Zip Lipped Fish Pouch With Tutorial

 

Dear Lord, a fish pencil case with a zipped mouth, can you even believe how adorable?  I saw this idea floating around the internet and decided I had to have one, then filed the thought away, and then promptly forgot about it.

Then my son sent me some fabric from Taiwan that arrived yesterday and one of the prints reminded me of fish scales, and I said EUREKA!! I must make a fish pencil case! So I did.

I had to develop a pattern and figure things out for myself, so I'm making a tutorial (click the read more link) for anyone who needs a fish case for pencils, double pointed knitting needles, or whatever one would like to stuff in a fish who has zipped lips.

You will need a main fabric for the body, a contrast fabric for fins and lining, a zipper at least 6 inches long, buttons, and thread.

So you're going to have to draw your pattern out on paper but you don't need to be a talented artist, because I'm sure not.  I drew the fins how I figured fins look, but feel free to change that up.  The measurements I have provided are in inches, and there is one error in the tail measurement: that piece which is marked 1 3/4 inches should say 3 1/2 inches.

Also, note that on the piece marked Bottom, that the end which is 5 1/2 inches is the FRONT (mouth) of the fish, and the end marked 3 1/2 inches is the BACK (tail end) of the fish.  Its confusing the way I laid it out and marked it, (I was too lazy to flip it over and make it more straight forward) so, sorry for that.

Cutting:

Bottom of Body Piece: Cut one of main fabric, and cut one of contrast fabric for lining.

Top of Body Piece: Cut two of main fabric, and cut two of contrast fabric for lining.

Fins: Cut 6 out of contrast fabric.

Tail: Cut 2 out of contrast fabric.

All seams for this project are 3/8 of an inch.  Sew all the fins and tail with right sides together. Trim close to the seam.

 Turn right side out and press well.

Using one fin and the main fabric body top pieces (the ones with the curve), place the fin along the upper edge, making sure that the fin faces the right way when turned right side out.  Remember that the mouth (front end) of the piece, is the end which measures 2 3/4 inches. You need to keep that in mind to orient the direction of your fin.  Was that confusing? I hope I haven't confused you!

Pin the top curved edge right sides together (making sure to catch the fin with a few pins) and sew a 3/8 inch seam.  Again, you will see that the front (mouth) of the fish, is wider than the back (tail) end.

Turn right side out and press the seam.  Note that the fin tip points right, to the tail end of the fish.  I keep stressing this, I need to stop that.  Anyway!

Using the contrast (lining) fabric body top pieces, sew the upper curved edge. Do not turn and press this piece, just leave it as is.

To install the zipper, open the zipper, then:  At the mouth edge:

1: Place your lining right side facing up. On top of that:

2: Place your zipper face up (the pull tab is facing up). On top of that:

3: Place your main fabric right side facing down.

Pin your three layers together and carefully stitch a 3/8 seam through all thicknesses. 

Flip your fabrics so that the main fabric is right side up, the zipper faces outward, and the lining is folded neatly under the main fabric, then press the seam.

Top stitch close to the seam, making sure that the lining stays in place.  I like to do a top stitch to prevent the lining from getting caught up in the zipper.

Using the main fabric and lining bottom pieces, repeat the zipper process using the 5 1/2 inch (front mouth) end as follows:

1) Place lining right side facing up.

2) Place zipper right side facing up.

3) Place main fabric right side facing down.

Stitch seam, press, and top stitch as you did for the other side.

Trim off any excess zipper if necessary.

Tack the open end of the zipper together to prevent the pull from falling off.

Position and pin the two side fins, one on either side of the body.  I lined them up with the fin that was already installed on the top of the fish.  Make sure that your fin is pointing in the right direction. 

With right sides together (and the fin sandwiched inbetween), pin the top piece to the bottom piece of the fish, and stitch a 3/8 inch seam. Repeat for the other side.  

At this point, make sure your zipper is fully opened or you will curse after then next step.

With right sides together, pin the top piece and the bottom piece of the lining together, and stitch.

Turn the whole shebang right side out, because you totally had your zipper fully open amirite?

Stuff your lining smoothly inside the fish.

Pull the lining out of the tail end and stitch the seam closed.

Fold under and press the open tail end of the body, insert the tail, and top stitch closed.

Add buttons for eyes.  I stacked a large white button, a smaller black one on top, and an even smaller black one on top of that, then sewed them on.

An end note:  Since this is a prototype and I made this up as I went along, I would like to say that if I were to make another, I would make the tail end narrower.  The width for the tail end (back) on the bottom of the body measures 3 1/2 inches, and I would reduce that by an inch.  You would also have to modify the top tail end to reflect that change.

However!

Fish!

Who keeps his lip zipped!!

An end note to the end note:

That tail situation was bothering me so I decided to pleat and tack it to make it a bit narrower, like so:

I take back my statement of making the next one with a narrower tail. I love how the pleats made the tail all flowy and I much prefer it to the look of the flat tail.

See him all flowy tailed and zip lipped?  So flowy! So zip lipped!
 

Shared at: 

The Shady Porch 

Someday Crafts 

And a bunch of other places.