This soon-to-be lined zippered pouch boasts a horizontal white strip stitched across it and a visible zipper at the top, ready for crafting creativity.

Flip the outer piece over and your pouch should look like this. I like to top-stitch around the zipper. You can do that now or choose not to. I think it looks tidier and doesn’t take any time at all.

Close-up of a hand crafting a lined zippered pouch, sewing white fabric with yellow pins on patterned material. Set on a wooden surface, the word "Rootsy" is subtly visible in the bottom right corner.

Now, unzip the zipper at least half way and lay the outer pieces right side together and the liner pieces right side together. Pin all around the edges. The zipper should be pinned towards the lining – this is important if you want you pouch to look nice.

Two pieces of fabric, one with a floral pattern and the other plain white, are pinned together along their edges with sewing pins to craft a lined zippered pouch. The fabrics rest on a wooden surface, ready for stitching.

Sew around the outside using a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving a 2″ opening in the bottom of the lining.

Close-up of a lined fabric with floral patterns, sewn with a visible white stitch along the edge. Resembling the start of an elegant zippered pouch, it rests on a wooden surface, and "Rootsy" is subtly inscribed in white text at the bottom right corner.

Clip the corners.

A piece of white fabric lies on a wooden surface, ready for sewing or hemming, with four yellow-headed pins inserted. The word "Rootsy" graces the bottom right corner, hinting at a lined zippered pouch project in the making.

Pull the pouch through the opening to turn it right side out. Tuck the raw edges of the opening into the pouch and sew shut. I just use the machine, but you could also hand stitch it shut.

Two lined zippered pouches labeled "groceries" and "gas" rest on a wooden surface. One pouch is beige with a floral pattern, while the other is dark blue with a floral design. The word "Rootsy" is visible in the bottom right corner.

Push the lining inside and zip shut. Stamp or write the category name onto the muslin piece and that’s it. You’ve made a zippered pouch!

Making lined zippered pouches is just one way to keep your budget in check, reducing food waste, using what you have, and growing your own food are also great ways to save money.

How do you keep your budget organized?

Two lined zippered pouches, one labeled "groceries" and the other "gas," rest on a wooden surface. A blue pen and blurred dollar bills sit in the background. The text reads, "Make a lined zippered pouch and stay on budget this year.

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Thanks for sharing!

Michelle

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

I love making these zipper pouches - a quick and fun sewing project! I hadn't thought of using them as Ramsey's "envelope system" what a great idea - thanks of the inspiration!

Angi Schneider

Tuesday 7th of February 2017

You're so welcome! There was time when I was slightly addicted to making these and made them in different sizes. They're so great because you can just read the label of what's inside. Enjoy!