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Sewing a coffee filter pouch: Quick tutorial

28.05.2020 by Sabine Schmidt

Kaffeefilter Tasche nähen: Schnelle Anleitung

Sew a coffee filter pouch: It’s easy to make a practical little bag in the shape of a coffee filter. With a free pattern, instructions, and sewing video.

The most important things at a glance

  • You can download the pattern for the coffee filter pouch for free right here in this post
  • My sewing video makes it especially easy for you to sew this pretty little pouch yourself
  • You can use the pouch for cosmetics, pens, sewing supplies, and much more
  • This blog post also includes step-by-step instructions with photos
  • The pouch is sewn from non-stretch fabrics such as cotton, denim (upcycling!), or canvas; patchwork fabrics are also a great idea
  • The way the zipper is attached allows the corners to be shaped particularly well
Sew a coffee filter pouch

A coffee filter pouch is a cute sewing idea for beginners, but it’s also fun for experienced sewing fans. Because it is so simple, you can quickly whip it up in between as a little gift or souvenir for a dear friend or colleague.

In this guide, I will show you how to sew it.

By the way, you can also use the coffee filter pouch perfectly for storing FFP2 masks. Depending on how you fold them, size 4 or 5 is best for this.

Sewing a coffee filter pouch: Which fabrics are suitable?

All non-elastic fabrics are suitable, such as:

The firmer the fabric, the more you can skip stabilizing it with interfacing.

Expressive prints on woven cotton* look very nice. You can also get unique batik fabrics* or patchwork yardage from Fabric Freedom.

Especially for the small sizes 1 to 4, you can also use fabric scraps. Of course, you can also create a new, completely unique fabric from mini scraps using the quilt-as-you-go technique. Then, simply cut the pattern pieces out of the quilted fabric.

Essential accessories for sewing the pouch

Download pattern

When you click on the link, you can download the pattern for the coffee filter pouch in 8 sizes.

Download: Pattern (PDF)

How to get the zipper right

The zipper of the pouch is neatly finished with bias tape. This makes the ends nice and stable and ensures that the corners next to the zipper can be shaped particularly well.

You can find all the tips, tricks, and instructions for binding the zipper in a separate blog post.

Required zipper length

The following zipper lengths (finished bound zipper) are required for the individual sizes:

  • Size 1: 13.5 cm
  • Size 2: 15 cm
  • Size 3: 18.5 cm
  • Size 4: 22 cm
  • Size 5: 24 cm
  • Size 6: 27 cm
  • Size 7: 28 cm
  • Size 8: 32 cm

My tip: If you are a sewing beginner and haven't worked with a zipper foot often, you can cut the zipper 1 - 2 cm shorter. This makes mastering the area next to the zipper when sewing it together a breeze.

Video tutorial

The most frequent questions answered at a glance

Can I also sew the coffee filter pouch with a standard zipper?

Of course, that works just as easily. You can also shorten standard zippers to the desired length and then bind them.

Is the coffee filter pouch suitable for beginners?

This small pouch is actually ideal as a first sewing project, especially if you want to practice working with zippers. I explain all the steps very precisely, both in the written instructions and in the sewing video.

Do I need to stabilize the fabric for the pouch?

It depends on how much structure you want the pouch to have. I recommend using light fusible interfacing from size 3 upwards. You can skip the interfacing for the two smallest sizes.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a coffee filter pouch

Small pouch in the shape of a coffee filter with a bound zipper. Includes a downloadable pattern. Difficulty: easy.

  1. Step

    Pattern pieces you need

    • 2 pattern pieces from outer fabric (reinforced with Vlieseline H630 or H250 if needed)
    • 2 pattern pieces from lining fabric

    A note on cutting: in my experience, pattern pieces that need to be especially accurate are best cut with a sharp rotary cutter. For smaller projects I use one with a 28 mm blade. I have gathered all my tips, tricks and recommendations for rotary cutters in a blog post for you.

