Help me come up with a name for this pocket holder
This month’s project is a pocket holder, for which I need a clever name. Made from fabric and an embroidery hoop, I had seen a few versions on Pinterest. But, if you follow this column, you know that a) I don’t need anything else for my own home, and b) if it can’t be done quickly, I don’t do it because, as with many of you, there are just so many demands on my time. (Teaching from home takes five times as long!) So, I made this indoor version as a Mimi Day (as opposed to Mother’s Day) gift for our dear friend and neighbor, Bonnie Mattiko, who generously gave me her late mother’s embroidery hoop not knowing she would be getting it back,
DIY Decor transformed.
To create the pocket, I used a piece of one of my late husband’s shirts (from which other pieces had been cut for other projects) because the button placket had a beautifully finished and top-stitched edge, which meant no sewing, folding, ironing, etc. Plus, I love the ready-made button detailing — again, no sewing — not to mention that it was the perfect gray to go with my backing fabric that complements Bonnie’s new gray sofa. And I used the same takethe-easy-route approach for finishing: yes, you can tuck the excess fabric to the back and laboriously hot- glue it in place. But if you simply cut it off even with the back of the hoop, it won’t show and looks crisply tailored when hung.
The basic directions are so simple that it is a little embarrassing. First, choose two pieces of fabric, matching or contrasting, solid or patterned. It should be non-stretchy, not terribly thick, but sturdy. I used the cotton shirt, as mentioned, for the pocket — a pillowcase or sheet would work well, too — and a thicker cotton for the backing that I had used to cover my bulletin board at the beginning of the school year. If the edge of your pocket fabric is not finished, you will need to iron a fold into it, probably about 5⁄ to ¾ inch.
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Then gather the other required materials: an embroidery hoop, a pencil, sharp fabric scissors, ribbon for a bow, if desired, and twine to make a hanger. Keep in mind that bigger is not necessarily better. Since you are making a pocket, you want whatever lightweight items you are putting in it to either extend above or hook onto the edge lest they get lost down inside. You don’t want to have to fish around inside the pocket, as the only thing holding it tight is the tension of the embroidery hoop.
Lay your embroidery hoop over your backing fabric and, with a pencil, lightly mark a circle about 1 inch larger than the hoop. Then position your pocket fabric over your backing fabric, deciding how far up you want it to extend — usually a little more than half — lay the embroidery hoop back down, lining it up an inch inside your pencil line on the backing fabric. Again, lightly mark the lower part of the circle on the pocket fabric, again about an inch outside your hoop. Cut out the fabric.
Lay the inside ring of your embroidery hoop your work surface. Center both layers of fabric over the inside ring, aligning the pocket edges with those of the backing fabric. Then, carefully lay the outer ring on top and press down into place. Adjust the tension at the top so that it is very snug, but allows for the thickness of the fabric. Flip it over and trim the fabric along the edge of the embroidery hoop. Or, if you prefer, tuck the extra fabric to the inside and hot-glue in place. For a finishing touch, tie a bow for the top and attach it to the tension mechanism with a thin piece of twine, making a second small loop with the twine to use as a hanger.
Some variations on this theme include painting or staining the embroidery hoop either a solid color or with patterns. You can also add a piece of trim, like ribbon, across the pocket edge. Just secure it in place with hot glue or fabric glue before assembling the pocket holder. If your pocket is solid and you want a little added design element, you can stencil on a motif or a word using fabric paint or craft paint mixed with fabric medium or sizing. Truthfully, you could probably just use thick acrylic paint. Stipple on the paint rather than stroking it on, so it doesn’t run underneath the edge of the stencil.
As always, enjoy making this project your own; I would love to see your version.
Betsy’s Budget
FREE! I borrowed or had on hand the very few necessary materials.
Betsy DiJulio, jdijulio@cox.net