Fabric Tab Zipper Pull Tutorial

A coordinating fabric zipper pull is the perfect finishing touch for a handmade zipper pouch! Read on for a tutorial showing how easy it is to make!

I've got a quick tutorial to share with you today. I've been working on a larger version of my color block zip pouch, large enough to work as a cosmetics bag, and I realized the zipper at the top looked a little.... naked. It needed something. (You can find the tutorial for the cosmetic bag here.)

So I decided to create a simple little zip pull from a folded fabric tab. An alternative way to make a zipper pull with fewer steps and no stitching would be to use a paper clip and mouldable Adhesive like Sugru. You can look at YouTube tutorials or online guides to figure out how to do it. However, I usually prefer a folded fabric zip pull.

It was very easy to make! And because it uses the same fabric as the bag, it coordinates perfectly.

I've got a separate pattern and tutorial for the cosmetic bag sized color block pouch, but first I'll show you how to make this simple zipper pulls. All you need is some fabric, glue, and some basic jewelry findings.

Gather your materials

3/8" ribbon crimp end

1 ¼" x 3" fabric

¼" Steam a Seam tape

E6000 adhesive

Jump ring

Jewelry pliers

Make the fabric zipper pull

Fold the fabric rectangle in half lengthwise, press to crease.

Press the edges to the middle.

Place Steam a Seam tape down one of the folded sides. Remove liner. Fold the fabric in half. Press to fuse the Steam A Seam.

Now you've got a nice length of fabric tape with no raw edges.

Trim the raw edges so there are no threads unraveling.

Use a toothpick to put a little E6000 inside the ribbon crimp end.

Fold the fabric tab in half, raw edges together. Place the raw edges inside the ribbon crimp end.

Use pliers to close the crimp all the way down on the fabric tab.

Use a jump ring to attach your fabric tab zipper pull to your pouch!