scissors cozy {tutorial}

A pouch made specially for my large fabric scissors has been on my mind ever since I came across this fantastic scissor cozy years ago. I looked and looked for a pattern or tutorial for this kind of scissor cozy with no success, so this weekend I finally decided to draw up my own template and give it a try.

You know what? It worked ! The scissors cozy turned out just the way I imagined and I finally have a pouch that fits my large scissors perfectly. I actually managed to stuff two of my fabric scissors inside the pouch :).

I posted a picture of my finished scissors cozy on Instagram and lots of people loved it, so I wrote up this tutorial in case you'd like to make a scissors cozy of your own. Enjoy!.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Finished size: 10” wide x 5” tall

Notes:

- use 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted

- light to mid- weight quilting fabric is recommended for both exterior and lining

- make sure your printer is set to “actual size” when printing your template (page scaling is set to “none”). Do not select “shrink to fit” as that would result in your template being printed incorrectly.

You will need:

template (click here) 

fabric A (exterior): 1 FQ

fabric B (lining): 1 FQ

cotton batting: 15" square

medium weight fusible interfacing (I used SF 101): 15" square

2” long ribbon for tab

9” zipper

basting spray or pins

zipper foot for your sewing machine

 

1. Cutting

fabric A cut: two main panels using provided template (make sure to cut two mirror images)

one 1.5” x 2” rectangle for zipper tab

fabric B cut: two lining panels using provided template (again, make sure they are mirror images of each other)

interfacing: two main panels using provided template

2. Prepping

a) Adhere interfacing to wrong sides of both lining panels. Set aside.

b) Use your preferred method to baste both exterior panels to batting. Quilt the panels. Cut the panels out.

c) Fold ribbon in half, place it 1” from top edge on right side of exterior panel (refer to picture below). Stitch in place.

3. Zipper

a) Press zipper tab in half, wrong sides together (bring 1.5” sides together), open the tab

and press raw ends towards the center. Fold in half again, raw edges are hidden inside, press (your piece will now measure 0.5” x 1.5”).

b) Trim zipper tape on closed end of zipper to measure 0.5”. Place zipper tape inside the tab (zipper tape edge is touching middle fold of tab). Pin the tab to zipper and sew in place using 1/8” seam allowance, making sure to avoid metal zipper end.

c) Bend zipper tape on open side of zipper at 45 degree angle towards wrong side of zipper tape. Baste within seam allowance either by hand or by machine to secure in place. Trim off extra zipper tape and zipper tab.

4. Assembly

a) Attach zipper foot to your sewing machine.

b) Lay one lining panel right side up on a flat surface. Center zipper along lining's top raw edge making sure zipper head is close to longer side of lining panel. Place one exterior panel (the one with ribbon attached) right side down on top. Align top and side edges, pin along the top edge (zipper is sandwiched between lining and exterior panels). Stitch along the top edge, taking the pins out as you go, using the edge of your zipper foot as a guide.

c) Flip the lining over zipper, exterior and lining panels are wrong sides together. Press the panels away from zipper.

d) Repeat Steps 4b-c to attach second zipper tape to second lining and exterior panels.

e) Put regular sewing foot back on your sewing machine. Open the zipper halfway. Separate the exterior from lining panels, align lining panels right sides together and exterior panels right sides together. Pin and sew around all the edges, making sure to leave a 4" opening in the bottom edge of the lining. 

f) Notch exterior rounded edges, trim lining edges to 1/8". Press the seams open.

g) Turn the pouch right side out through the opening in the lining. Push zipper corners out, stitch the opening in the lining closed and gently push the lining inside the exterior.

h) Give your pouch one last good press and you're finished. 

All done! Pretty easy, isn't it? Hope you have tons of fun making and using your own scissors cozies.

 And, as always, if you make a project using any of my tutorials please add it to my Flickr group or use #sotakhandmade if posting on Instagram. I love seeing all your amazing creations.

Have a super lovely day, friends. Svetlana