Seamstress Pocket In-the-hoop

Sewing-Themed Appliqué Pocket Tutorial

A finished, decorative appliqué pocket with a sewing theme, featuring scissors, a needle, and a measuring tape.

Another example of the finished sewing-themed pocket on a garment.

Stitch Sequence Overview

The embroidery design file and color chart for the sewing-themed pocket.

Colors 1, 2, 3: Scissors design inside the pocket.
Color 4: The pocket placement guideline. After this stitches, pause the machine and lay the folded fabric piece inside the shape.
Color 5: The pocket fabric tack-down seam. After this stitches, pause the machine and trim the excess fabric.
Colors 6-10: The pocket's satin stitch outline and other decorative elements.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Stitch the Placement Lines

Hoop your main project fabric with a stabilizer. Stitch Colors 1, 2, and 3 to create the scissors design, followed by Color 4, which is the pocket placement guideline.

The scissors design and the pocket placement outline stitched onto the main fabric.

Take a piece of appliqué fabric that is twice the size of your pocket. Fold it in half.

A close-up of the initial embroidery stitches.

Step 2: Attach the Pocket Fabric

Pause the machine and lay your folded pocket fabric flat inside the placement shape. Align the folded edge with the upper placement stitch.

A piece of folded fabric for the pocket placed inside the stitched guideline.

Stitch Color 5, which is the pocket fabric tack-down stitch.

The tack-down stitch securing the pocket fabric in place.

Step 3: Trim and Finish

Pause the machine and carefully trim the excess fabric around the shape close to the seam. I recommend using curved embroidery scissors or duckbill appliqué scissors.

Trimming the excess fabric from around the pocket appliqué.