Ever find that there are always not enough pockets in the bag? This tutorial on how to sew a pocket with 6 slip pocket compartments will come in handy for your next bag sewing project.
After sewing the zipper pocket, this slip pocket tutorial is the second how to sew a pocket for my crochet bag. I love my bags and purses to have many pockets that are able to keep my belongings organized and neat; thus, I am sewing pockets for all my bag projects.
What is a slip pocket, and why do we call it a slip pocket? A slip pocket is an open pocket where there is no closure like a button or zip to close the opening. Basically, you are just ‘slipping’ your belongings into it, and that’s what the name, slip pocket, implies. Among all the types of pockets, a slip pocket is the simplest pocket type to sew. Be it sewn as an internal pocket of the bag or pocket outside the bag, it is sewn onto the fabric piece before the bag is assembled. Read more on how we can make a pocket that has 6 slip pockets.
With 2 slim pockets at the front, 2 narrow pockets at the center, and 2 deep pockets at the back; you will have enough slots to keep credit cards, door excess cards, toll cards, parking cards (① & ⑤), pen, thumb drive (③ & ④), compact cosmetic case, purse mirror, and mobile phone (② & ⑥).
How To Sew A Pocket Into Bag
scroll ⬇️ to get the free patterns & tutorial
The total finished size of this slip pocket is 9″ x 2 ¾”. What sewing supplies do we need to prepare? In addition to the fabric and interfacing that you would use to sew for the bag, prepare an extra of 13″ x 13″ for each material. Since we are using a sewing machine to sew this too, you will need some pins and sewing essentials, a pencil & ruler to draw, and an iron to fuse the interfacing to the fabric.
I hope you are getting excited to be able to sew your pockets for your bags and purses. Click the link if you are looking for more bags and purse patterns to sew so that you might be able to include this pocket pattern for them.
Update: With the current fashion trend in Wallet On Chain Purses, you can sew a similar one by sewing pockets from this tutorial.
Happy sewing!
How To Sew Pocket Into Bag
Love an organized bag with more pockets to store your belongings neatly? We are here to show you how to sew a pocket into a bag. The bonus of this sewing tutorial is that it is not only one pocket but 6 multi-compartment pockets.
With 2 slim slip pockets at the front, 2 narrow pockets at the middle, and 2 deep slip pockets at the back, you will have enough slots to keep credit cards, door excess cards, toll cards, parking cards, pen, thumb drive, compact cosmetic case, purse mirror, and mobile phone.
Enjoy sewing them!
Materials
- Fabrics
- Fusible Web Interfacing
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- Pins
- Pencil & Ruler
- Iron
- Awl (turning tool)
- Scissors
Instructions
Create The 3 Front Slip Pockets
- a. Cut 2 pieces of 11" x 4½" and add ½" seam allowance; total fabric size is 2 pieces of 12" x 5½".
b. Iron the fusible interfacing on the wrong side for both of them.
- a. Sew around with right sides facing each other, leaving a 2" opening to turn the pocket inside out. (If your fabric is image orientated, allow the opening at the bottom of the pocket.)
b. Clip corners.
- a. Turn the pocket right side out by folding the seam allowances along the stitching lines (at the corners), pinch to hold the folds with your fingers, and turn the corner right side out.
b. Adjust the corners by using an awl tool if needed so that they set into a nice right angle. Press to set the shape. The piece is now sized at 11" x 4½".
c. Edgestitch the top and bottom at ⅛".
- a. Measure 1½" from the bottom edge and fold it to the front of the pocket piece. Press to set.
b. Topstitch ½" from the left edge, stitch vertically from the bottom edge to the folded edge only, lock the stitches at the stitching's beginning and end. Stitch the same at 4⅛" from the left edge. This size fits in a credit card perfectly. (as shown in the picture).
c. Repeat the stitching on the right by measuring ½" and 4⅛" from the right edge too.
With this done, the pocket piece now has 2 credit card size slip pockets and a 2¾" in between them.
Sew the pocket to the bag lining to add another 3 Pockets
- a. Mark the bag lining where you want to put the slip pocket on (9" x 2 ¾").
b. Place and pin the slip pocket at your marked lining at the center.
c. Topstitch the center part, ½″ away from each card pocket; full length from top to bottom of the pocket. Now the 2 pockets at the center part are 1¾" wide. (I put 2 white papers on the sides, I hope you can see the center part clearly.)
- a. Pin both left and right edges on the marked lining.
b. Fold the pocket along the card compartment's stitching line, tucks or pleats of ¼" depth were made at each stitched side and middle, making two pleats per pocket. Press to set the crease.
c. Sew around the left, bottom, and right edges of the pocket to the lining.
d. Sew a few stitches at the top edge of the crease to set the shape. (I dimmed the lining area, I hope you can see the slip pocket clearly.)
Notes
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/sewing-tutorial-6-compartments-slip-pocket/
Craft Passion
Wednesday 9th of March 2011
I don't have printable version for the tutorial. May be you can select what you want to print, copy and paste them to your word processing software and print them out.
Sheri@childmade.com
Friday 4th of June 2010
I didn't realize just how drab and dull my wallet was until I saw this. I'll have to give this a try! Thanks for sharing ... I've posted a link.
Becky
Saturday 10th of April 2010
I love it! I plan to make some bags next week! This will help soooooo very much!
Rachel
Saturday 10th of April 2010
Oh MAN do I need one of these! Thanks so much for the fabulous project and tutorial. I'll be linking. And picking out fabric asap!
Anne
Friday 9th of April 2010
Love it! I'm always fishing down in the bottom of my purse for my phone and extra cash. It would be so much easier if my bag had a set of these pockets on the inside!
I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-6-compartment-slip-pocket-for-bag-linings/2010/04/09/
--Anne