A good makeup pouch is more than just a bag; it’s a stylish, compact organizer that keeps your essentials tidy at home or on the go. While it might seem complicated, sewing a zipper makeup pouch is a fantastic project for a beginner. It’s a quick, satisfying craft that lets you practice essential skills like zipper installation and box corners. Plus, you get a custom accessory that’s both beautiful and practical.

Why Sew Your Own Makeup Pouch?
- Customization: Choose any fabric you love—a bold floral, a classic solid, or a quirky print—to match your style perfectly.
- Skill Building: This project is a great way to get comfortable with zippers, a key skill for more complex sewing projects.
- Perfect for Gifts: A handmade makeup pouch is a thoughtful and personal gift for friends, family, or teachers.
- Organize Your Life: Keep your makeup, skincare, or toiletries neatly contained in a bag that fits your needs.
- Use Up Scraps: It’s an excellent way to use those treasured fabric scraps you’ve been saving.
What You’ll Need:
- Exterior Fabric: 1/4 yard of sturdy fabric like quilting cotton, linen, or canvas. A fat quarter (18″ x 22″) works great.
- Lining Fabric: 1/4 yard of a coordinating fabric. Quilting cotton is a good choice because it’s lightweight and easy to work with.
- Interfacing: 1/4 yard of fusible fleece for a soft, padded pouch that holds its shape, or medium-weight fusible woven interfacing for a crisper feel.
- Zipper: One 9-inch nylon coil zipper. Nylon zippers are easy to sew through and can be trimmed if too long.
- Thread: All-purpose polyester thread that matches or complements your fabrics.
- Sewing Machine: A machine with a zipper foot is highly recommended.
- Tools:
- Rotary cutter with a new blade, a clear ruler, and a cutting mat (or sharp fabric scissors).
- Fabric marker or tailor’s chalk.
- Pins or fabric clips.
- Iron and ironing board.
- Seam ripper (just in case!).

Understanding the Pouch Design & Cutting Dimensions:
This tutorial creates a finished pouch that’s approximately 9 inches wide x 6 inches tall x 2.5 inches deep.
- Main Exterior Panels (Cut 2): 10″ W x 7″ H (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm).
- Main Lining Panels (Cut 2): 10″ W x 7″ H (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm).
- Interfacing (Cut 2): 10″ W x 7″ H (25.4 cm x 17.8 cm).
Note: All seam allowances are 1/2 inch unless otherwise stated.
Step-by-Step Sewing Instructions:
1. Cut & Fuse Your Fabric Pieces
- Cut all fabric pieces according to the dimensions provided. Accuracy here will lead to a better finished product.
- Fuse interfacing: If you’re using fusible interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of your Main Exterior Panels. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for pressing time and heat. This step adds structure and helps your pouch stand up on its own.

2. Install the Zipper
This is a key step, but your zipper foot makes it simple!
- First Side of Zipper:
- Take one Exterior Panel. Place it right side up on your work surface.
- Place your zipper on top of the exterior fabric, right side down, aligning the top edge of the zipper tape with the top raw edge of the fabric. The zipper pull should be facing down onto the fabric. Pin in place.
- Take one Lining Panel. Place it on top of the zipper and the exterior fabric, right side down, aligning all three top raw edges. Pin.
- Using your zipper foot, stitch along this edge with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Sew slowly and carefully. When you approach the zipper pull, stop with your needle down, lift the presser foot, slide the zipper pull past your needle, lower the presser foot, and continue stitching.
- Press & Topstitch (First Side):
- Gently open the fabric pieces so the exterior and lining are pulled flat. Press the fabric away from the zipper teeth.
- Topstitch along the folded edge, 1/8 inch from the zipper teeth, through all layers (exterior, zipper tape, lining). This secures the fabric and prevents it from getting caught in the zipper.
- Second Side of Zipper:
- Repeat steps 2.1 and 2.2 for the other side of the zipper, using the remaining Exterior and Lining Panels. Make sure the exterior fabrics are aligned with each other, and the lining fabrics are aligned with each other.

You should now have a long piece of fabric with the zipper in the middle, exterior fabric on one side, and lining fabric on the other.
3. Assemble the Pouch Body
- Align Layers:
- Open the zipper about halfway. This is a crucial step! If you don’t, you won’t be able to turn your pouch right side out later.
- Fold the entire piece so the two Exterior Panels are right sides together, and the two Lining Panels are also right sides together.
- Align all raw edges perfectly. Pin securely around all three open sides (the two short sides and the bottom long side).
- Stitch & Leave Opening:
- Starting from one side of the lining, stitch down the side, across the bottom, and up the other side using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
- Important: When sewing the bottom seam of the lining fabric, leave a 3-4 inch opening in the middle. This is where you’ll turn the pouch right side out. Remember to backstitch securely at the beginning and end of this opening.
- Trim Corners: Clip the exterior fabric corners diagonally, close to the stitching line but without cutting the stitches. This reduces bulk when you turn the pouch.

4. Create the Boxed Corners
This step gives your pouch a flat, stable bottom.
- At each of the four corners (two on the exterior, two on the lining), flatten the corner so the side seam meets the bottom seam. This forms a triangle with the seam running down its center.
- Measure 1.25 inches from the tip of the triangle (where the seams cross) and draw a line perpendicular to the seam.
- Stitch directly along this marked line. Backstitch securely.
- Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
- Repeat for all four corners.
5. Finish the Pouch
- Reach into the opening you left in the bottom of the lining. Carefully pull the entire pouch through this opening until it’s right side out.
- Gently push out all corners and seams to create a neat, defined shape for your pouch. Use a point turner or a blunt stick if needed.
- Press the entire pouch thoroughly, paying special attention to the zipper and all seams.
- Close the lining opening: Press the raw edges of the opening inwards by 1/2 inch. Stitch the opening closed either by machine (topstitch very close to the edge) or by hand using an invisible ladder stitch.
- Push the lining down into the pouch. Press the top edge of the pouch again.

Your cute and functional zipper makeup pouch is now complete! This versatile little bag is perfect for keeping your cosmetics, toiletries, or other small items organized in style. It also makes a fantastic, personalized gift. What will you fill your new pouch with first?
Video tutorial: