How to Steal a Bigger Pocket

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Lazies, Sometimes the flat, slip pockets near the side seams on our bag projects are barely useful. They can be difficult to access, hold very little and feel like a waste of good pocket potential. Gathering and pleating are the usual techniques for making a pocket hold more. Let me show you my oh-so-Lazy technique to ‘steal’ your way to a bigger pocket.

The Secret To Bigger Pockets

Here’s a peek inside the Suzi Purse Insert which includes flat, slip pockets around the inside. Slip pockets are tubes of fabric, pressed flat, and sewn to the lining fabric. It’s a simple, quick, and easy method to add pockets.

The small pockets at the sides are not flat against the lining fabric, they bow out a little. This little bit of extra space makes these pockets easier to use and easier to hold things. The small pockets are perfect for pens, pencils, nail file, etc.

Suzi Purse Insert is lined with pockets all around the inside.

All of the pockets on Suzi are usable, allowing her to organize and hold all of your purse essentials.

Here’s a look at the goodies shown in the picture above:

Snack bar, Tea bags, Glasses wipe, Sunglasses, Small notebook, Hand sanitizer spray, Lipstick, Marker, Phone, Nail file, Small Maggie with earbuds, Digital camera, Lip stuff and lipstick, Wonder Wallet, Pencils and pens, Hand moisturizer, and Tissues.

Steal a Pocket Technique

Shhhh, we are going to steal fabric from the seam allowance to make these flat pockets more spacious! This simple technique can be used over and over again on many projects and works best for small pockets near a seam.

For Suzi, make the pocket panel 1/4″ – 1/2″ wider than needed on each side. Don’t go overboard, a little goes a long way on a small project like this.

After stitching a flat pocket panel in place along the bottom edge and making pocket divisions, simply slide the top corner of the pocket over to match edge of the project and stitch in place. This effectively ‘gathers’ without gathering. Then pin the bulk out of the way for final construction.

Here’s a view of the seam allowance where we stole fabric for the pockets, shown in green and blue below.

Get The Suzi Sewing Pattern

Suzi is available in our digital store here: Suzi Purse Insert & More pattern

Suzi Purse Insert, Lazy Girl Designs item #LGD129.

Fits Inside A Purse, Tote, or Handbag

Suzi is designed to be big enough to hold and organize all the little loose things, yet small enough to allow room to use the inside purse pockets and carry other things like a water bottle, too.

Junk Drawer, Inner Purse, or Purse Insert

Suzi is perfect for all those essential extras we carry with us. Simply load your goodies to keep them tame in your current purse, then while she’s still fully loaded, move Suzi from purse to purse when needed. Or, since they are so simple and quick, make one for each purse.

Three bands of pockets shown, two inside and one outside. Add a fourth band to the outside back if you like.

Lots of Inside and Outside Pockets

Suzi has one large front pocket and several inside pockets. This is the small size and measures: 3″ deep by 6 1/2″ wide by 4 1/2″ tall. The medium/large size is two inches wider at 8 1/2″.

I can see it all, and access each item. That peanut toffee buzz snack bar is calling me.

Organize Your Desktop, Sewing Room, and Drawers

Are you already dreaming of more possible uses for Suzi? She’s a great desktop organizer or basket. I already have a Suzi by my sewing machine, holding many of my sewing notions, rotary cutter, machine needles, point turner, etc, etc, etc…

Quick Sewing Project

Best of all, Suzi is quick to make. With just two to three fat quarters of fabric and a bit of Face-It Firm interfacing by Lazy Girl Designs, you’ll have your first Suzi made in no time.

There’s a good chance you have some fat quarters sitting around waiting for your attention. Go re-introduce yourself to that fabric, grab a bit of interfacing and hop to it.

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Enjoy!
Joan

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