Easy Elasticated Inner Bag Pocket Tutorial

Up early this morning, it's been nice and peaceful so I've photographed, step by step, the making of a small elasticated pocket for the inside of the bag.  There will also be a zippered pocket so it doesn't need to be too big - just large enough for a mobile phone or keys etc.. The first one I ever did, following instructions from a book, had raw edges inside - I really don't understand why go to all the trouble of making a bag nice on the outside yet roughly finished inside so I came up with my own method.  My finished pocket is approximately 4" wide and 4.5-4.75" deep.

   Cut fabric 7" x 10".  I'm using a dressweight cotton ie. poplin.

 

  Bring short ends together and stitch across with a decent seam allowance.

 

 Press seam open flat

  Turn raw edges to wrong side (about 0.5")

  Turn right side out and press keeping the turned edges as even as possible (they will need to line up when it comes to stitching the picket on) and with the previously stitched seam to one edge (the seam will be on the bottom edge of the pocket)

 Stitch across top folded edge of pocket about 0.5" from fold (or a distance appropriate to accomodate the chosen width of elastic) ensuring stitching is secure at both ends.

 Insert elastic and securely stitch, back and forth, through the fabric and elastic about 0.5" from the end.

 

 Pull elastic up until pocket measures 4" across the top and secure the end as before.  Trim elastic so as the ends are not visible but without being too close to the stitching.

 

 Mark out position of pocket and pin.  At this stage you may wish to tack the folded edges (sides) together before pinning if you're not confident with machining the two folded side edges of the pocket accurately together to the lining fabric.  Try to keep the pocket on the grain of the fabric and fold a single pleat in the bottom so the bottom is the same width as the top.  I've stretched the top of the pocket about 0.25" before pinning so it's not too floppy (any more and it will probably pull in the interfaced lining fabric too much).

Stitch close to the edge around the pocket securing by stitching a few stitches back and forth at beginning and end and keeping folded edges of sides neatly together as you sew.  You may wish to tack before completing this last step, particularly if using a slippery fabric.

I hope somebody finds this useful though pink on pink isn't wanting to photograph very well indoors this morning so do say, please, if the pics aren't very clear and I'll remove the post - no point being here otherwise lol!
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Quick and Easy Pencil Case Tutorial

I am making some pencil cases for our Christmas shoe boxes and thought I'd share how I'm doing them ............ it's very quick and easy!  Clicking on the pictures will enlarge them.

Materials
10" x 13" main fabric
10" x 13" lining fabric
Sew in Velcro
Matching thread

The main fabric should be hardwearing ie. furnishing fabrics,  corduroy, cotton velvet, denim etc. with quite a strong fabric ie. a good calico weight for the lining.  If the fabric is not too strong it can always be  backed with another fabric ie. foundation patchwork.

Right sides together, fold one shorter end up leaving a 2.5" gap at the top.

Stitch sides with a suitable seam allowance and finishing off securely at both ends.  Clip bottom corners as shown (quite close to the stitching but not too near that it's likely to meet the seam or fray) This was a trial one (the fabric was heavily painted thus quite stiff) ......... it isn't necessary to trim the side seams as in the photo above.

Repeat as above with the lining fabric.

Turn main fabric right side out and place in the lining right sides together to make a pocket as shown above.  Matching side seams and fabric all the way round, pin main fabric to lining along front of "pocket" and around flap. 

Stitch main fabric to lining across the front and all the way around the flap (as shown above) leaving about 3" gap somewhere to turn later.  Double stitch around the inner corner for about 1" for some extra strength.  Clip inner corner (not quite to the stitching) as shown.  Also, clip diagonally across top corners of flap (I forgot to photograph that bit).

Turn right side out through the gap and slip stitch gap closed.  Press if necessary.  Top stitch about 0.25" across top of front and all the way around flap as shown.  Stitch soft part of Velcro to flap and matching piece to front of pencil case.

One durable, easy to pack in a shoebox, pencil case!  The metallic print on the furnishing fabric I used wasn't very sparkly so I'm adding some glitter to make it a little bit special.

They're idea for using up all those little scraps to do a piece of crazy patchwork for the main outer fabric .............

If you decide to have a go, do let me know if the instructions and photos in my little pencil case sewing tutorial are clear enough and do please link back ........... I'd like to see them.
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