Sewing Tutorial
It is easy to add a simple sleeve or tube pocket for a phone or other gadgets to the inside of a hand/waist, cargo or thigh zipper pocket. They protect and prevent phones and other small gadgets from flopping around inside the pants pockets.
This is a quick, easy and simple way to add a sleeve/tube for a phone (8x16 cm / 3.15x6.2’’) or gadget inside your pockets. The opening edge has an elastic while the bottom is pleated to allow extra space.
You might want to reduce the pleated amount by angling one or both long sides. One long side should be placed in the side seam or close by.
- Taffeta lining or fine durable mesh
- Soft elastic: 10 mm (0.4’’) wide & ~12 cm (4.7’’) long
- Grosgrain ribbon 10-15 mm wide (optional)
- Cut Taffeta lining to 23 x 25 cm (9x10**) including all seam allowances
- Overlock or zig-zag both long edges (option #2)
- Fold one edge over 1 - 1.5cm (0.4-0.6’’) = 1. Fold
- Fold over again 1 - 1.5cm (0.4-0.6’’) = 2. Fold
- Sew close to the first fold edge
- Insert elastic
- Secure one side by basting through the elastic
- Pull elastic to ~12 cm (4.7’’)
- Secure other side by basting through the elastic
- Cargo pocket: on the front pant part
- On the Hand pocket piece
- Inserted pocket: on the pocket backing piece
- Use 10 - 15 mm (0.4-0.6’’) wide grosgrain ribbon to cover the front long edge of the sleeve pocket. Enclose the top edge of the elastic end with the ribbon.
- Topstitch ribbon and sleeve pocket onto the front or pocket piece.
- Take the bottom edge into the knee seam or
- Cover it with the seam allowance of the bottom cargo pocket edge.
- If the sleeve pocket is shorter than the bottom pocket edge, cover it with a ribbon or fold the edge 10 mm (0.4’’) over/under.
- Take the other long sleeve pocket side into the side seam or cover this long seam edge with the ribbon, too.
- Iron flat! Done!
- Fold over the overlocked long edge 10 mm (0.4’’) of the sleeve pocket.
- Topstitch sleeve pocket onto the front or pocket piece.
- Take the bottom edge into the knee seam or cover it with the seam allowance of the bottom cargo pocket edge. Only if the sleeve pocket is shorter than the bottom pocket edge, cover it with a ribbon or fold the edge 0 mm (0.4’’) over/under.
- Take the other long sleeve pocket side into the side seam or cover this long seam edge with the ribbon, too.
- Iron flat! Done!
