BERNINA Corporate Blog -Most of us carry a cell phone with us at all times. I love wearing comfy sweatshirts with pouch-style front pockets when running errands, but the problem is that items like my phone can fall out as I am rushing here and there. A secure, hidden cell phone pocket can be added to any pattern to solve this problem. I created a free pattern to sew a secure pocket for my cell phone, neatly hidden beneath the outer kangaroo-style pocket on my sweatshirt.
Shhh…there is a secret in this pocket!
I will be using my BERNINA 590 sewing machine to complete this project. You can also use a serger for the sweatshirt construction if you wish. So grab your favourite sweatshirt pattern, and sew along with me!
Materials Needed:
- Sewing Machine with zig zag stitches such as a BERNINA 590
- Sewing machine foot: Reverse Pattern Foot #1D (for use with Dual Feed)
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Free PDF Download Phone Pocket Template by @ManitoulinThreads
- When printing, please open the Phone Pocket PDF in Adobe Acrobat and select Actual Size in your print settings.
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Your favourite sweatshirt/hoodie pattern with a kangaroo-pouch style pocket. Here are some of my favourites:
- Jalie Sweatshirt, Hoodie and Sweatpants
- Greenstyle Reef Sweatshirt (affiliate link)
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Or any other sweatshirt pattern with this free tutorial to draft your own kangaroo pocket:
- BERNINA Blog How to Draft a Kangaroo Pocket for a Sweater.
- Please note: I haven’t tested this free Buttercup sweatshirt pattern, so please return and leave a comment if you try it. https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/the-buttercup-sweatshirt-collection-free-sewing-pattern/
- Main Fabric: 1 ¾ to 2¾ yards (depending on options and which pattern you choose). I like cotton French terry and sweatshirt fleece. Here are some shops with international shipping that carry a variety of options:
- Fabric for phone pocket: stretch mesh, power mesh, athletic knit or any other knit with 50% or more stretch and firm recovery
- Coordinating Thread
- 1/4″ elastic (clear elastic or any other flat elastic)
- Wonder Tape (wash-away double-sided sewing tape) or pins
- Sewing chalk (test to be sure it will wipe or wash away – I learned this the hard way!)
Preparing the Hoodie/Sweatshirt (before you add your phone pocket):
Previously, I have added this hidden pocket to a Greenstyle Reef Sweatshirt(aff).
This cell phone pocket is made from stretch mesh and will be completely covered by the outer kangaroo pocket.
Completed Reef sweatshirt with the cell phone pocket hidden under the kangaroo pocket on the front.
If your sweatshirt pattern that you have chosen doesn’t have a kangaroo pocket, follow this free and simple tutorial (BERNINA Blog Kangaroo Pocket Tutorial-FREE) to make your pocket.
Today, I am sewing the shirt from Jalie Sweatshirt, Hoodie and Sweatpants, a pattern that I have used many times in the past and it is a quick and easy sewing project. I cut out the fabric and marked the center front for pocket placement.
Use chalk to mark the center of the sweatshirt front to position the pockets.
Take your kangaroo pocket and trace with chalk where it will be sewn onto the sweatshirt front.
Use chalk to trace the kangaroo pocket onto the sweatshirt front.
Preparing the Phone Pocket:
Download and print the Free PDF Download Phone Pocket Template by @ManitoulinThreads.
(Be sure to print at 100% or Actual Size).
Printer settings: be sure to select “actual size”.
Phone pocket pattern with sewing notes.
You can also use a projector for sewing, to save time, paper and ink. I like the Yoton Projector and the Free Pattern Projector software.
Projected phone pocket pattern piece.
Cut Your Fabric:
Using either your printed Phone Pocket pattern piece or the projected pattern, cut your Phone Pocket out of your mesh/athletic knit fabric. Be sure to have the greatest amount of stretch going across the wider part of the pocket.
Use the printed pattern piece to cut your phone pocket out of stretch mesh or other stretchy fabric.
Attach the ¼” elastic to the wrong side of the fabric to create the top hem of the pocket. This will reinforce the pocket open and help to keep your phone securely inside. Use stitch #2 zig zag (width 40, length 2.45). The Dual Feed feature of the BERNINA 590 keeps things moving smoothly when sewing stretchy knit fabrics.
BERNINA 590 Stitch #2 Zig Zag settings.
Use a zig-zag stitch to attach the 1/4″ elastic to the pocket opening.
Fold the fabric over (the dotted line on the pattern piece) and zig zag in place to create the top hem. Stitch #2 (width 6.0, length 3.05).
Use the phone pattern piece and chalk to mark the pocket opening.
Use the pattern piece and chalk to mark where the pocket opening will be.
Attaching the Phone Pocket:
Next, you will take your Phone Pocket and attach it to your sweatshirt within the traced area so that it will be hidden under the kangaroo pocket. You can either attach the pocket horizontally or angle it slightly. I like the angle because it can make it easier to fit the pocket within the chalked area AND easy to slide in my phone when it is angled. Because I am right-handed, I made the opening face to the right to make it easier to slip the phone in.
Use double-sided tape or pins and attach the Phone Pocket in the desired position.
Phone pocket is ready to be sewn around the outside edges, leaving an opening for the pocket. A zig zag stitch keeps it secure and the edges will not fray since it is a knit fabric.
Select the stitch #2 zig zag on your BERNINA 590 (width 4.0, length 2.45) and stitch around the pocket to secure it. Make sure that you don’t stitch the pocket opening closed. I used pins to mark the opening. Using the knee lift as you sew around the corners of the phone pocket makes it easy to manoeuvre the corners as you stitch.
Use a zig zag stitch to securely attach the pocket. Fabric will not fray because it is a knit fabric.
Use the bar tack stitch #24 on each side of the pocket opening to reinforce and strengthen these areas. This stitch is specifically used to reinforce pocket openings and the preset specifications work well for this project.
BERNINA 590 Sticth #18 Bar Tack stitch sample made using the machine presets.
Completed phone pocket with opening in the top for cell phone or other items you wish to store securely.
Finishing Your Sweatshirt with Hidden Phone Pocket:
Take your Kangaroo Pocket and sew it on top of your completed Phone Pocket, following your pattern tutorial instructions.
Kangaroo pocket is attached over top of the hidden phone pocket.
Complete the rest of your sweatshirt and you are good to go! Your phone will now be secure and you won’t have to worry about it bouncing out of your pocket any longer.
Slide your phone into the mesh pocket for safe and secure storage.
This hidden sweatshirt pocket keeps valuable items, like a cell phone, secure.
Additional Tips:
- You can add this Phone Pocket to other garments, to have a secure place to store your phone or other essentials. Some possibilities are inside a coat pocket, on the inner lining of a blazer or jacket, or even inside a large cargo pocket on your pants.
- This pattern template is based on a large iPhone. You can enlarge or reduce it to fit your own phone, or simply sew a smaller opening in the top of the pocket for increased security for smaller items.
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I buy my clear elastic in bulk and find that it can tangle easily. By storing it in a zipper plastic bag with a hole punched in the side, I can pull the elastic out as I’m sewing and not worry about it getting knotted and bunched.
Use a zipper storage bag to keep clear elastic contained. Punch a hole in the bag to feed the elastic through as you sew.
Happy stitching!
Heather @ManitoulinThreads🧵✂
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