Today I’m talking about changing zipper pulls again, but… if you’ve seen it already don’t go away yet. I am also talking about a cute, quick gift idea you can make that (of course) includes a new zipper pull!

If you are brand new at Thread Riding Hood, I just discovered that it is possible to change the tiny zipper pull from your regular zippers to something customized, larger, more useful and more amazing looking! I have permanently stolen borrowed the needle-nose pliers from my husband’s toolbox to change all of my zipper pulls. I love this tip – so much that I want to include it in the Sew Essential list – even if it was posted only a few weeks ago. Check out the “Change a Zipper Pull” post for a full tutorial.

For the rest of you – check out fabric designer Aneela Hoey’s Oval Box Bag. This is a great little gift idea. It is just big enough to include a little something inside. She talks about the bag being a bit scary to make. But if you follow the directions, and look at the detailed photos you should be fine. Aneela writes everything out very well and give lots of direction. When you are done making the bag, you can use a scrap to change the zipper pull and voila! The perfect gift! I finally got to use the fabric I bought for this project at the Creativ Festival in May. This is a good fat quarter project – and you will definitely have lots of fabric left over.

I likely should have taken measurements so you would know how big it is when it is finished. I gave it to my mom for her birthday so she has it now and might be able to post measurements in the comments (Please?!) so you can estimate what might fit inside! Here are a few ideas. It would be a great little makeup pouch. For a seamstress it could be a sewing box for thread or a small hand sewing kit. If you made it for your kids they could use it to carry around their Hot Wheels or Littlest Pet Shop collection. It is sturdier than I thought too – I interfaced both the outer and lining fabrics with medium weight fusible. I think my favorite part of the Oval Box Bag is the handle – it adds the perfect little touch on top, and it is useful too.

Only two more days until the giveaway is over! Check out Sew Essential #13 tomorrow.