How to Make a Binder Pouch Tutorial

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Perfect for using up scraps of cotton, not mention having some of that beautiful fabric in your stash brighten up work, this how to make a binder pouch tutorial sews up quickly! Great for Organizing and adding a touch of homemade to your binder.

I need to keep all my receipts for my small business, but am naturally not a very organized person and usually have receipts stashed all over my sewing room, computer desk, and purse.

This year, to make things easier once tax time rolls around, I designed a pouch that snaps into my business binder to keep them all collected in one place.

I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

The zipper keeps everything secure and the vinyl window lets me know at a glance what it is inside. I used grommets to create holes for the binder rings, but you can also sew buttonholes if you’d rather not mess with grommets.

I’ve designed the pouch to measure 8 1/2 x 11″ for a standard size binder, but it can easily be customized to fit in a day planner as well. The word on the vinyl window is done with adhesive vinyl cut with my Silhouette, but you can leave it off or write on the vinyl with a paint marker.

I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

These zippered binder pouches can be just as useful at school as in the home office. My daughters have requested ones to hold their pencils, erasers, and other small school supplies.

I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

YOU WILL NEED:

I salvaged Clear Vinyl from a bag that a duvet set came in, but you can also purchase clear vinyl in various thicknesses from most fabric stores.

I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

How to Make a Binder Pouch Tutorial:

Step 1 – cut the following

cutting the pieces of the binder. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

vinyl – 6 1/2″ x 7 1/2″

zipper pieces (X 2) – 2 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

left side – 6″ x 2 1/2″

right side – 6″ x 1 1/2″

bottom – 3″ x 9 1/2″

back – 9 1/2″ x 12″

Step 2 – Begin to Sew the binder pouch

Seam allowance is 1/2″.

sewing the binder pieces

Apply interfacing to the wrong side of all the pieces except for the vinyl.]

Step 3 – Add the zipper

adding zipper. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Using a zipper foot, stitch the zipper tape to one of the zipper pieces, right sides facing.

sewing the zippers on

Press the zipper piece away from the zipper and topstitch. (a zipper foot is helpful for this step too!)

sewing the zippers on I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Repeat with the second zipper piece. Next step for this binder pouch tutorial is adding the small piece of vinyl.

Step 4 – Add the vinyl

adding vinyl. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

With right sides together, sew the left and right sides to the short ends of the vinyl. Sometimes the vinyl can stick to the pressure foot, causing it to be difficult to sew. I suggest either using a teflon foot (mine came with my machine) or sticking a piece of clear tape to the bottom of your regular pressure foot.

adding the vinyl

Carefully press the left and right sides away from the vinyl and topstitch. Don’t let the iron touch the vinyl or it will melt.

Step 5 – Finish the front of the binder

finishing the front part. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Attach the zipper piece in the same way.

repeat with the bottom piece

Repeat with the bottom piece.

Step 6 – Add the back

adding the back. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Pin the back to the completed front, right sides together.

sewing the seams. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Stitch around the entire perimeter.

clipping the corners

Clip the corners.

pressing the binder carefully. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Press carefully (don’t get too close to the vinyl).

Step 7 – Finish up the binder pouch

finishing up the binder. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Mark a line 1″ from the left side with a disappearing marker or chalk.

sewing along the line.I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Topstitch along this line. Also topstitch close to the edge around the entire perimeter.

marking the placement of grommets

Use a hole punched sheet of paper to mark the placement for the grommets or buttonholes.

placing the grommets. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Install the grommets or stitch the buttonholes.

appplying lettering. I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial

Optional: apply the adhesive vinyl lettering. 

More ideas for this binder pouch: 

Perfect for teens to slide lip gloss and other sundry items into for school.

Add frosted vinyl to the clear pouch for more privacy.

This is a great scrap buster and makes a nice handmade gift for anyone who’s trying to stay organized!

love this binder pouch? More tutorials for Organizers!

Other Free Bag Patterns:

I love making this binder! This DIY Binder Pouch is your new secret weapon. It sews up fast, uses scrap fabric (win!), and snaps right into your binder with grommets or buttonholes. It’s perfect for organizing receipts, office supplies, or school stuff—and bonus points for making your binder actually look cute. Grab the free step-by-step tutorial