I’m on the lookout this year for handmade gift ideas that my teen and young adult kids will actually use, and today I want to show you a perfect little Pocket Folder Zipper Pouch you are going to want to put on your make list.

The pattern for the Double Pocket Folder comes from Minki Kim. You can find it HERE, and Minki has a fabulous video where she walks you through the folder construction HERE.

I used fabric from the Indigo Garden collection designed by Heather Peterson of Anka’s Treasures for Riley Blake Designs. I’m in love with the bright, saturated color palette, which paired with an array of wildflowers and intricate tile designs, remind me of my childhood in SoCal.

After cutting out the squares for the patchwork cover, I realized it would be a shame to only make one folder with these beautiful fabrics, so I kept cutting until I had enough for three! I can’t decide which print is my favorite, but I think it might be the teeny tiny white blossom print. I love it for its simplicity and charm.

The first folder is a scrappy patchwork that incorporates all of the prints in the Indigo Garden collection. For the second two folders, I decided to play with a more monochromatic look. Blue/Green and Yellow/Orange. I can’t decided if I have a favorite. I seriously love them all!

The folders get their structure from the foam stabilizer. This is a great product for bag making when you need structure and stability. I quilted each patchwork section to the foam stabilizer the same way I would quilt it to traditional quilt batting.

Once the pieces are trimmed using the template that comes with the pattern, the folders are ready to assemble.

These are the perfect size to take with you on the go. I have been looking for a way to keep spare face masks in my bag without them getting smooshed and dirty, and these are the answer. The folders are thin, so they don’t take up a lot of room, and they hold their shape, so the contents don’t get bent out of shape.

When you open it, there are two zipper pockets. These are a great size for face masks, chapstick, hand sanitizer, epi pens, and other items you need to find easily.

Here you can see just how thin it is. This isn’t going to take up a ton of room in your bag or backpack. LOVE it!

The finished size is 9 14” x 6 1/4”. Such a perfect size. I think I need to whip up a couple more for my boys to keep in their cars or backpacks.

In her video, Minki takes the time to hand stitch her binding so the stitching is invisible. I’m not that patient, lol! You can see my stitching, and it is anything but straight, but whether it’s a quilt, or a bag, or anything else, I just can’t get myself to worry about getting the details perfect. I find myself enjoying the process so much, I don’t mind the imperfections that happen along the way.

You’ll notice for the yellow patchwork folder, I used a blue chambray binding. This is part of the Chambray basics from Riley Blake Designs. I love how it looks with the patchwork.

I definitely recommend adding these pretties to your gift list. They aren’t too difficult to make — I would say intermediate level. With Minki’s accompanying YouTube video you can easily work your way through any tricky spots. The Indigo Garden collection is coming soon to quilt shops. I recommend pre-ordering to make sure you get a bundle of this fabric goodness to play with. Happy sewing!