how to add a slip pocket to Any Bag

Hello my crafty friends!!! In this post I will show you how to add a handy slip pocket to your favourite tote bag.

Can you believe that it has been a year since I’ve released my first pattern, the Tote bag! I designed this Tote bag to be my (and yours) perfect shopping companion. It is a soft style tote bag, which can be folded and stored in the back of the car or handbag, ready for whenever you need it.

One thing occurred to me lately, is that this bag would be even better if it had pockets! Very often I find myself looking for my wallet or keys at the bottom of the bag, which is usually filled to the brim with groceries, hence I thought it would be a good idea to revisit the pattern and show you an easy hack to add an external slip pocket.

How To Modify Your Favourite Tote Bag Pattern

To make the external slip pocket you will need to create an additional pattern piece. To do that, take the Front / Back (A) pattern piece and simply draw a line about 12 cm (4 3/4″) from the top edge.

Fold the pattern along the line and you are done 🙂 Told you it was simple!

To create your slip pocket you will need to take that “new” pattern piece and cut one piece from the external fabric and one piece from the lining fabric. If you want to make two pockets, one on each side, then cut two pieces from the external and the lining fabrics instead (this is what I’ve done).

If you are using a quilting cotton, or similar lightweight fabric, you might want to fuse woven interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric, to add a bit of stability.

How to Add a Slip Pocket to Your Bag

Place the external and lining pocket pieces right sides together, line up on all sides and pin them along the top edge. (I like to use these small wonder clips instead of pins.)

Sew the seam using 1.5 cm (5/8″) seam allowance. Remember to backstitch at the beginning and the end.

Open the seam allowance and press it flat.

Place the pieces wrong sides together, roll the external fabric slightly towards the back to stop the lining from peeking out and press the seam flat.

Pin the pocket along the remaining sides.

Topstitch along the top finished edge using 5 mm (1/4″) seam allowance and baste on all other sides. You can trim off the excess lining fabric if needed.

With right sides facing up, place the slip pocket on top of the external Front/Back piece, line it up along the sides and the bottom edge and pin everything together.

Baste the pocket within 1.5 cm (5/8″) seam allowance.

If you prefer to have the slip pockets on the inside of your Tote bag, follow the instructions, but cut all pocket pieces from the lining fabric, and sew it to the Front or Back lining piece instead.

Once you’ve made the pockets, you can complete the Tote bag as per usual. There is also a video tutorial available now on my YouTube channel that walks you through each step, so check it out.

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Stay crafty!