No Sew Zipper Bag With Felt Flower Decoration

This bag takes a little spare time to make over the course of a few days for glue drying time in-between steps. I enjoyed making this bag that this instructable will teach you how to make. With bonus instructions included on how to make a felt flower design for the bag or other crafting purpose. ☆

Supplies

• 7" inches long all-purpose zipper
( I used a black metal all-purpose zipper made by 'J and  P Coats' (or use any 7" all-purpose zipper).

• ruler ( to measure the fabric)

• 2 large pieces of fabric bigger than or as big as: 9" x 17.5" inches each piece.
( use any kind of fabric except for large knitted chunky fabrics; the fabric material I used was from used clean clothes comprised of 57% cotton, 43% rayon, 90% polyester and 10% spandex). One of the pieces of fabric will make up the outside of the bag and the other piece of fabric will be the inside of the bag.

• Weld Bond brand glue non toxic
( or any other fabric glue you want to use or have on hand) I don't want to use hot glue. I choose the 'Weld Bond' brand glue because I have it on hand, it is non toxic, it has a strong hold and can be used to glue a variety of different items.

• Small paint brush to apply the glue
( if you don't have a small paint brush you can use a popsicle stick, chop stick, toothpick or even your finger)

• You may need an old towel or cloth with a little water, to wipe up glue on any unintended area or surface ( such as your hands or areas of the bag and zipper).

• Chalk: to draw out the measurements on fabric.

• Scissors: to cut the fabric.

• 2 pieces size 6inch x 6 inch Felt for felt flower and 3 sick pins ( supplies and instructions for felt flower see step 10 for making and adding felt flower decoration to bag).

Step 1:

Starting by making the bag. Take the two pieces of fabric that are large enough to measure a 9" x 17.5" inches rectangle on each of the 2 pieces of fabric. Measure and mark with a piece of chalk 9" x 17.5" inches rectangle.

Step 2:

Cut out the rectangle on both pieces of fabric cutting one piece of fabric at a time along the chalk measured lines.

Step 3:

Turn both pieces of the fabric over so the side that you want visible is on the inside. ( the fabric piece that will be the outside of the bag face to where the fabric side you want shown is up, it will be flipped inside out once glue has dried. The fabric rectangle that will be the inside insert of the bag will be glued the same way with the side you want showing on the inside facing up on your work surface to get ready to glue, but the insert inside fabric will not be turned inside out when glue is dried. Place the ' Weld Bond glue'  or any other fabric glue with the small paint brush or other choice to apply the glue on each of the 17.5 inch sides of the fabric. Leave about 1/2 inch to 1 inch with no glue at the top. Apply the glue about 3mm to 5mm away from the edge along the edge towards the middle of the 17.5" side ( is okay to glue past the middle of the edge a little to make sure the seams will be fully glued shut when folding the fabric in half in order to glue together. You will also be instructed to glue away from the edges throughout this whole instructable when gluing; so glue has less of a chance of getting squished out the sides or where you may not want it).

Step 4:

After placing glue both sides alittle more than half way down the edge on each side of the longer side of the rectangle then fold the fabric over, in half to glue the rectangle together. Then place a heavy box on top of each of the glued rectangles of fabric to help glue the seams closed. The glue will take 24 hours to dry, before you move on to the next step.

Step 5:

Take both of the folded over dried glued fabric square pockets and separately glue each. In this step you will be gluing the cut edges and folding them over at the top open side of each pocket. With the Weld Bond brand glue and your paint brush, glue approximately 3mm - 5mm away from the edge and about 3mm to 5mm in width of glue along the full length of the open side of the square pocket shape ( leave approximately 5mm of no glue at each end so the glue doesn't get squished out the ends). Then fold over about 1/4 of an inch of the top of the pocket and over the glue and press down the fabric gently; you can repeat this process on the other side before letting the glue dry on one side and then place a heavy box on each of the square pockets. The glue will take 24 hours to dry, before you move on to the next step.

Step 6:

Take the pocket that will be the outside of the bag and turn it right side out. Keep the inside fabric pocket the way it is and then place it inside the outside fabric pocket.