    The 1 cm seam allowance is included in the pattern.

  2. Step

    How to bind the zipper

    You need a piece of continuous zipper about 1 cm longer than the finished zipper.

    How to bind the zipper
  3. Step

    Open the zipper at the end where the teeth curve slightly downwards.

    Cut away about 1 cm of teeth on one side.

    Slide the zipper pull onto the side where the teeth are still complete.

  4. Step

    Slide the zipper pull a little way onto the zipper chain, then thread in the second side.

    The zipper should now lie nice and flat without any dents or bumps. This is easiest to check from the wrong side:

  5. Step

    Now you need the bias binding.

    Stitch along its open front edge for a few centimetres.

  6. Step

    Then insert one end of the zipper at a right angle to the bias binding. The end of the zipper butts up against the fold of the bias binding from the inside.

    Sew over the bias binding so that both the upper and lower layers of the binding enclose the zipper.

    This is what it should look like now:

  7. Step

    Trim the bias binding so that it ends flush with the zipper.

    Fold the short ends of the zipper towards each other.

    Mark the centre on the top and bottom side of the fabric.

    Snip into the long sides of the zipper 3 - 4 mm deep at 1 cm intervals.

  8. Step

    How to finish the bag

    Now you need the first pattern piece from outer fabric. Mark the centre of the upper curved edge of the pattern pieces with a small snip or a disappearing marker.

    How to finish the bag
  9. Step

    Pin the zipper and the pattern piece right sides together at the centre markings.

    Then pin the zipper to the pattern piece along the curved edge.

    At the sides, the zipper sits about 1 cm away from the fabric edge.

  10. Step

    Then sew the zipper onto the pattern piece from bias binding to bias binding with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

  11. Step

    When you reach the zipper pull, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot and turn the fabric slightly. Then pull the zipper pull past the presser foot.

    Now you can lower the presser foot again and carry on sewing.

    This is what it should look like now:

  12. Step

    Next you need the first lining piece.

    Pin it right side to wrong side to the zipper with the edges aligned. Both pattern pieces also line up neatly at the edges.

  13. Step

    Sew on the lining piece from edge to edge with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

    This is what it should look like now:

    Fold both pattern pieces away from the zipper.

    Pin the second outer piece right sides together to the free side of the zipper.

  14. Step

    Sew on the pattern piece from bias binding to bias binding with a straight stitch.

    This is what it should look like now:

    Pin the second lining piece right side to wrong side to the zipper.

  15. Step

    Sew the lining piece to the zipper from edge to edge.

    This is what it should look like now:

  16. Step

    Fold the two lining pieces towards each other, and do the same with the two outer pieces.

    Open the zipper halfway.

  17. Step

    Open the seam allowances next to the zipper and line the seams up exactly on top of each other. Secure the spot next to the zipper with a pin.

    Pin the long sides together up to the corner.

    Sew the long sides from corner to corner with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.

  18. Step

    When you reach the spot next to the zipper, make sure you don't accidentally catch the bias binding in the seam. The needle goes in right next to the bias binding.

    Leave a turning gap of about 5 - 6 cm in the lining.

  19. Step

    The bottom corners are still open.

    Now pull them apart.

    The seams should lie exactly on top of each other with the seam allowances pressed open.

  20. Step

    Pin the two corners together.

    Sew them with a 1 cm seam allowance.

    This is what it should look like now:

  21. Step

    Trim the seam allowance to 3 mm from the seam.

    Repeat this step for the lining piece.

    Then turn the bag right side out through the turning gap in the lining.

  22. Step

    Push out the corners well.

    Fold the seam allowances of the turning gap 1 cm to the inside.

    Close the turning gap by edgestitching with a straight stitch.

  23. Step

    Topstitch the edge next to the zipper with a straight stitch.

    This is what it should look like now:

  24. Step

    If needed, shape the corners neatly once more with scissors or a chopstick.

    Done!

    And now go and make more! ;)

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About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.