Friday, December 6, 2013

How To's of the Welt Pocket Zipper Pouch

When I set out to make this zip pouch for my son that had pockets on the outside..



I didn't really know how I was going to do it, b/c I like the quilted look on a zip pouch, but a square of fabric sewn over the quilting wouldn't look very good.

Then I thought that maybe I could embed the pockets.  I didn't even know the name of those kind of pockets but remembered making a jacket with them in high school. So to make the pockets "embedded" I decided to make the pouch a square so they would be deeper than if the pouch was a small rectangle.  I picked out this echino train fabric that I had been hoarding forever, (just looking at it makes me happy) and the leftover pieces of these Lucy's Crab Shack bikes (also invokes happiness at first glance)that were the backing of my husband's Triangle Massacre quilt..


and cut out two 11" squares each of the trains, bikes, batting and muslin.  Then I layered the trains, batting and muslin and quilted some straight lines, and repeated for the other side of the pouch.

Then, I cut about a 6" by 14"-ish piece of bike fabric for the pocket construction.  I measured and drew out where I wanted the pocket to be on the pouch.  Then, with the bike fabric and trains right side together, leaving about an inch and a half or two inches of the bike fabric above where the pocket slit would be I drew the pocket opening line.









Then I sewed about a quarter inch around the line that I drew..


and cut it open on the line.  I like to start it with my seam ripper b/c I can be a little clumsy with the scissors in small spaces. ;)




Then I snipped a "Y" so it would turn easily and then flipped the pocket through to the back side.


This is where I had a hiccup. See how the bike fabric at the ends of the slit in the above pic are kind of bunchy?  Something wasn't quite right.  But I tried to smooth them out and make them look a little mitered on the front when I topstitched around the mouth of the pocket at the very edge of the bike fabric.



It turned out okay, but (this is when I googled the proper name for the pocket and found out they are called welt pockets) it would have really REALLY helped me if I had found this tutorial first! So much simpler and the opening would be so much neater I think. So if you ever go to put welt pockets on a pouch, watch this first.  It will really help!


Also, instead of having the pocket lining be free in mine, I folded the bottom edge of the bike fabric up and brought it to about 1/2" above the top edge of the topstitching around the opening. Then, I measured out a square and topstitched all the way around it so it's fully attached to the wall of the pouch.


I put a pocket in the other side, too, and then did the zip and the lining based on this noodlehead tutorial that I used for the other zip pouches I made.

And then Voila! It was done!!  Except, my son had mentioned that he wanted a cool zipper pull on his, too, and I didn't know what to do for that, so I fussy cut a train, and sewed a circle leaving about a finger width open, and stuffed a little bit of fiberfill into it, and then sewed it closed. 


When I sewed it closed, I sewed around the circle about three times.  (I didn't put too much fiberfill, otherwise it would have been hard to sew closed.) And then cut it out with pinking shears, and attached it with some green ric-rac.  It kind of looks like a little echino ravioli. :)


Oh and for the zip tab cover, I fussy cut a bike by cutting a rectangle of fabric, and folding it right sides together, then turning down the top edges, pressing, and then sewing up both sides.


Then I trimmed the corners, turned it right side out, slid it over the end of the zipper and stitched around the all of the edges in a rectangle.



It was so much fun to sew up.  Even though I muddled my way through the pockets and should have watched the video first. :) I LOVE these fabrics.  I should have gotten those trains out and used them a long time ago!

And that is the making of the zip pouch with welt pockets. (Now I know the proper name!) :)  If you made it to the end, thanks for popping in to have a look-see. :)

Have a great weekend!
xoxo






Linking up with: TGIFF, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finish it Up Friday, Creative Connection, Anything Goes, Friday Favs,  

9 comments...:

Great pouch and the pocket looks amazing! Thanks for letting us know how to make one ourselves!

Great tutorial Kelli! Again, it's super duper cool!

Very cute! I can tell you exactly where your turn through problem was, as I do these kinds of turn throughs all the time for inset zipped pockets. You need a very sharp pointy pair of scissors to get right into the corners right up to stitching for it to turn neatly (I can see in the photos that you're quite a long way away). I have been that cursing person... ;o)

jen said...

Love it!

I always wanted to stop by and give you a virtual hug since you've been having such a rough week!

I hope your ankle is better and that Buster recovered nicely and that you got another root beer!

PJ said...

Great idea for your cute little bag. I'm gonna' try this technique also.

It turned out terrific and I pinned this for when i try making a welt pocket, thanks for the link.

CeLynn said...

Kelli,your pouch turned out so adorable! Thanks for the tutorial,bumps in the sewing road and all. It is nice (for us readers/followers) to hear/see that experienced sewers like yourself,make mistakes from time to time like the rest of us :)

I be A Loves it,I sure do!

jeifner said...

That is probably the best video I've seen about welt pockets. I too use the method you've used but for zippers. The opening stays about 1/4' open which is the perfect size for zippers. I'd agree with the other commenter and say maybe you weren't close enough to the stitches as the lining fabric isn't pulled all of the way in. Thanks for the video share!

Post a Comment
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Shop My Store

Shop My Store
Patterns & Quilty Gifts

Easy-to-Piece, Beginner and Confident Beginner Friendly Quilt Patterns

SHOP ACCUQUILT!

SHOP ACCUQUILT!
Team GO Getter!

Click or Scan

gift guide

Can't find what you're looking for?

Follow on BloglovinFollow on Bloglovin Follow me on Feedly
Powered by Blogger.

Fabric for One Giant Stitch

Fun Block Ideas

Have a Question?

Latest Instagrams

Come Sew Along!

Harry Potter Sew Along Fabric Kit

Background

Come Sew Along!

Pokemon Sew Along Fabric Kit

Come Sew Along!

Minecraft Sew Along Fabric Kit

My Latest Pins

Fun Fabric Shops


 photo wintercloth_zps928f3480.jpg

............................