This is a complete tutorial for a simple to make zippered wristlet. The instructions are complete and detailed and there are lots of photos for all you “visual” people out there! (I am one of them!) ENJOY! A PDF version of this wristlet tutorial is also available.


Materials Needed:
• Main Fabric A - Scrap fabric measuring 8” wide x 6” in height (Cut 2)
• Lining Fabric B - 8” wide x 7” in height (Cut 2)
• Trim Fabric B - 8” wide x 1 ½” in height (Cut 2)
• 9” zipper to match Fabric A
• 12” of ribbon for the handle or shorter, depending on your own preference.


Here is what you need for this zippered wristlet. The ribbon for the handle is not shown. Instead of ribbon, I used a piece of left over vinyl trim.

Illustration #1


1. Place the RIGHT side of your trim at the bottom of the RIGHT side of one
section of the main bag body.

Illustration #2

RIGHT side of Fabric A is face up
Trim is FACE DOWN (RIGHT sides of
Fabric A is facing RIGHT side of trim)

2. Sew along the bottom, attaching one of the main body bag sections to the trim with a ½” seam (This equals about the width of your sewing foot).
3. Follow the above directions and sew the second section of your main body bag.

Illustration #3

Attaching the trim to the main bag (Fabric A)
4. Flip the trim down - this will make your main bag piece 7" long

Illustration #4

Here is what it looks like with the trim pressed down on both pieces
of the main body bag of your wristlet.
4. Place the RIGHT side of the zipper (have it hang evenly over both edges of your main body bag) facing the RIGHT side of one section of your main body bag.
5. Pin in place with your pins along the bottom of the zipper.

Illustration #5

The top of your zipper will be even with the top of your bag. (pin placement) Pin your zipper on the lower half so that the pins won’t be in the way when you sew the zipper on.
6. Place one fabric panel of the lining (Fabric B) FACE DOWN even with the top. You will now have a sandwich of (from bottom to top) 1 panel of the main body bag face up, your zipper face down, and 1 panel of your lining face down.

Illustration #6

Sew one panel of the lining to the zipper and one panel of your
main body bag.
7. Use your zipper foot and sew the lining, the zipper, and one panel of the main body bag together with about ¼” seam (this translates to about half of the zipper tape width). Make sure all 3 layers are sewn together properly.
8. Flip the lining over - the WRONG side of your lining will now be facing the
WRONG side of your body bag.

Illustration #7

The lining is flipped over to the back.
9. Press down the main body of your bag where it attaches to the zipper.
10. Top stitch through all 3 layers (from top to bottom - main body of bag, zipper, lining).
11. Take the second panel of your main body bag and have it FACE UP.
12. Put the section of the bag that you just sewed (the one with the zipper) FACE DOWN and even with the top edge of your bag.
13. Pin the zipper to this unsewn panel of your main body bag. (Make sure the pins will not be in the way of your stitches when you sew all these bag parts together!)
14. Place your last piece of lining FACE DOWN and even with the top.

Illustration #8

Here is the order of your “sandwich” from top to bottom - unsewn
lining on top (face down), lining sewn to zipper (face up), zipper (face down with the zipper pull on the right), and the unsewn second panel of the main section of your wristlet.
15. Sew all of these layers together with a ¼” seam allowance - use your zipper foot.
16. Open up your bag and iron the zipper and all the sewn pieces flap.

Illustration #9

This is what your bag looks like opened up. The lining is on the
other side and is not visible in this photo. Iron the fabric around the zipper down.
17. Open up your zipper halfway.
18. Trim the zipper even with the sides of your bag.
19. Fold over the 2 pieces of your main body bag and pin the side seams.
20. Do the same for the lining pieces.

Illustration #10


This is what your bag will look like when you put the 2 main pieces
of the body bag together and pin the side seams and also the lining when you have them together to pin the side seams. The lines represent where you will pin and them sew the lining together and the main body bag pieces together. Leave a 1” gap near the zipper when you sew the main body bag - this is for your handle. 2” gap in main body bag
21. After pining, carefully sew up the side seams.
22. Reach in through the bottom of the main body bag and open up the zipper all the way.
23. Turn the main body bag right side out and insert your ribbon (your handle).
24. Turn wrong side out again and sew up the 2” gap that you just inserted your ribbon in. Sew over this a few more times so that it will not pull apart easily.
25. Sew up the bottom of your main body bag using about a ½” seam allowance.
26. Clip the corners of the bottom of your bag being careful not to cut the stitching.
27. Reach in through the lining side of the bag and pull right side out.

Illustration #11

28. Fold under the bottom seam of your lining on both sides so that no raw edges show.
29. Iron these folded seam.
30. Sew as close to the edge as possible, making sure you catch both sides in your stitches.
31. Push your lining inside your wristlet and press.

32. YOU ARE DONE!!

Illustration #12

ADDITIONAL IDEAS: If you would like your bag to be firmer, add iron-on fusible fleece or backing to the underside (back) of your main body fabric.
This can also make a neat makeup bag to carry in your purse - just leave out the 2” gap in the side seam of your main body bag (Illustration #11).

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