First Aid Zip Pouch

Summer is here and we are going to the park a lot.  Now that the snow is gone and the weather is nice, skinned knees are bound to happen.  This handy little First Aid Zip Pouch holds everything we need and goes with us everywhere.

It is a great little project to use up some of your pretty red and white scraps OR you can just make it with any colors you like and have a nine patch on top instead.

It is the perfect size.  It fits two Epi-Pens (for those of you who have to carry them), large knee/elbow size band-aids (so necessary with kiddos), cleaning wipes and of course, an After Bite stick for those pesky mosquito bites and lots more.

Here’s what you’ll need:

5 – 2″ x 2″ squares of red/white fabric
4 – 2″ x 2″ squares of neutral fabric
6″ zipper
2 – 1.5″ x 5″ background pieces
2 – 2.5″ x 7″ background pieces
1 – 7″ x 9″ piece of fabric for backing
2 – 7″ x 9″ pieces of fabric for lining
2 – 7″ x 9″ pieces of medium interfacing (I used Pellon’s 931T Fusible Midweight)
2 – 7″ x 8.5″ pieces of fusible fleece or batting (I used Pellon’s 987F Fusible Fleece)

All seams are 1/4″.

Lay out your 2″ squares how you want them to look.

Sew them together in rows.

Then sew the rows together.  Your 9-patch should be 5″ square.

Sew on your 1.5″ x 5″ pieces on each side. Your block should be 5″ x 7″ now.

Then sew on the 2.5″ x 7″ pieces on the top and bottom.  Your block should now be 7″ x 9″.

Fuse the mid-weight interfacing on the wrong side of the pouch top and back pieces.  Next fuse the fleece on to the interfacing.  The fleece is 1/2″ shorter than the pouch.  Make sure the 1/2″ gap (where there is no fleece) is at the top of the pouch.  (It’s easier to add a zipper without the bulky fleece there.)

Place your pouch top piece right side up.  Lay the zipper right side down at the top edge of the pouch. Next lay one of the lining pieces on top, making sure the right side of the lining is touching the right side of the pouch.  (In the photos, the lining piece is the same color on both sides.)

Using a zipper foot, sew along that edge to secure the zipper and lining.

Turn the lining and front out and press the seam flat. (Don’t iron your zipper.)

Top stitch along the edge of the zipper about 1/8″ from the edge.

Now do the same for the other side, using the backing and other piece of lining.

Now it should look like this:

Pull up the top piece and backing, right sides together and pin.  Pull the two lining pieces together as well, right sides together.

Make sure the zipper is pushed toward the lining.

Sew around the edge, leaving the bottom of the lining open for turning. Trim the excess at the corners (for turning) and any excess fabric at the sides if needed.

Turn the bag right side out.  Use a chopstick or knitting needle to push the corners out.  Leave the lining out so you can stitch up the opening.  You can do this by hand or machine.  (Machine stitches will show, but it doesn’t matter too much since it’s in the bottom of your bag.)

Push the lining into the bag and then pack all your first aid items and you’re done!  Hopefully you won’t need the supplies inside, but if you do, you’re ready!