Step 7:

Now time to glue on the zipper one side at a time. On your work surface you have your pockets together; now hold open the outside pocket of the bag with one hand while you glue 3mm - 5mm approximately away from the top on the outside of the inside pocket. Then place the closed zipper with the top side of the zipper is facing up on the glued outside of the inside pocket; as close as you can to the zipper area with out touching the zipper. Then hold open the outside fabric pocket of the bag again while you glue. Glue measuring approximately 3mm to 5mm in width along the full length of the top fabric side of the zipper, 3mm - 5mm approximately away from the zipper area. Then place the inside of the outside fabric pocket over the glue area on the fabric of the zipper. Placing the fabric as close as you can to the zipper itself with out touching or covering the zipper. then place a heavy box on top. Wait 24hrs for the glue to dry, before you move on to the next step.

Step 8:

flip the bag over so the side that the zipper is glued to is touching you work surface and the back side of the zipper is facing up.
Now it is time to glue the top of the inside pocket on the outside of the pocket. Glue measuring approximately 3mm to 5mm in width along the full length of the top fabric outside of the inside pocket; approximately 3mm - 5mm away from the top of the fabric . Then place the zipper fabric over the glue area on the fabric outside of the inside pocket. Then place a heavy box on top. Wait 24hrs for the glue to dry, before you move on to the next step.

Step 9:

Now the final step to finishing the bag. Take the zipper side that is under the top of the outside fabric and glue measuring approximately 3mm to 5mm in width along the full length, approximately 3mm - 5mm away from the zipper on the fabric of the zipper. Then place the inside of the outside pocket over the glue area on the fabric of the zipper. Placing the outside fabric pocket as close as you can to the zipper without covering or touching the zipper itself. (Note if you get any glue where you might not want it, clean it up right away with anold towel or cloth and a little water. Then place a heavy box on top. Wait 24hrs for the glue to dry, before you move on to the next step.
After the 24hr period of glue drying your bag is now finished. You can add a lovely felt flower if you choose to; proceed to Step 10 for more information on making and adding a felt flower decoration...

Step 10: Instructions for Felt Flower Decoration :

( if you so choose to make for your bag) Yeah! Supplies and steps as follows below.

• 2 felt squares about 6"x6" inches ( use any color you want). One square will be for the felt flower, the other square will be used to cut out a base or backing behind the flower and to make flower leaves with.

• Chalk: to draw design on the felt to cut out.

• Scissors: to cut out the designs drawn on the felt.

• Weld bond glue brand non- toxic glue: to glue the felt flower together.

• Paint brush for gluing the flower together

• Three stick pins: for hold your flower together while drying

Step 11:

Felt Flower steps:

1. Draw with chalk any kind of spirl shape will work.

Step 12:

2. Cut out the spiral shape

Step 13:

3. Coil the spiral shape together while holding it so it doesn't unravel. Then pin it together with at least two metal stick pins or sewing pins. Stick them in starting with the outside where the end piece of the spiral is sticking a pin straight through the spiral flower shape. Then stick the other pin through, making a plus shape crossing the pins.

Step 14:

4. Draw on the second piece of felt a 1.5 inch to 2 inches square and draw as many simple leaf shapes that you desire ( I made two leaves that measure 1inch to 2 inches long).

Step 15:

5. Cut out the square and leaves.

Step 16:

6. With a paint brush and Weld bond glue, glue the back of the pinned spiral flower by brushing on the glue getting alittle between some of the layers.
Then place the 1.5 inch to 2 inches square over the back of the spiral flower on top of the glue and press a little. Hold the square to the glue with one hand, with the other hand stick one stick pin through one of the squares corners through the spiral flower out the other side through the other corner of the square on the other side of the spiral flower. Now let the glue dry for 24hrs before pulling out the pins.

Step 17:

7. Remove all of the pins in the previous step from the flower.

Step 18:

8. After the pins have been removed, you may now glue felt flower to your bag with the Weld bond glue. Place glue on the back of the flower in the middle away from the edges. Place the flower where you want on the fabric area of your bag. Also place glue on the felt leaves you cut out on the back of the leaves in the middle a not on the edges and then place on to the fabric of the bag near the flower or other place on the fabric area of the bag. Press the flower and leaves down gently.