This easy DIY tutorial will show you how to fix a small hole or even give a new aesthetic to a piece of clothing by adding a simple pocket...
Every year, countless clothing items get thrown away simply because they have a stain, or a small hole, and many people are unfamiliar with the idea or skills to make simple repairs. (Or maybe forget there are businesses which also can do this, for a cheaper price than just buying something new).
There needs to be a complete revolution in thinking when it comes to our clothes and their lifespan because 'fashion waste' is a big problem for the environment, with discarded clothing making up around 4-5% of waste going into our landfills!
Rather than seeing waste, we should only see opportunity when we believe our clothes are no longer usable.
This easy DIY tutorial will show you that sometimes all you need is a pocket!
Equipment You will need:
Piece of fabric (about 6"x6") Post-it note (optional) Iron Scissors Pins Sewing Machine Our free pocket pattern (print on recycled paper, or if you prefer not to print, simply draw a pocket pattern using ours as a guide onto some paper or cardboard)
Firstly, decide where you want the pocket to be placed on your clothing item. An easy way to do this is to try it on, look in the mirror and place a post-it note where you would like the pocket to be. Also, make sure you've ironed your clothing item before you start to prevent any unwanted wrinkles when you come to sewing.
For my pocket, I was covering a small hole on the back of a pair of cotton shorts. See the photo below. If you're also putting a pocket on a pair of shorts then this process of marking where the pocket will go is very important. You want the top of the pocket to be in line horizontally with the waistband, otherwise it will look oddly placed.
1. Print the free pattern onto recycled paper, or draw it up yourself. Cut along the darker external lines. (This is your seam allowance).
2. Place the pattern on your fabric, pin it, and cut the pocket out in your fabric.
3. Next, cut the pattern along the internal lines, then place it onto the piece of fabric.
4. Carefully pull up each fabric edge around the now smaller pattern guide, and iron flat until the edges look like this.
5. Now come to your machine, and stitch the top edge of the pocket only, so only the top hemline has a line of straight stitching and the other sides are still ironed over.
6. Next, pin the pocket to your fabric in the space you marked with the post-it note. When you have pinned it there, you can try the garment on again just to double check the pocket is looking good.
7. Stitch the four lower sides of the pocket to the garment, leaving the top edge that you already sewed open.
8. Try it on, and you're done...Now a pocket expert!