Making a Pleated Mesh Pocket

Yesterday I wrote about mesh pockets, so here's how you can make a pleated mesh pocket. These are great for bigger items. This is the side panel/gusset piece for a big tote bag that I use when I'm traveling.

You'll need mesh. I use laundry bags and hampers. And you'll need binding. I make my own - here's my tutorial.

1. Measure your pocket. I made mine 2" wider and about 4" shorter (2" top and 2" bottom) than the side panel. Cut your mesh.

2. The pocket top binding is the width that I cut (2" wider) BUT the bottom is the width of the side panel/gusset.

3. Add the binding to the top of the pocket. Here's some help.

4. Open the bottom binding and mark the middle. Ignore the other marks here-I was experimenting!

5. Next, using this as a guide, sew the binding to the mesh BUT stop at the middle mark.

6. Remove from your machine.

7. Line other (unsewn) end of the mesh up with the the other end of the binding. You'll have excess fabric in the middle.

8. Move the extra fabric so it's out of the way and, starting at the middle point, sew the remainder binding to the mesh. DON'T sew the pleat yet!

9. Remove from your machine.

10. Press pleat flat as shown.








 





11. Sew pleat in place. It will look like this.

Notice that the pocket bottom is narrower than the top.

12. Flip binding to right side.  Attach mesh pocket to your project by sewing it along the TOP and the BOTTOM of the binding.















How will you use mesh pockets!?

Making Mesh Pockets

I've become a big fan of mesh pockets in my totes and purses. I like them because I can see the contents of the pocket; oh, and they are really easy to make!

All you need is some mesh. I checked out JoAnn Fabrics and found some tulle. I don't particularly care for it, so I've stuck with my go-to: laundry bags! I purchased pop-up hampers from Big Lots and recently discovered these from Target. I like the ones from Target because they are big (36" x 24"), so they work perfectly for my bigger sewing projects.

 






Here's what you need to do:

1. Cut your pocket to the correct size. My pocket sides and bottom are sewn into the seams, so think about that. You might have to put the binding all the way around.

2. Cut and make binding. I have a tutorial if you've never made it. I prefer my method because one side is wider than the other. This should be the length of your pocket (or whatever won't be sewn into the seams).

3. Place the narrow side of the binding on top of the mesh as shown. Line up along the edges. This will be the back of the pocket.

4. Sew in the fold. I use a walking foot - it feeds more evenly.

I don't pin. I just go slowly, making sure that the edges stay lined up.

If you need to, sew binding where it's needed. This pocket is on the inside of a big tote (it's part of the side panel/gusset). You'll see the binding at the bottom of the pocket. I didn't want a pocket that was too deep. I made this pocket about 2" wider than the side panel and created a pleat in the bottom. UPDATE: Here's how to create a Pleated Mesh Pocket.

5. Flip over and wrap binding over to the other side (this will be the front.)

6. Sew the binding to the mesh as shown. 




7.  Attach the pocket. Sew dividers as desired!


You could make this zippered if you wanted!

Here it is!

You can purchase the pattern for this purse insert on Craftsy and Etsy.

Better Purse Pockets

Last night in one of my classes, we changed the pattern a bit by making the pocket bigger. The ladies loved it but then only issue was that the pocket was so big that little things like lip gloss got lost in the vast depth of the pocket.

So here is a quick fix. When you are putting your final touches on your pocket, make one area more shallow by sewing a quick line of stitches across the bottom. Just measure and sew!

Zippers 101: Cosmetic Bags!

When I was making purses, I had a lot of requests for zippered bags. Yikes! Then my wonderful friend Caitlin sent me a tutorial on how to make a zippered pocket. I adjusted the placement of the zipper and changed the technique for a cosmetic bag. So please follow along!

First, go to my Craftsy Pattern Store and download the Zippered Cosmetic Bag Pattern AND the two FREE tutorials: How To Make A Zipper Template and How to Insert an Exposed Zipper.

4. Place template on fused fabric.

1. Cut fabric to the size you desire.  
2. Fuse fusible fleece to the back of the exterior piece of fabric - following manufacturer's directions. Fusible fleece works best. It makes zipper installation a lot easier. 
3. Get zipper template. 
4. Place fused exterior fabric (with fusible fleece right side up) on a cutting mat, lining it up on the corner of mat.  
5. Place template on top (this is a 12" x 14" piece of fabric) and center it. 
6. Draw around the opening in your template - creating a small rectangle. 
7. Get lining fabric and place exterior fabric and lining fabric RST! 
8. Head to your sewing machine. 
9. With fabric together, sew ON THE LINE you just drew. Go all the way around the rectangle. Pivot at the corners. Take your time. 
10. Slice the opening as shown - I use a rotary cutter and scissors. 

 ARE YOU READY!?

Pull the LINING fabric through the slice you just created. I promise...it will start to make sense!









 
 

Straighten and work with fabric. The lining and exterior fabric will now be wrong sides together. 

I like a little bit of the lining fabric to show around the opening. The lining fabric will not be perfectly flat! It will pucker around the corners. Press flat. 

TIP: I put it right side up, then reach under and straighten out the lining fabric...and press.










 
Head back to your machine with your zipper and cosmetic bag. Sew around zipper once. Then stitch in the ditch. You'll find more detailed instructions in my free tutorial in my Craftsy Pattern Store.

BTW, you can see the cute lining fabric around the zipper. It looks like it's piping!

You will have to fiddle with the zipper pull when you are sewing in the zipper. You can see the installed zipper here:

Here is the zipper from the back/inside of the cosmetic bag.

















When you are done, you can go ahead and make your cosmetic bag!

DONE!

4/12/2012 - Be sure to check out my Jewelry Wallet pattern at Craftsy. It uses the same technique!