by Linda Theil
Alisa and I planned this first-aid pouch to gift friends who respond with speed and generosity to those in need. We thought they needed a little bit of care, too!
For the first-aid pouch pattern, we chose the medium-sized "Arch Zipper Pouch" designed by Diane Spencer-Ogg. The medium pouch is a roomy 9-inches wide, by six-inches high, by three inches deep providing plenty of room for first-aid supplies and medical needs.
Alisa chose these basic items to include in our Hero Archie first-aid kits:
- supply of Band-Aids
- Band-Aid Tough Wrap
- Band-Aid guaze pads
- Vasoline petroleum jelly
- Magic Molecule antibacterial spray
- Benedryl spray
- scissors
- tweezers
To give our Hero Archie a distinctive appearance I designed a pieced-fabric cross block that would accommodate the front panel of the Arch pouch. Once you piece the design, you can center the pattern piece on the pieced fabric with the assurance the design will fit and be centered on the front of your pouch.
To replicate the cross block for the medium-sized "Arch Zippered Pouch"
Cut:
- two red pieces 3.5 x 5.5- inches
- two red pieces 3.5 x 1.5-inches
- one white piece 3.5 x 1.5-inches
- for strip-set: cut one white piece 2.5 x 1.5-inches and two red pieces 2.5 x 1.5-inches. Sew white strip between two red strips; press; and cut in half vertically.
To assemble block, lay out 3.5x1.5-inch strips in following order to make the cross design (refer to photo, above):
- red strip
- strip-set cut piece
- white piece
- second strip-set piece
- second red piece
Stitch:
- Sew together in the order the strips are laid out, pressing seam allowances as you add strips.
- To finish the block, sew one of the 3.5 x 5.5-inch red pieces on each side of the cross motif.
How to use your pieced panel:
- Spray starch and press your block. Center the front pattern piece of the Arch pouch on your pieced panel.
- Cut out the front piece according to the pattern piece.
- Back the pattern piece with fusible fleece.
- Sew into pouch as directed in the pattern.
We used red and white cottons for the body of the pouches; two pouches were made with dark brown, faux-waxed-canvas bases.
For the interiors we used a cotton poplin in "bright red Swiss cross" purchased from Spoonflower. The interior seam-bindings were cut from the same fabric cut on the bias. We also added a small mesh pocket to the interior of each bag.
Each bag got a zipper pull of Mora faux leather.
Matching grab-handles and zipper-tabs are 3/4-inch nylon webbing. These Hero Archies are strong and tuff and ready to save the day!
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