UPDATE: I have completely re-written this tutorial with all new photos and better instructions and it is available as a licensed pattern in my pattern shop. The free tutorial for personal use is still available below!
I use a little zippered pouch to carry around my earbuds since they are the fancy microphone ones and I don’t want them to break or get tangled. Some of you have commented that you are looking for some small, simple gift ideas. This is definitely simple to make, and a little more fun than the typical rectangular zippered pouch! I can see these as the perfect gift for teenage cousins or nieces or girlfriends or even teacher gifts. Fun, quick, and cute! It doesn’t take very much fabric so you could even use scraps! Sometimes I have the perfect fabric for something but I only have a fat quarter, or I want to make something extra with the leftovers from another project. This is perfect for that. You could even use 5″ charm squares! You can enlarge any of the photos by clicking on them, if you need to. This is a very basic zippered pouch, so hopefully some of you beginners will try making one!
First, download the pattern file HERE.
Cut from main fabric:
1 circle
2 half circles
1 tab
Cut from lining fabric:
1 circle
2 half circles
Cut from batting (or medium weight interfacing, if you prefer):1 circle
2 half circles
You will also need a 1″ wide nylon 5″ or longer zipper.
Place one lining half circle right side up and place the zipper right side up on top. Align top edges.
Place a main fabric half circle wrong side up (right side together with the zipper). Place batting on top.
Sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance. It’s important to use a 1/4″ SA here because the zipper is 1″ wide, and if we use two 1/4″ seam allowances we are subtracting 1/4″ from each half circle but adding 1/2″ in the middle of the zipper. Perfect!
Fold back and repeat with the other side. Then trim the batting as best you can without cutting into the fabric.
Fold everything back and press well.
Make sure the back side is away from the zip as well.
Topstitch 1/8″ away from the edge with a longer stitch length.
Now make the tab for the side. Fold the tab in fourths – Fold the edges to the center and then fold in half and topstitch.
Fold the tab in half and place it with the raw edges towards the outside of the circle, folded edge in, right over the zipper and sew it at the same spot where you tacked the zip.
Now you need to place the circle pieces wrong sides together with the batting in the middle. Place the lining circle wrong side up. (I’m using solids so it doesn’t matter, but if you are using a print, place it right side DOWN, wrong side up.) Place the cotton batting on top. Place the main fabric circle on top of that. Like a quilt sandwich. It’s so small you don’t really need to pin. If you used fusible interfacing in place of batting, just place the two fabrics wrong sides together.
You should now have these two pieces. Make sure the zipper pull is IN THE MIDDLE of the circle. You don’t want to end up cutting it off!
Flip the full circle piece over on top of the piece with the zipper, right sides together. (Now, if I was showing you how to do this the “right” way, I would tell you to baste with a 1/8″ seam allowance around the outsides first. But this is a small pouch, and it will be fine if you don’t baste. Plus, it’s just for fun. Not basting also makes it easier to trim the batting after sewing!)
Time to sew! Start anywhere on the circle and sew all the way around with a 3/8″ seam allowance.
Since we didn’t use interfacing AND we are sewing in a circle, you might get some puckering (fusible interfacing helps keep the fabric stiffer so it doesn’t pucker as much.) It’s OK. Just lift up the presser foot every few stitches, pivot, smooth out the pucker and keep sewing.
Now cut off the zipper ends. Just don’t use your good fabric scissors! I keep an extra pair of scissors around of opening packages, cutting paper and cutting off ends of zippers.
Now pull back the fabric and try to trim as much batting out as you can without slicing fabric. I use sharp, tiny scissors for this. It’s not imperative but I think it helps reduce bulk.
Decision time! Since it’s difficult to hand stitch a curved opening shut, there will be some raw edges that we need to deal with. You have two options:
1. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4″. Zig zag, overlock and serge the raw edges before turning the pouch right side out. I also clipped the curves every 1/2″, but you probably don’t have to. The raw edges will be tucked way inside the pouch.
Add a split ring and your earbuds and you are done!
OHH thats so cute!! Thank you for the tutorial.. I been jotting down ideas for gifts this year and those would be nice for the music lovers!!
Thank you so much for sharing this detailed tutorial. It is very well written, and you are right, this would make a great gift for teenagers, even preteens.
Laurie
Love this! Thanks so much for the tutorial.
Ooh, thanks for this tutorial! These are super cute! :)
LOVE this!! I just might try it soon. Thanks for sharing!!
This is absolutely fabulous! Great Tutorial!
I just finished your Iphone case tutorial and Now I can’t wait to sew this one. And I get to finally try putting in a zipper….
Thanks for the great tutorials!!! They’re awesome….Love your site!!!
Wow! Thanks for all the nice comments. I’m glad you all like it. If you’re ready for hand-sewing, next up will be a rectangular one with no raw edges!
Found this on Pinterest! This is great as an earbud holder, but also think about cash, extra keys, lip balm or any other small things to keep track of! :D
I plan on making this for my Dad for a change holder!
This is a great tutorial! Thank you for posting it.
This is completely adorable! I will definitely be making some of these before the holiday arrives. There are so many little things that could be put in this little pocket. Oh! Grand Idea….It would be great to hold a little pack of hearing aid batteries and a battery tester on the ring (I teach students with hearing loss) ! Thanks for the tutorial. I just know it will whip up so quickly!
This is soooo cute and such a great idea. A perfect little gift for all the difficult people on my gift list this year. I’m looking forward to setting aside some time to make several. Thanks for the clear, detailed instructions, plus the template. I’m sure I could have figured it out, as I’m a decent, self-taught sewer, and it’s a fairly straightforward design, but now I don’t have to. ;)
Rarely do we find such clear and concise instructions (and great pictures) for such a great little item to make for gifts! I plan on making lots. But I think I will go for the shorter zippers (cheaper probably…and less waste). Now I know what to do with all the remnant fabric that can’t be used for other things.
