Milk-box pouch

 

by Linda Theil

I saw this cute "DIY Milk Box Pouch free pattern and tutorial by Miko Craft" on YouTube and decided to gave it a try. I had to transcribe centimeters to inches, and draw the pattern from directions in the video; then I gathered some fabric and heavy-interfacing scraps to make this little bag-charm that is about the size of an eight-ounce, cardboard, milk container -- 3x5x2.5-inches.

I used a simple round ring hung on lightweight, 3/4-inch-wide nylon webbing to hold a carabiner or a leash. I moved the placement of the ring from the top of the pouch to the side seam to make insertion easier. The pattern also calls for a 3-1/4-inch piece of 3/4-inch-wide, hook-and-loop tape to use as a closure across the top of the pouch.

There are only three pieces in the pattern: a large piece for the exterior and lining of the pouch; a four-inch-square bottom piece, also cut from exterior and lining fabrics; and a 2x2.5-inch piece cut from non-woven material for the decor patch on the front of the pouch. 

I fused a light interfacing on both the body panels of exterior and lining fabric. I also added fusible fleece to the bottom square, but cut it three-inches square to keep it well out of the seam allowance.

Here is my pattern drawing on quarter-inch grid paper. The dimensions of the paper (before cutting the two four-inch x 3/4-inch tabs at the top) are 13.5-inches wide by 6-1.4-inches high. A stitching line is drawn across the width of this main pattern piece three-inches up from the bottom of the pattern; this line is drawn on the right side of the lining to be stitched as a receptical for the 2x2.5-inch heavy-interfacing inserts added later in the pouch-making process.

There are optional triangles (seen at the top center and edges of the pattern) to be stitched toward the end of the pouch-making process to help create the distinctive milk-carton shape; but, I was unable to access their position with my machine; and I don't think it made too much difference to the result. Although, I don't think it would hurt to try to stitch those triangles by hand, and maybe I'll try that!