path: root/source/accessories/cases/parallelepipedal_zippered_pouch/index.rst

Parallelepipedal Zippered Pouch
===============================

.. only:: html

   .. contents::

.. figure:: closed_pouch.jpg
   :align: center

This is a semi-rigid rectangular pouch suitable as a carrying case for
handheld devices, but also as a pencil case or packing cube.

View A has padding (or rigid plates) at the top and bottom, view B uses
a padded lining to also give some protection to the sides.

Materials
---------

The amounts of materials needed depend on the size of the pouch: smaller
sizes will probably come out easily from leftovers from other projects,
but print out the pattern to be sure of the amounts needed before buying
new fabric.

Fabric
^^^^^^

For both views:

* sturdy outer fabric: canvas, cordura;
* optional: mesh or lining fabric for the pockets;
* optional: fabric for piping: similar to the lining fabric for view A;

for view A:

* lining fabric: plain cotton print, ripstop, lighter cordura;
* padding material: thick interfacing;

for view B:

* padded lining: 2-3 mm thick neoprene or 3d mesh.

Notions
^^^^^^^

* a zipper as long as piece C in the pattern;
* bias tape or other lightweight binding for the raw edges;
* piping cord;
* optional: elastic binding for the mesh pockets;
* optional: 2.5 cm wide webbing;
* matching sewing thread.

Pattern
-------

Get the valentina pattern :download:`zippered_pouch.val` and enter the
measurements in the Variables Table.

You have to set the following increments for the *inner* size of the pouch:

``#inner_x``
   the width, i.e. the lenght of the side where the hinge will be;
``#inner_y``
   the lenght, i.e. the other side of the top;
``#inner_z``
   the height or thickness, i.e. the side that is partially taken by the
   zipper;

and the other increments:

``#ease``
   amount of ease added twice to each measurements to get the outer
   measurements: if you're using a thick lining make sure to provite for
   it in here;
``#zipper``
   the width of zipper that will be visible in the final pouch: teeth
   plus a bit of fabric on each side;
``#sewing_allowance``
   the sewing allowance you want to use.

For convenience, these are some pre-configured patterns, as a printable
PDF or valentina layout:

* 20 cm × 20 cm × 4 cm :download:`20x20.pdf`
  :download:`20x20_layout.vlt`;
* 10 cm × 10 cm × 1.5 cm, using just the zipper for the sides
  :download:`10x10.pdf` :download:`10x10_layout.vlt`;
* to measure as a carrying case for the Pyra_ handheld
  :download:`pyra_case.pdf` :download:`pyra_case_layout.vlt`.

.. _Pyra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonBox_Pyra

Instructions
------------

Cutting
^^^^^^^

Cut 2 of piece A, 1 of piece B and 1 of piece C from the outer fabric.

For view A also cut the same pieces from the lining, and 2 of piece A1
from the interfacing.

For view B cut 2 of piece A, 1 of piece B1 and 1 of piece C1 from the
lining.

Also cut all pieces for the pockets.

Lining preparation
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sew all internal structure to the lining pieces A

Half or 4/5 pockets
"""""""""""""""""""

For each 4/5 or half pocket you want to add, cut one of piece D1 or D2
respectively in netting or pocketing.

.. figure:: 020101-bound_mesh.jpg
   :align: center

Bind the top edge of the piece.

.. figure:: 020102-half_pockets.jpg
   :align: center

Put the piece on top of a lining face, wrong side of the piece on the
right side of the face piece, and machine baste around the border, in
the sewing allowance, backstitching over the bound edges.

Optionally sew vertical lines to divide the pocket, starting from the
bound edge and backstitching over it.

Treat as one with the face lining piece.

Zippered pockets
""""""""""""""""

For each zippered pocket you want to add, cut one of piece A in netting
or pocketing.

Put a zipper, as long as the width of the pouch, at about 3/4 of the
height of the piece, wrong side of the zipper on the right side of the
piece. Sew near the zipper teeth.

Carefully cut the piece below the zipper, fold the allowances out, and
topstitch again with a zig-zag stitch over the zipper tape, catching the
allowances.

Put the piece on top of a lining face, wrong side of the piece on the
right side of the face piece, and machine baste around the border, in
the sewing allowance.

