December is present month and therefore high season for the true DIY'er. Non-time-intensive fun all-round gift tips always come in handy, and this 'magic pouch' really does fall under that heading!

A magic pouch, because almost completely made out of one piece, with a zipper that runs diagonally across the pouch. Once opened, you turn the zipper pouch into a tray, so done with grabbing to the right pencil, yarn or nail polish. The bag is also called 'cube' pouch, although we extended the 'cube' to a bar where you can put just a little more.

Just google on magic pouch, or cube pouch and you'll find some free tutorials, ideal! I tested it out, finetuned the pattern parts that you can download for free below and share the link to a super clear video tutorial. 

The PDF gives you 3 sizes to choose from: a small bar of 7 x 7 x 14cm (S), an intermediate (as in the picture) of 8 x 8 x 16cm (M) and a larger one of 9 x 9 x 18cm (L).

Download patroon Magic pouch

Video-tutorial: Tendersmile Handmade

Materials needed (S-M-L)?

• Outer fabric (non-stretch: cotton, canvas, faux leather, cork leather, waxed fabrics...):
  • B x H : 32 x 29 cm - 36 x 33 cm - 40 x 37 cm
• Lining fabric (non stretch, not too heavy: cotton, canvas)
  • B x H: 32 x 50 cm - 36 x 55 cm - 40 x 65 cm
• Interfacing:
  • Heavy fusible interfacing to add shape i.e. decovil I, of ronar fix 
  • B x H: 27 x 27 cm - 31 x 31 cm - 35 x 35 cm
  • Optional: If using lightweight cotton: fusible woven interfacing (i.e. G700 or Vefix) or similar, same size as fabric 
• Coil zipper by the yard (ritstape of 32mm wide = 6mm-wide-coil = #5) + 2 sliders:
  • 35 cm - 40 cm - 45 cm

Tips & tricks

• The pattern pieces that you can download here take into account the added width of the zipper. If you follow the video tutorial to draw your own pattern, then you have too much width. Not adding a seam value is also not an option, because then you are too tight.
• Be sure to add the tabs. I took a shortcut with the first version and missed it to close the magic pouch conveniently.
• Of course you can play with the bars to your heart's content. The side must always end in a square, otherwise the method is no longer correct, but narrower (a real cube) or wider is always possible.

Materials used for samples in the pictures:

• Version 1:
  • Outer fabric is Artificial leather basic Smokey green, fused with ronar fix 
  • Lined with Viscose rayon Summer night Indian Ink from See you at six, fused with Vefix.
  • Coil zipper by the yard, neon pink with sliders 'Picture frame'
• Version 2:
  • Outer fabric is Viscose rayon Summer night Indian Ink van See You At Six, fused with Vefix and ronar fix on top.
  • Lined with dry wax Storm, no extra interfacing.
  • Coil zipper by the yard, neon pink