Pocket Pod Basket: Free Sewing Pattern

This fabric pod basket pattern will help you organize things in every room in the house! I love these storage pods in my sewing room for notions and tools. They make great craft containers and look adorable on a peg board, in the living room, and on a bedroom nightstand. I think I’ll make another one to use in my car.

This fabric storage pod (some people call them bubble pods or best nest baskets) pattern is even better because it has pockets! The pockets can be sewn to the basket’s inside or outside (or both).  They are optional, so you can also make a pocket pod without the pockets if you desire.

And guess what??? This free sewing pattern is fat quarter friendly too! For more fun projects like this, check out all my free sewing patterns.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Pocket Pod 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 PDF pattern is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

These DIY fabric baskets are a great beginner sewing project because:

• Only a few supplies are needed, and not a lot of fabric.
• There is a free template that you can download now.
• You’ll learn how to use fusible fleece (used in lots of bags and pouches).
• All of the sewing is very forgiving if you mess up.

Everyone needs a few fabric pods in their sewing or craft room, so they make great gifts too. This pattern might remind you of my reader-favorite Car Diddy Bag as well as my Pegboard Baskets Pattern, although the Pocket Pod Basket is larger than both.

Pocket Pod Basket Dimensions

The finished bins are approximately 7 1/2” tall and 7 1/2” wide, not including the hanging loop. With the hanging loop, they are 9 1/2” tall.

This free tutorial includes a free downloadable template and step-by-step instructions with photos. You can choose to sew the pockets to the inside of the basket or the outside of the basket. OR, make two rows of pockets and put them on the inside and on the outside.

This Pattern is Fat Quarter Friendly

A fat quarter is a commonly sold fabric pre-cut that is 18” tall and 21” wide.

If you want to use fat quarters to make your Pocket Pod Baskets, you’ll need one fat quarter for the outer fabric, one fat quarter for the lining fabric, and 1/2 a fat quarter (or a fat eighth) for the pocket. The hanging loop at the top of the basket is just a small piece that can be cut from leftover fabrics.

Tips for Choosing Fabric and Thread:

This project works best with cotton quilting fabric. It’s easy to sew with and available in so many beautiful patterns. You can make this project in a single fabric or use coordinating prints like mine. Any combination will look fabulous.

You could also use cotton or polyester home decor fabric or canvas. In that case, I would use only one layer of fusible fleece stabilizer since those fabrics are heavier than quilting cotton.

Polyester thread is a good choice for this project because polyester is strong and has the tiniest bit of stretch to help it endure heavy use.

What stabilizer will I need?

I used fusible fleece interfacing from HeatnBond to stabilize my inner and outer pieces. This gives my fabric pods great structure and provides strength to the pockets.

You could also use flexible foam stabilizer, in which case I suggest using one layer because it is thicker than fusible fleece. The sew-in variety is great (here’s a tutorial showing how to baste foam stabilizer to fabric), as is the fusible kind.

So let’s get started sewing the pocket pod pattern!

You will need:

• 3/4 yard of cotton fabric or 3 fat quarters
• thread
• 3/4 yard fusible fleece interfacing at least 20” wide (such as HeatnBond fusible fleece)
• Cutting tools: scissors, rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and cutting mat
• A sewing machine
• A fabric marking pen or pencil
• Sewing pins
• The downloadable pattern template:

Cut out the pattern template pieces and tape them together as shown.

Cutting:

1. From cotton fabric, cut:

• 2 on the fold of the fabric using the pocket pod basket pattern template, one for the basket exterior and one for the lining*
• 1 rectangle 9” x 21” for the pocket
• 1 rectangle 4” x 5” for the hanging tab

*Tip: be sure to fold your fabric and place the edge of the template marked ‘fold of fabric’ along the fold of the fabric.

2. Cut two pieces of fusible fleece interfacing using the pattern template.

Tip: if your interfacing is only 20” wide, it will still work great. Fold the interfacing in half and place the ‘fold of fabric’ edge of the pattern along the fold. The opposite edge of the pattern template will extend past the interfacing by 1/2”. That is just fine and only means that there will not be fusible fleece in the seam allowance.

Fuse the Fusible Fleece to the Outer and Lining Pieces

1. Place the bumpy adhesive side of a fusible fleece piece against the wrong side of one of the fabric pieces cut using the pattern template. Press to fuse. Repeat with the remaining fabric piece and interfacing piece that were cut using the pattern template.

