Yesterday I was packing small gifts for people like the gal who cuts my hair, the one who does my nails, my pedicurist. I had made small fruit cakes just after Thanksgiving; during the summer I’d bought a half dozen small tubes of my favourite hand cream (which I actually use as hair cream!); I added a Danish star to each bag but I needed something more.

I have no zippered bags left in my stash – I have to make a couple of dozen soon. There was, however, a small prototype of this diagonal zippered bag. I hunted through my sewing files and found instructions (click on instructions to read & print them):

I quickly chose some fabric for the outside and lining, cut out three 10 1/2″ squares, cut the squares along the diagonal. I rummaged through my zipper tape stock and cut out 3 lengths of zipper then separated them (each bag uses one half of the zipper tape). I chose contrasting pulls. Then I followed the instructions.

I added one to each bag.

I still had three bags cut out with zipper tape selected ready to sew. This afternoon I made those bags up along with another half dozen.

I now have a small stash of diagonal zippered bags. They’re perfect for that bit of jewelry you’re taking with you on a trip!