tutorial: triangle pocket

This past Sunday the Little Miss wore this dress to church. It was the dress I made as part of her Little Red Riding Hood Halloween costume, and I just thought - it's so boring. So I decided an easy way to make it more interesting would be to add pockets. But not just any pockets, triangle pockets! I have seen triangle pockets on lots of cute vintage dresses which were my inspiration.

So I made a pattern for you (see below) in case you have any clothing that needs a quick and easy makeover - and here is proof of just how easy it is in six simple steps...

Step 1. Cut out two pieces of the pattern (see below), fold over right sides together and iron.

Step 2. Sew around open edges using a 3/8 inch seam allowance, leaving a small opening on one side. Trim seams and cut bottom corner off. 

Step 3. Turn pocket right side out and iron flat.

Step 4. Slip stitch opening on side closed.

Step 5. Pin pockets on clothing (if you are making your clothing from scratch do this before you sew the pieces together).

Step 6. Sew around sides, and that's it! You can add a button for a fun embellishment if you want.

I like it so much better now, I think she'll be wearing it more often! 

Just click on the pattern below to make it bigger. 

See my pleated pocket pattern here. Enjoy!

tutorial: pleated pockets

I just added these cute little pleated pockets to a skirt I made for the Little Miss. They are pretty easy to make and here's how - I hope my instructions and pictures are clear!

By the way: I used a 5/8" seam allowance and if you use the pattern I provided below the pocket ends up being about 4 1/2" high and 4" wide.

step 1. Cut out pocket and pocket band (see pattern below). Baste stitch across pocket top and pull to gather. Fold over pocket band with wrong sides together about 1 inch (or 1/3 of the height) and iron.


step 2. Pin pocket band to pocket with right sides together with folded edge of pocket band on the bottom. Adjust your gathers so the edges match up.

step 3. Stitch across top, trim seam allowance to 1/4".

step 4. Open up and iron seam allowance toward pocket band.

step 5. Fold down pocket band to outside seam line and pin in place.

step 6. Stitch around all raw edges (not across the top).

step 7. Trim seam allowances to about 1 cm and cut top corners diagonally.

step 8. Turn pocket band to inside.

step 9. Iron pocket band flat and raw edges of the pocket to inside.

step 10. Slip stitch open edge of pocket band closed.

step 11. Pin pocket in the position you want it on your garment. (If you are making your garment from scratch do this before you sew it all together - it's a lot easier).


step 12. Stitch around sides and bottom close to edge. You're done!

Click on picture to enlarge and print.

fabric ring necklace

Remember how I loved this necklace? I just got around to making my own, here's how:

Supplies: one fat quarter or fabric scraps cut into five 1" wide strips (preferably use a fabric with a small print), five rings*, string/yarn, glue gun

*Now let me start by saying that I searched every nook and cranny of the craft store before I finally found some rings. Tucked away in the back corner clearance section (of course the last place I looked) these button covers caught my eye so I grabbed them and ran.
Then Husband asked me why I just didn't get shower curtain rings.

No comment.

So, since my rings were a little flat in the back I decided to wrap them with some batting first to give them a plumper effect.

I feel a bit silly telling you how to do this because it's so simple - all you have to do is glue your fabric to the ring and start wrapping, then glue the end in the back where you won't see it. Use the string or yarn to bind the rings together in the shape you want and then use more string/yarn or some pretty lace to make the chain.

Easy peasy.

diy: crayon apron