THANK YOU so much for sharing this.
I’m so not crafty, so could u just make me one?!? Please!!!!
I agree with Ashley. I’d buy one. Please…. :)
This is seriously one of the best, clearest and easiest to understand tutorials I have ever seen! And a cute one at that!
Yes, could you please make me one? I will pay you. This is much nicer than any of the ones I’ve seen on Etsy. Love it!
Un grand merci de France pour le tuto, où comment retrouver ses écouteurs facilement
OK You guys are cracking me up. Thank you for all the nice comments! Part of the reason I made this a tutorial and not a pattern is because the seams aren’t finished on the inside! It’s sort of like backwards french seams with the topstitch, but the whole point of not finishing it was so that they were fast and easy to make with no hand sewing. Is everyone OK with that? It’s still going to be nicer/cuter than anything at the store! :) I’ve gotten a bunch of emails asking me to make these and sell them, so I guess I will have to give in. I have a huge fabric stash but I’m not good at choosing for people. What colors would you want? I will also need to order some more zips!
What a great tutorial!! and such a neat idea :) Thank you.
I love this!! soo cute and i along with many others would love to buy one!
I would like to see pink and maybe a blue one as well!! Can’t wait to order… Great stocking stuffers :)
I love this idea, mine are always getting tangled up. Thanks!
I would definitely buy one as well. I think I’ll be getting a sewing machine pretty soon, but the furthest I’ve contemplated is just making pillow cases for throw pillows. This seems a little more extensive, but I would definitely pay for a completed one haha! I think a pretty black and cream damask would look nice also :)
[...] I’d just seen this tutorial from Erin Erickson for circle zip earbud pouches and thought that was a much better way for her to keep a bit of that fabric with her. It just [...]
I would definitely like to buy these! Where can I get them?!
I love this! I would alter it to hook to a separate ipod holder too, I think… maybe velcro together. Ohhh the ideas you have given me!
love this little pouch and great tutorial! I’d love it if you’d drop by my crafty linky party and share this……need some great projects to feature next week, plus I think you’ll like the party, lots of great inspiration from around the world every week! hope to see you there.
Super cute! I shared on my FB Fan page!
http://www.facebook.com/treasuresfortots
Erin-
this is a great little pouch! Great tutorial. Thanks for posting it-they will make darling stocking stuffers! :)
LOVE this…cannot wait to try. My cat has been chewing on my set by the computer and this is the perfect solution. Thanks!
As far as the unfinished seams…if it was for a gift I would just add a quick binding to the seam before turning.
Love this! I will be pinning and making some soon!
This is one of the most well written tutorials I’ve ever seen with very clear pictures. Thank you so much. I pinned it and can’t wait to make one for myself. It’s funny, just yesterday I was thinking “gosh it would be nice to have something to put my ear buds in, in my purse”. So thanks for sharing!!
So cute, and I love the concept of a keychain.
I made this and the iphone case with matching fabric and they look really cute if you want to see a picture checkout my facebook page. Just look up my name “Maia Neuman” in google and the first thing that shows up should be ~OnE oF a KiNd~
Fab tute, Erin! Darling, easy, and useful. Kudos to you! I made mine slightly different, but that’s ok — different ‘drummers’, right?! Thank you so much. I plan on making several of these for my kidlets and grand-kidlets. I will be searching for a good zipper source! Thanks again. Hugs, Cyn; -)
ps: I plan on blogging about this, but will click/link back to you as the originator. ;-)
I’m finding so many that you all have made! They look so cool! I’m glad you are all having fun with it! Don’t forget, you can add them to the group or Facebook page so everyone can see them!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/dogundermydesk/
http://www.facebook.com/dogundermydesk
I’m cutting out a bunch right now that I will put up on Etsy for sale in the next few days!
I love this, and I just made one for me as a tester before I decide how many to make as gifts:) It was wonderful and easy to follow. It even fits my shuffle in there with the headphones. This will save it from kicking around in my purse unprotected! Thanks!
Love this and I will totally make it… for ME! :)
This is just darling! Now I’m going to dig around my sewing room and see if I have a zipper because I want to try this right now!!
So cool! I am going to be making some of these for Christmas presents – for sure!
So cool….
Thanks for showing us how to make it,
This is a fantastic tutorial–one of the best written tutorials I have ever read! (and that’s a lot! :) I will definitely be making some of these for gifts. Thank you!
Love this! Great tutorial, I just made 10 for stocking stuffers! Perfect for Christmas! Thank you for sharing!
Erin, this is a great tutorial! Your photos are clear, your instructions well-written, and your sewing is neat and precise. I look forward to seeing what else you have and I look forward to making some of these for gifts. I found you via u-create and you’re now pinned on my board!
This is fantastic and so cute!!! I bought some of those rings so now I know what I can do with them. Your tute is also awesome very clear and easy to follow. Thanks so much!!
THIS IS BRILLIANT!!!!
I can’t wait to make two of these for my two teenage daughters! they will love them
thank you so, so much for sharing
I’ve just made one for my daughter in orange and yellow. I love it! I made it just a little bit bigger, so that she can not just put her earbuds in, but her whole iPod-shuffle as well. Now it will be better protected when she puts it in her school bag, and won’t get squashed between her books and stuff.
I have a niece that is getting a iPod Touch for Christmas and this would be AWESOME (and the case) for her for Christmas!!! Holy Cow (and just yesterday I was down to only 1 more gift to make). Wonderful! Thanks.