SpencerOgg

Packing Pods Hack – adding a mesh pocket inside

Packing Pods are just brilliant for packing all your clothes, underwear, toiletries and electronics into your suitcase, keeping everything organised and tightly stored to increase capacity in your case and prevent your clothes moving around and creasing – I never travel without them now, but did you know they are also great for everyday storage around the home – including pattern and fabric storage!

I use them all the time, and was just making a new set from these fabulous bright digitally printed fabrics from RudaMama Fabrics and thought – hey, let’s add an inside pocket for small items I want to keep handy. So I thought I would share my quick hack for adding one to the inside of any of the 3 sizes of Pod.

You will just need a small square of lightweight mesh fabric (Mine was from By Annie) and a strip of fold over elastic (Ebay).

Follow the pattern instructions making up your zipped gussets as described, then before you proceed to ATTACH THE BACK HINGE add in the following steps:

Take one of your hinge panels (Piece D) and lay face up.

Cut a piece of mesh the same size as the panel but 1” shorter in height than the panel itself. (any of the 3 sizes).

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Tip: If you want to use fabric rather than mesh for the pocket (I use mesh so the pocket will stretch and hold more), simply double over a piece of quilt cotton, so the fold lies at the top edge).

Attach fold-over elastic to the top edge of the mesh using zig-zag stitch so it allows the top edge to stretch.

Tip: I find it easier to stitch the elastic to the back first, then fold down to conceal the raw edge, then stitch again.

Trim any excess elastic.

Lay the mesh on top of one hinge panel (Piece D), lining up bottom and sides so you have a 1” gap at the top.

Baste around sides and bottom within the seam allowance to hold it in place.

This is your inside hinge piece complete with pocket, proceed with the pattern instructions from ATTACH THE BACK HINGE keeping in mind that this pocket is the inside panel and the second one to be applied. (The raw edges will be concealed as you go)

Note: If applying the inside pocket, do not stitch the carry handle to the hinge as described in the pattern as this will stitch through your pocket. Attach through the hinge using rivets, pulling the mesh pocket out of the way so you don’t catch it in.

If you don’t have rivets you can leave the carry handle off, or stitch it to the front or side of the Pod.

It’s a jolly useful pocket for holding cables and chargers, tickets and passports – or even just your secret stash of travel biscuits 🍪

The Packing Pods are a super-handy easy make. Grab the pattern in my shop HERE:

We have a competition running in the Facebook Group during May 2021 – show us your Packing Pod photos in the funniest places – you don’t have to travel, just make us laugh at where you used them. The pattern has 20% off during May too, grab it HERE:

Post your pics on the Facebook group or on Instagram with the #packingpods to win a free Spencer Ogg PDF pattern of your choice – let’s have a giggle – feel free to super-impose anything too!

Winner chosen at the end of May 2021 – whatever makes up laugh the most

Not made a Packing Pod before? Well they are super easy and super addictive – watch the pattern intro video here

I have a bag making Facebook board for help and support with my patterns and just general bag making chat. You are welcome to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spencerogg

For lots of additional help and tips on bag making visit my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/spencerogg