A shaped rather than flat construction
A rounded base lets the pouch stand and hold form, which presents better on a counter than a flat pouch that collapses. It is a different pattern from a flat construction, so decide before sampling — switching afterwards means re-sampling rather than adjusting.
How a drawstring closes
A drawstring gathers the mouth of the pouch rather than sealing it. It is forgiving of contents that vary slightly in size, and it presents well as a gift because opening it is a deliberate gesture. The cost is height: the channel and the gather both need headroom above the contents, so the finished pouch is always meaningfully taller than what goes in it. Specify from the packed contents and let the clearance be added to the pattern.
Check the cord runs freely and gathers evenly on a packed sample — a drawstring that closes cleanly when empty can bunch on one side when full.
The fabric
The suede-feel surface is dense, short-pile and low-lint, which is why it is used where the fabric is in constant contact with polished metal, stones or lenses. It debosses cleanly and takes foil well. Colour shifts with pile direction, so approve a physical swatch with the nap running the production direction rather than judging from a photograph.
