I Don't Like the Inside of My Half Stitch Pouch 😔
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Time to read 5 min
So, you've completed your half stitch pouch, but it feels like something is missing...
Same. Let's do something about it!
Hey, I'm Alanya - the Community and Education Coordinator at Craft Club, and I'm not only a crafter, but an avid book lover.
I recently finished stitching my Love Letters Half Stitch Pouch with the intention of it carrying my books around. As much as I adored creating this pouch, when I finished half stitching, I knew I wasn't done.
I wanted to give my half stitch pouch a neat backing with two diagonal internal pockets - perfect to store my bookmark, pens, highlighters, and sticky tabs for my reading journeys.
If you want the same thing too, let's get into it.
Image from Alanya Stuckey
Materials needed for our half stitch pouch backing🧵🪡
If you're a sewer, you might have everything you need on hand. If you're not, you might need to go on a quick (ha! there's no such thing) trip to the craft store or find some alternatives around the house.
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Fabric
- I used fat quarters of cotton in two different patterns - one plain for the backing, and one patterned for the pockets. (image on right)
- Try matching it to the colour scheme of your half stitch pouch, or a contrasting colour if you prefer!
- Finished Half Stitch pouch (and I'm so proud of you for completing it, by the way)
- Tape Measure
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Sewing Machine
- An alternative is to hand-sew, but that will take a lot longer.
- Iron (optional, but I found it helped me)
- Pins
- Sewing thread & needle
- Scissors or fabric cutter
Image from Alanya Stuckey
If you don't want to sew your backing on at all and prefer a quicker, more beginner-friendly option, scroll to the bottom of this post and more information will be there 👇
Measuring and Cutting the Backing Fabric
First things first, we need to measure the size of the half stitch canvas that we're covering.
Find the stitch lines where the canvas was sewn to the zipper and use your measuring tape to find the width (shorter distance) and the height (longer distance).
- Love Letters has a width of 16cm (6.29in) and a height of 22.5cm (8.85in)
- Please measure your own pouch in case of any small sizing differences.
Use scissors or a fabric cutter to cut the fabric, adding 1cm (or half an inch) to each side for seam allowance.
- This is 2cm in total to each measurement.
- 16cm becomes 18cm for the width.
- 22.5cm becomes 24.5cm for the height.
If you're worried about not cutting in a straight line, create a paper template, pin it to the fabric, and cut along the edges.
Measuring and Cutting the Pockets
With the backing cut, it's time to plan the pockets. Or, skip to the sewing section if you don't want pockets. You can also just do one pocket if you'd prefer.
Use the fabric, or bits of paper, to play around with what you want the pockets to look like.
For me, I knew from the start that I wanted two diagonals crossing over each other.
Again, if you're worried about not cutting in a straight line, create a paper template to use.
Back Pocket - larger of the two. This will be the middle layer of fabric.
- Right side: 20.5cm (8.07in)
- Cut at 22.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Cut at 22.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Left side: 14cm (5.51in)
- Cut at 16cm to include seam allowance.
- Cut at 16cm to include seam allowance.
- Width: 16cm (6.29in).
- Cut at 18cm to include seam allowance
Front Pocket - smaller of the two. This will be the frontmost layer of fabric.
- Right side: 10.5cm (4.13in)
- Cut at 12.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Cut at 12.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Left side: 20.5cm (8.07in)
- Cut at 22.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Cut at 22.5cm to include seam allowance.
- Width: 16cm (6.29in).
- Cut at 18cm to include seam allowance
To create the diagonal line, cut from the right height measurement to the left.
Time to Sew the Backing and Pockets Together
- Fold a 1cm (half an inch) seam allowance on all edges of the pieces of fabric and iron.
- Sew a straight line (top stitch) on the two diagonal edges. This creates a neat hemmed finish for the top of the pockets.
- Layer the pieces of fabric, making sure they all line up at the bottom.
- Pin them together and use the sewing machine to sew along the 1cm (half an inch) seam allowance you folded in step 1.
- Use the sewing thread and needle to hand-sew the seams of your backing and canvas together. (Catching the machine stitch and the seam on your canvas in a whipped stitch). This secures the backing in a neat manner.
No Sew Backing
For those who don't have access to a sewing machine, or want to do something with less fuss, you can cut a piece of starched felt to size and carefully attach it with fabric glue to the back of the canvas. You'll want to use the glue sparingly so that it doesn't leak through and ruin your hard work and gorgeous half stitch!
Haven't got a Half Stitch Pouch Kit yet?
Craft Club’s StitchReady™ kits come with everything you need to get started, including a pre-printed and pre-sewn pouch, coloured yarn, a needle and threader, and detailed written and video instructions and paper pattern.
Get started with your very own half stitch kit today and join the club!
Choose fabrics that complement (or contrast) the pouch's design.
Measure the canvas size and add 1cm (half an inch) to each side for seam allowance.
Hem the pockets and sew the backing layers together
Hand-sew the backing seams into the pouch seams
Alanya Stuckey
Hey, Alanya here - Craft Club's Community and Education Coordinator. I've been crafting all my life: words, textiles, crafts - you name it. I found Craft Club in the early days (2021) and have been enamoured with the company since. Being a part of it now is a dream come true and I'm so excited to share my love of beginner-friendly craft kits with you!
What is StitchReady™?
StitchReady™ is Craft Club's original finish-it-yourself needlepoint kit — the first of its kind to bring stitching and finishing into one beginner-friendly experience.
Built around a pre-assembled construction with a three-sided zipper, each kit lets you stitch the front panel and then close it into a real, finished object with no sewing machine, no finishing service, and no prior experience required. It's needlepoint redesigned to be lived with, not stored away
Learn More About StitchReady™ here!
What is half stitch?
Half stitch is a simple diagonal stitch that makes up just one leg of a full "X" in cross stitch and tapestry. It's super easy to learn and the perfect gateway into needlecraft.
Is half stitch difficult?
Absolutely not! Half stitch is an incredibly simple technique that is perfect for beginners looking for a new hobby and seasoned crafters looking for a relaxing project.
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