Treat as one with the face lining piece.

Outer faces
^^^^^^^^^^^

.. figure:: 030101-webbing.jpg
   :align: center

Cut strips of webbing that are as long as the width of the pouch, put
them at one webbing width of distance from each other and sew every 4 cm
to make a MOLLE-compatible pattern.

view A
""""""

Put piece A lining with the wrong side up, then piece A1 padding and
piece A fabric with the right side up, machine baste all around the
edges in the sewing allowances.

Treat as one.

view B
""""""

.. figure:: 030301-pieces_a.jpg
   :align: center

Put piece A fabric on piece A padded lining, wrong sides together,
machine baste all around the edges in the sewing allowances.

Treat as one.

Sides
^^^^^

View A
""""""

Sandwich the zipper between piece C fabric and lining, right sides
together, making sure to align the allowance in such a way that when the
seam is folded back the resulting piece will be as tall as piece B.

Sew the long seam, press it so that the wrong sides of fabric and lining
touch each other, and the zipper comes out of the fold.

Machine baste the free edges of the fabric and lining together, treat as
one.

If the zipper has free ends, finish it on both ends with a metal stopper
or by sewing a few times over the teeth.

Sandwich the side between the pieces B of the fabric and lining, right
sides together, sew.

Roll up the side so that the other short edge is aligned with the short
edges of the hinge, still right sides together, sew.

Turn inside out pressing all of the allowances towards the hinge.

View B
""""""

.. figure:: 040201-bound_padded_lining.jpg
   :align: center

Bind the top edge of piece C1 padded lining and the side edges of piece
B1 padded lining.

.. figure:: 040202-sewn_zipper_outer.jpg
   :align: center

Put the zipper on piece C fabric, right sides together, sew with the
right allowance so that when the seam is folded open the resulting piece
will be as tall as piece B.

Press the seam with both allowances towards the fabric.

.. figure:: 040203-sewn_lining.jpg
   :align: center

Put the padded lining on top of the fabric, wrong sides together, so
that the bottom edge is aligned; pin it to the allowances, open the seam
and sew the lining to just the allowances of the fabric and zipper.

.. figure:: 040204-sides.jpg
   :align: center

Put the lining back wrong sides together with the fabric, machine baste
the free edges and treat as one.

If the zipper has free ends, finish it on both ends with a metal stopper
or by sewing a few times over the teeth.

.. figure:: 040205-hinge_outer.jpg
   :align: center

Put the side on piece B fabric, right sides together, sew one short
edge, then align the other one and sew that too.

Press the allowances towards the hinge.

.. figure:: 040206-complete_sides.jpg
   :align: center

Put the padded hinge over the hinge, wrong sides together, and sew it to
the allowances on both sides.

.. figure:: 040207-sides_as_one.jpg
   :align: center

Machine baste the top and bottom of the hinge, and treat the full sides
as one.

Piping
^^^^^^

.. figure:: 050101-piping.jpg
   :align: center

Prepare two strips of piping and baste them to the top and bottom of the
sides, putting the joins close to the seams of the hinge.

Assembly
^^^^^^^^

.. figure:: 060101-sewing_top_face.jpg
   :align: center

Right sides together, put the top face inside the sides, near the
zipper, carefully sew all around. You may want to sew part of the front,
cut the thread, move the zipper sliders out of the way and sew the rest
of the seam.

.. tip:: when sewing keep the face on top and the sides at the bottom,
         and ease the excess fabric rather than having to pull on

Put the other top face right sides together inside the sides, making
sure that the zipper is at least partially open, sew all around.

Fully open the zipper, turn inside out and check that all seams are ok.

.. figure:: 060102-binding.jpg
   :align: center

Turn inside out again, sew binding on the remaining raw edges.

Gallery
-------

.. figure:: media_pouch_closed.jpg
   :align: center

   The first version of this pouch, with no piping and too wide of an
   hinge. The 20 cm × 20 cm × 4 cm pattern is a fixed version of this.

.. figure:: media_pouch_open.jpg
   :align: center

   The first version of this pouch, open, showing spaces for two hard
   disks and a zippered pocket for cables.

See Also
--------