Add slip / cargo style pocket to any bag

Hello my crafty friends! Hope you are having lovely weekend.

Today I will show you how easy it is to sew a slip / cargo style pocket and add it to any bag if you need more room.

What you will need is the front or back lining piece of the bag or backpack that you are currently making, additional two pieces 26 cm by 18 cm of the lining fabric (pocket pieces) and lightweight fusible interfacing.

You can make the pocket bigger or smaller depending on your needs by adjusting the pocket size.

Sewing the pocket

Step 1 – Fuse the interfacing on the wrong side of the pocket pieces using a medium heat iron with no steam.

Step 2 – With right side of the fabric facing each other place both pockets together and align all sides. Pin in place and stitch around using 1 cm seam allowance, but leave at leas 5 cm opening along top edge. Back-stitch at the beginning and the end.

Step 3 – Trim the corners close to the stitch line and seam allowance by half. Leave the side with the opening at full seam allowance.

Step 4 – Using the opening turn the pocket right side out and press the seams flat. Pin the top edge with the opening to stop the fabric from shifting.

Step 5 – Top stitch close to the edge making sure to close the opening. Back-stitch on both ends.

Step 6 – Using a tailor’s chalk or mark removable pen, mark a line on the right side of the pocket 1 cm from the bottom left-hand side corner. Following with two subsequent lines 1 cm apart. From the third line measure 9 cm and mark remaining three lines – 1 cm apart. The last line will be a stitching line so you can extend it to the top edge.

Step 7 – On the right side of the Front or Back lining piece, using a removable pen, mark a pocket placement by drawing a rectangle 16 cm by 20 cm, preferably in the middle of the panel.

Step 8 – With right sides facing up place the pocket on top of the Front or Back lining piece and align at the right hand-side edge of the rectangle drawn above. Pin in place.

(Pocket is wider than the rectangle, by 4 cm)

Step 9 – Edge stitch the pocket along the right-hand side edge, turn at the bottom corner and sew along the bottom edge until you reach the stitching line in the middle of the pocket. Turn again and sew up the stitching line stopping at the top edge (red lines). Back-stitch at the beginning and the end.

Optional: You can stitch a little triangle at the beginning and the end to anchor the pocket and strengthen the seam (yellow lines).

Step 10 – Following the group of three lines marked in step 6, fold the pocket as seen on the photo and pin in place the remaining side following the marked rectangle as a guide.