Here's a really simple project to spruce up old sweaters, tee shirts, and more! It's super easy and a great way to use old fabric scraps you have lying around.
Materials:
You will need a sweatshirt or tee shirt that you want to spruce up (Thrifted is best, but these Hanes sweatshirts are also pretty inexpensive and super soft), a scrap of fabric (mine is from an old flannel shirt), a sewing machine, an iron & ironing board, pins, scissors, and matching thread.
Step 1: Cutting the Pocket
For this step you can either make your own pattern like I did, or find one online. There are tons out there with lots of variations. I like these ones form Colette Patterns.
Here's how I made my pattern:
I have this pocket I cut off of an old pair of jeans. It's the size and shape that I like, so I just traced it onto my fabric piece, making sure to stay at least half an inch from the edge:
I added a 1/2 inch seam allowance to the side and bottom edges and 1 1/2 inches to the top edge:
Then I cut it out:
Step 2: Ironing
Take your cut piece over to the ironing board and fold and the seam allowance on all of the edges, starting at the bottom:
*sorry about the gross looking ironing board, it has seen better days!
When you flip the piece over, it will look like this:
See those little tabs hanging over the sides at the top? We don't want those, so just cut them off at an angle:
Next, bring your piece over to the sewing machine and sew the top flap down 1 inch from the edge:
This is what the back will look like:
Cut off the seam allowance:
Step 3: Sew it On!
Put in your sweatshirt (or chosen article of clothing) and decide where you want the pocket to be placed and pin it on:
Take off the sweatshirt and pin all the way around the bottom and sides:
Take this to the sewing machine and start sewing it on, beginning from the top of one of the sides:
Sew the pocket on very close to the edge.
When you reach a corner, put the needle down into the fabric, lift the presser foot, and pivot the fabric so you can sew along the next straight line:
*note- if you are sewing a pocket onto a knit fabric like this, keep in mind that the sweatshirt is more stretchy than the pocket fabric. Make sure you aren't stretching it at all when you sew the pocket on.
Go all the way around the sides and bottom, leaving the top edge open. Don't forget to backstitch at the start and the finish to keep the pocket on securely!
And you're done!
I like to put a few pens in my pocket so I look smarter :)
This sweatshirt is so cozy! Try this on tee shirts, pants, jackets, bags, whatever you want! You can put fun trims on your pockets, use crazy patterned fabric, or put a solid colored one on a basic shirt for a colorblocked look. You could replace the pockets on your jeans with colored or patterned ones or put some on a bag for extra storage!
