First Aid Pouch

Hello, it’s Stephanie from Sissy Belle Sews here to share with you a project that’s near and dear to my heart. If you follow along with me, you obviously know I love to sew. But you may not know that I am a nurse by profession. And right now, as we are all aware, nurses and other healthcare workers are working in an environment unlike any we have ever encountered before.

Going to work (or the grocery, or anywhere for that matter) isn’t quite the same as it used to be, and wearing a mask and gloves is now the norm. For the last few weeks, I have been carrying my hospital masks around in a paper bag, so today I’m thrilled to share this cute pouch I designed to make carrying my protective gear (or first aid supplies) a whole lot more fun!

Supplies Needed

• • Fat quarter for the background.
  • Fat quarter for the lining.
  • Scraps of red fabric.
  • A zipper at least 9″ long

• 1 package of HeatnBond Fusible Interfacing in Craft Extra Firm weight
• 3″ piece of ribbon
• Lobster clasp
• Red Cross Quilt Block Pattern

First Aid Pounch Sewing Instructions

NOTE: I made four of these zipper pouches at once, which is why there are lots of pieces shown in some of my pictures.

• Make the Red Cross Quilt Block according to the pattern instructions.
• From the background fabric, cut a 7.5″ x 9.5″ rectangle for the back of the pouch.
• Cut the lining fabric into two 7.5″ x 9.5″ rectangles.
• Cut two 7.5″ X 9.5″ rectangles of HeatnBond Craft Extra Firm fusible interfacing.

• Fuse the HeatnBond to the wrong side of the Red Cross block and pouch backing fabric.
  • Do NOT fuse the HeatnBond to the lining fabrics.
• Slip the ribbon through the ring of the lobster clasp and baste in place on the front of the pouch.

• From leftover fabric, make two zipper tabs. Zipper tabs will cover the ends of the zipper to hide the raw edges. Measure the width of your zipper (most nylon zippers are around 1″ wide. I used a metal zipper which was 1.25″ wide). Cut two rectangles 1.75″ long by however wide your zipper is. For me, since my zipper was 1.25″ wide, I cut two rectangles measuring 1.25″ x 1.75″ each.
• Fold the rectangles in half along 1.75″ edge and press. Unfold, then fold edges toward the pressed line, and press again.
• Insert the end of the zipper into one of the zipper tabs and stitch close to the edge.
  • Be careful if using a metal zipper and do not sew directly over the teeth.
• Place the zipper tab 1/4″ from the edge of the pouch front. Measure 1/4″ from the opposite edge of the pouch and make a mark on that end of your zipper.

• Open the zipper, then cut at the mark. Insert this end into the other zipper tab and stitch close to the edge.

• Place the zipper right side down on the pouch front, making sure the zipper tabs are 1/4″ from each edge of the pouch front.
• Place a rectangle of lining fabric right side down on top of the pouch front and the zipper. Stitch along the top edge, sandwiching the zipper between the pouch front and lining fabric.

• Press the lining fabric to the inside of the pouch, matching the wrong side of the lining with the wrong side of the pouch front, and topstitch close to the edge by the zipper.

• Next, place the back of the pouch on the table, right side up. Place the pouch front right side down. Then, place the last lining piece right side down. Line them all up along the top edge and stitch in place. (NOTE: in the image below, the back of my pouch is the green fabric).

• Fold the lining toward the inside and topstitch as before. You should now have something that looks like this:

• Next, OPEN YOUR ZIPPER, then fold the pouch so that the right sides of the lining are paired up, and the right sides of the pouch are facing.

• Start sewing all the way around, leaving a 4″ opening in the lining fabric.
• Once you have sewn all the way around, reach in through the opening of the lining and pull the pouch right side out.

• Stitch the opening of the lining closed, push it back inside the pouch, and you’re done!
• Fill it up with bandaids, masks, gloves, first aid creams, and whatever else you can think of! Make one for you, and make three for your friends like I did! I’m sure you would brighten the day of a healthcare worker with this little gift.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and I hope you are staying safe!

-Stephanie-