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I've been a busy bee so far this weekend with the making of another pouch. This time, a cute dove like birdy pouch! The only thing I need to do for this is to find a new drawstring. The one currently in place is just tempoary until I can find a nice thin cord suitable. Once again - hand sewn and using vintage kimono silks. And for once in my life - I actually took a decent photograph. Go me!

Side On Without Cotton Stuffing in Pouch

The Pouch

I had intended on making a photograph tutorial for this - but got so caught up with what I was doing that I forgot to take photographs of all the steps. I did however, get one photograph of the fabric cut out...so I think I'll post that and give a text tutorial.

Bird Pouch Tutorial

Important Notes:

- The cutting board has an inch square grid on it - so you can use that as a basis for drafting the pattern.

- Each piece already has a seam allowance of 0.5cm

- The above gif shows the seam allowance and pieces and then the next frame with the red dots is where you need to stitch.

I strongly recommend hand sewing this - rather than machine sewing. It will be easier and much more satisfying in the long run!

Pieces: A: Body Lining - Cut Two

B: Body Outside - Cut Two

C: Wing Under Lining - Cut Two

D: Wing Outside - Cut Two

E: Tail Under Lining - Cut One

F: Tail Outside - Cut One

Red Square: Beak. Cut One 1.5cm x 1.5cm

Hem: Hem (not shown) Cut Two 3.5cm x 5.5cm rectangles

Instructions:

Tail and Beak

1. Pin together tail outside and lining, right sides together and sew using a close running stitch. Leave the top unsewn.

2. Clip all curved edges and trim excess fabric near points. Turn - being careful to push the points out neatly. Press gently with iron.

3. Fold the red square in half to form a triangle. Bring the right outer corner of the triangle and fold down to meet the bottom corner. Repeat with the left outer corner. Fold in half to form a smaller triangle that resembles a beak shape. Stitch close to raw edge to hold in place.

4.Take one of the Body Outside pieces. On piece A in the photo - you will notice a little black line in top right corner. Fold your tail in half and pin, with the tail facing INSIDE the body and the folded edge of the tail facing UP towards the pouch opening. Stitch in place.

5. Take your beak and stitch it in place, with the beak point facing INSIDE the body. The folded edge should face towards the top of the head.

Body:

1. Take your Body Outside piece with the tail and beak sewn on it and place the second Body Outside piece on top - right sides facing.

2. Take your Body Lining pieces, right sides facing - and place it directly ON TOP of the Body Outside pieces.

3. Pin in place carefully - ensuring ALL the edges meet up with each other.

4. Do a close running stitch all the way round the edges, leaving the top edge open.

5. Clip all curves and trim all corners. Clip into the neck area close to stitching. Clip into the back neck area, close to stitching.

6. Now, the magic happens. Holding onto the Body Outside piece, turn the body outside in (or should that be inside out?).

7. Press all seams gently with iron.

Wings:

1. Pin together one wing outside and one wing lining - right sides together and sew using a close running stitch. Leave the top unsewn. Repeat with second wing.

2. Clip all curved edges and trim excess fabric near points. Turn - being careful to push the points out neatly. Press gently with iron.

Drawstring Hem:

1. On both pieces, turn the short sides in by 0.5cm and stitch in place and press.

2. On both pieces, turn ONE of the long edges in by 0.5cm and tack in place. Press. On both pieces, you should now have the two short sides and one long side folded in 0.5cm and stitched.

Piecing it All Together:

1. Pin wings to both Body Outside and Lining at the pouch opening on both sides. Tack onto body close to edge.

2. Take one hem piece and pin it to the pouch opening with the unstitched hem along the edge of the pouch and the right side facing the bird.

3. Do a close running stitch 0.5cm from the edge of the pouch, being sure to sew through the hem, Body Outside and Body Lining fabric on that side.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the second hem, on the oposite side.

5. Fold the hem pieces up and into the inside of the pouch with the edge 0.5cm away from the top edge of the pouch opening. Slip stitch in place. (Be patient and slow with this - it is a small area to work with - so patience is the key.)

6. Repeat step 5 on oposite side.

7. Cut two pieces of string equal length (thin string/cord works best). Thread one of the string through so the start and end of the string is on the same side of the pouch. Repeat with second string - but on the oposite side.

8. Knot the edges. You can then put beads or bubbles on the end of the cord if you wish.

9. Last, but not least - you've got to give your birdy eyes! Use what you want. I used two black beads - but you could draw them on or stitch them on if you wanted. Now you have finished your birdy pouch!

I'd give it a quick final press with the iron and you should then have what resembles a cute flat bird pouch.

If you want to display the pouch, rather than use it (like in my main picture) - you can stuff the pouch silly with cotton or poly fill (which ever you desire) and tie the drawstring at the top. Be sure to give it a decent stuffing so it looks like some overly plump fowl!

If you have any questions about the tutorial, please feel free to ask!