Stand Up & Tote Notice Pattern Hack – Inner Zipper Pocket

Stand Up & Tote Notice Hack - Adding inner zipper pocket - Andrie DesignsWith two outer and four inner pockets, you would think we had more than enough storage space in the Stand Up & Tote Notice bag…but you’d be wrong. Today’s pattern hack adds another level of pocket awesomeness with an inner zipper pocket – woohoo!

You can add a zipper pocket alongside, or in place of the existing inner pockets. You will notice in the photos of this tutorial that I have included all of the pockets you will find in the pattern. If you’re yet to grab your copy of the pattern, you can find it here.

To add an inner zipper pocket to your Stand Up & Tote Notice bag, you will need:

  • A 7″ (18cm) dress/all purpose zipper (I have used a beautiful metal zipper for this tutorial but a standard nylon dress zipper will also work)
  • A piece of fabric for the pocket measuring 9″ x 13″ (23cm x 33cm)
  • A piece of light-medium weight fusible interfacing (such as SF101) measuring 9″ x 2″ (23cm x 5cm)

Stand Up and Tote Notice Inner Zipper Pocket Pattern Hack - two pretty poppetsWork through steps 1 – 11 of the pattern and then continue below…

Take your inner zipper pocket piece of fabric and fuse the piece of interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric at the bottom (this is important if your fabric is directional). The bottom of the interfacing should be 3/4” (1.9cm) up from the bottom raw edge of the fabric.

Stand Up and Tote Notice Inner Zipper Pocket Pattern HackDraw three horizontal lines almost all the way across the interfacing using tailors chalk or an air erasable marker at 1 1/2″, 1 3/4″ and 2″ (3.8cm, 4.4cm and 5cm) up from the bottom raw edge of the fabric (not the interfacing).

Find the centre of the bottom line (4 1/2″ (11.5cm) in from each side) and then measure 3 1/2″ (9cm) out from both sides of the centre line, ensuring the total distance between the two marks is 7″ (18cm). Draw a vertical line at both ends to join the first and third lines together at the marks you’ve just drawn, creating a rectangle frame on the fabric.

At each end of the middle line, measure ½” (1.3cm) in and make a mark. Draw diagonal lines at each end, connecting the ½” (1.3cm) marks to the outer corners of the rectangle.

Turn your pocket piece around so the bottom/rectangle is now at the top, and place it on top of one of your lining panels, right sides together. Ensure the top raw edge of the pocket piece is positioned 1 1/4” (3.2cm) down from the top raw edge of the lining panel and centred horizontally. Pin in place and stitch along the outer lines of the rectangle to join.

Carefully cut the rectangle open along the middle line, between the two ½” (1.3cm) marks. At each ½” mark, follow your diagonal lines out to the corners and cut as close to your stitching as you can, but be careful not to cut the stitches!

Stand Up and Tote Notice Inner Zipper Pocket Pattern HackLift up the bottom (unsewn) end of the pocket piece and feed it through the open rectangle, turning your pocket through to the wrong side of your lining panel. Roll out your rectangle seams and press from the front/right side to ensure they sit nice and flat. Don’t worry if you have a few small creases on the back (pocket) side.

On the inside of the pocket, place a strip of wash away tape or glue around all four edges of the rectangle.

Stand Up and Tote Notice Inner Zipper Pocket Pattern HackLay your 7” (18cm) zipper down on your work surface face up and open it slightly. It is up to you which side your zipper opens from. Place your fabric over your zipper, centering the zipper in the frame vertically. Ensure the bottom zipper stop is showing just inside the rectangle so it won’t get in the way of your stitching.

Topstitch around the edge of your rectangle to secure the zipper in place using a 1/16” (0.2cm) seam allowance. Reinforce well over the ends of the rectangle where the beginning and end of the zipper sit. As you reach the zipper pull, drop your needle down into your fabric, lift your presser foot and wiggle the zipper pull out of the way. Lower your foot again and continue sewing.

If you’ve used a longer zipper, trim the ends of the zipper down so they finish at the edge of the pocket piece. Seal with heat/fray check etc.

Lay your lining panel face down so you are looking at the inside of your pocket. Fold the pocket piece in half, right sides together and with all raw edges aligned. Pin and stitch the three seams of the pocket using a ½” (1.3cm) seam allowance, ensuring you fold the lining panel out of the way so you don’t catch it in the seams (you should only be stitching the pocket piece).

HOORAY!!! You now have a shiny new zipper pocket to add to your growing collection of Stand Up & Tote Notice pockets!

Stand Up and Tote Notice Inner Zipper Pocket Pattern Hack - two pretty poppets

I’d LOVE to see your inner zipper pocket hack if you feel like giving it a go! You can share photos of your creations in my patterns group on Facebook, with my Facebook Page or even tag me on Instagram!

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to comment below or contact me via the Contact page and until next time, happy sewing!

Lisa x

5 thoughts on “Stand Up & Tote Notice Pattern Hack – Inner Zipper Pocket

  1. Lisa Ann Selfe says:

    Totally AWESOME!!! Thank you for the “hack” for the inner zipper pocket. I am getting ready to make my small Stand Up and Tote Notice bag for the Stand Up Swap, and this is going to definitely be added.

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