Big Pocket Baby Pouch Shower Gift: free pattern + tutorial

 Handmade gifts are the best, aren’t they? Here’s something you can whip up quickly when a friend is having a baby. Just toss in a few diapers and wipes and you’ve got the most thoughtful gift at the baby shower!

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Big Pocket Baby Clutch Pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The Optimized for Printing PDF download for $3 is totally optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library to access anytime you want?

This project is totally fat quarter friendly too! (although you may need a tiny bit more if your fabric is directional) I used fabrics from the new ‘Snow Day’ collection by Maude Asbury for Blend Fabrics. The sleepy polar bears and seals totally made me think of babies and the penguins are just too cute. Plus I LOVE that tribal print that I put on the pocket above. And I think these would make a darling holiday quilt. 🙂

Big Pocket Baby Clutch Tutorial

{Download the pattern templates here.}

The pattern pieces all include a 3/8” seam allowance.

You will need:

• 3-4 fat quarters of fabric (depending on how many different fabrics you want to use)

• 1 yd of fusible fleece (I used HeatnBond Fusible Fleece)

• 1 button or snap closure

• a 1/2” D-ring for the optional tab

• a fabric pen

• a clear ruler

Tape the pattern pieces together as shown above.

Cutting:

From each pattern piece:

• Cut 2 out of fabric (1 exterior and 1 lining)

• Cut 1 out of fusible fleece

For the optional tab, cut a 2” x 3” rectangle.

Preparation:

Fuse the fusible fleece to one of each of the corresponding fabric pieces. It doesn’t really matter which one.

Make the optional D-ring tab:

I added a small D-ring tab just in case the recipient decided to attach a small strap or something else. My strap is tiny, only 1/2” wide. Feel free to adjust as needed.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold the raw edges to the middle, press. Then fold in half and press again. Stitch close to both long edges.

Set the tab aside.

Sew the button flap:

Place the 2 button flap pieces right sides together and sew along the curved edge (3/8” seam allowance).

Clip notches along the curved edge, turn right side out, and press.

Topstitch 1/8” from the curved edge.

Sew a button hole in the middle of the tab (to fit your chosen button). If you would rather use a snap or magnetic snap closure, install it on the side of the flap with fusible fleece.

Sew the Clutch Piece:

Baste the button flap to the clutch lining piece, centered on the curved edge. (If you are using a snap, the side of the flap with the snap should be against the lining.)

Fold the tab around the D-ring and baste the ends to the clutch lining piece also, 2” from the straight edge on one side (see above).

Place the clutch exterior piece on top, right sides together and pin all the way around. Stitch, leaving a 4” opening along one side for turning.

Clip notches into the curves, clip the corners, and turn right side out.

Press flat and topstitch 1/8” from the edge all the way around.

Sew the Pocket Piece:

If you are using a snap (or magnetic snap) apply the remaining snap half the the center of the pocket piece on the side with fusible fleece (the exterior).

Place the two pocket pieces right sides together and pin. Stitch all the way around, leaving a 3” opening on one side for turning.

Clip notches in the curves, clip the corners, and turn right side out.

Press flat and topstitch along the top edge only, 1/8” from the edge.

The sewn pocket should measure 11” wide.

Lay a ruler over the pocket and ignoring the curved corners, use the fabric pen to make marks along the bottom edge at 3”, 3 1/2”, 7 1/2” and 8”.

Fold the fabric at the marks to make two small outward pleats. Pin or machine baste the pleats.

Take note: I decided to tack the pleats at the top of my pocket too, but I didn’t do it until the end. It would probably be easier to do that step now. See the last two photos in this tutorial for the how-to.

Pin the pocket to the clutch with the straight edge of the pocket along the straight edge of the clutch.

Pin the bottom edge of the pocket flat and pin the sides of the pocket parallel to the edges of the clutch and 1” away. The pocket will gape open at this point.

Stitch the pocket to the clutch close to the edge.

Finishing:

Fold the clutch so that the bottom of the pocket is 1/2” above the fold. Pin along the sides.

Stitch the sides slowly, sewing over the previous topstitching. Backstitch at the top and bottom securely.

If you are not using a large needle already, I would suggest a 90/14 or larger.

Sew a button to the center of the pocket. I love embroidery floss for hand sewing on buttons. Use all of the strands at once and you don’t need to sew the button very many times!

This was when I realized that I needed to tack the pleats at the top of the pocket so it wouldn’t gape open. I suggest doing this step right after you have pleated the bottom of the pocket, but you can do it later too.

Pinch to make 1/2” pleats at the top of the pocket also and create nice vertical lines. Pin. Tack each pleat at the top of the pocket by sewing and backstitching for 2-3 stitches at the top of the pleat. The pocket will still hold lots of stuff, but it won’t pop open.

Now your Big Pocket Baby Clutch is done… Check out my most recent one I sewed as a baby shower gift!

Happy Sewing!