Make the Pockets

1. Fold the 9” x 21” pocket rectangle in half lengthwise, right sides together. Pin the long edges together.

2. Sew the long edges together using a 1/4” seam allowance to make a long tube.

Turn the pocket piece right side out and press it flat.

3. Topstitch along the folded edge 1/8” away from the edge. This will be the top edge of the pocket.

Attach the Pockets

1. Lay the pocket piece across the right side of one of the fabric pieces that has interfacing fused to the back. You can choose to sew the pockets to the outside of the basket or the inside (the outer piece or the lining piece).

Arrange the pocket strip so that it is approximately 5/8” above the rectangular cutouts at the bottom of the fabric piece and approximately 5/8” below the curve at the top edge.

Place pins along the sides of the pocket piece and along the bottom edge.

2. Use a long stitch length to baste the pocket piece in place 1/4” away from the side edges.

3. Then use a regular stitch length of 2-3 to sew along the bottom edge of the pocket 1/8” from the edge.

4. To mark the pockets, use a ruler and a fabric pen or fabric pencil to draw vertical lines on the pocket piece.

Mark one vertical line in the middle. If you would like four pockets, make one vertical line on each side of the center line, about 5” apart.

If you would like six pockets, make two vertical lines on each side of the center line, each about 3 1/4” apart.

5. Sew along the vertical lines that you drew, starting at the bottom of the pocket. Backstitch neatly at the top and bottom of the pocket.

Sew the Fabric Pod Basket Together

Seam allowances are 1/2” unless otherwise noted.

1. Fold the lining piece in half with the straight edges together (right sides of fabric together). Pin and sew along the long straight edge.

Press the seam open.

2. Re-fold the basket lining piece with the seam in the center and the bottom edges together. The corners will be cut out with the basket folded like this.

Sew across the bottom edge, leaving an opening of about 4′‘ for turning the fabric pod right side out later. Press the bottom seam open.

3. Flatten the corner of the bin so that the cut-out area makes a straight line. Pin.

4. Sew across the corner. Repeat to sew the opposite corner.

5. Repeat Steps 1-4 above with the exterior piece, except sew all the way across the bottom seam (do not leave an opening for turning).

6. Turn the exterior piece right side out in preparation for the final steps.

Make the Hanging Loop:

1. Fold the 4” x 5” strip of fabric in half lengthwise (wrong sides together) and press. Open and fold the long raw edges to the center and press again. Fold in half and press again to make a 1” x 5” strip.

2. Topstitch along both long edges, about 1/8” from the sides of the tab piece.

3. Fold the loop and pin the raw edges along the top edge of the basket lining. Arrange the loop so that it is centered over the seam on the inside back of the basket.

Sew the across the ends of the loop 1/4” away from the top edge of the basket.

Finish Sewing the Pocket Pod Basket

1. Nest the basket exterior inside the basket lining so that the pieces are right sides together. Align the top edges and place pins all the way around.

Tip: If your sewing machine is in a cabinet like mine, place the pins on the inside. If not, place the pins on the outside of the basket and use your sewing machine’s free arm.

2. Sew around the top edge of the basket with a 1/2” seam allowance.

Use sharp scissors to make clips and notches 1/2” apart around the curved edges of the top seam.

Tip: Make straight clips in the ‘valley’ and cut v-shaped notches in the ‘hills’.

3. Turn the basket right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.

Tuck the edges of the opening to the inside. Sew the opening closed by hand or using a sewing machine, sewing close to the edge.

4. Push the lining inside the basket. Press the basket carefully. Take care to press well around the top edge so that the curved edge is smooth and the seam is right along the top of the edge.

5. Topstitch around the top edge of the basket 1/4” from the edge.

And you are done! This Pocket Pod Basket Pattern is so fast and fun to make – you will make so many baskets you will have to give them away to all your friends!

As always, I love to see what you make with my tutorials. Please post a picture to Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe or #sewcanshe so I can see!

Are you looking for more organization-related sewing projects? Check out:

• My Fabric Storage Bin pattern
• Big DIY Sturdy Storage Totes
• The Handy Purse Organizer

Or see this roundup of 11+ Sewing Projects to Make You More Organized.

Happy sewing,