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How To Make A Sewing Machine Mat With Pocket

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One of the things I love least about sewing is how disorganized I can sometimes feel, so I decided to organize my sewing space with this new sewing project. Today, I’m going to show you How To Make A Sewing Machine Mat With Pocket! This project is so nice and now my sewing things all have a home. It’s just so refreshing to have the perfect carrying case/organizer all set up for me when I’m ready to break out my sewing machine! Turns out, it’s super easy to make an organizer and it rolls up quite nicely (with all the tools inside), making it perfect for storing if, like me, you don’t have a permanent “home” for your sewing machine (who has desk space for that?!). It also protects your work area from getting scratched up and could be easily personalized so you could give this to one of your sewing friends as a gift! I picked out some cute colors and I think it turned out so nice. This project is for sewists comfortable sewing through multiple layers of fabric and around corners. If you are an advanced beginner, you can most likely complete this project.

sewing machine mat top photo

First things first, you’re going to want to gather a few things, namely fabric. When you’re choosing the fabric, I would recommend that you look for a coordinating set of fabrics. Nothing is more fun than a pretty coordinated set. I found some in the best colors and it just makes such a large project more pleasing in the end. I love how these turned out. You’ll also need some basic sewing supplies like, pins, scissors or a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, something to mark your fabric and some velcro and interfacing. Gather up your supplies from the list below and let’s get started!

What You’ll Need:

sewing mat supplies
Sewing Machine Mat with Pockets an Easy Sew

How To Make A Sewing Machine Mat With Pocket

Start this how to make a sewing machine mat with pocket sewing tutorial by cutting out the following:

  1. Mat Top Fabric:
    1. 1 piece 18” x 29”
  2. Mat Bottom Fabric:
    1. 1 piece 18” x 29”
  3. Batting Fabric:
    1. 1 piece 18″ x 28″
    2. 1 piece 5″ x 28″
  4. Pocket Outside Fabric:
    1. 1 piece 5” x 28”
  5. Pocket Lining Fabric:
    1. 1 piece 5” x 28”
  6. Thread Catcher Outside Fabric:
    1. 2 pieces 7” x 7”
  7. Thread Catcher Lining Fabric:
    1. 2 pieces 7” x 7”
  8. Shape Flex Interfacing:
    1. 2 pieces 7” x 7”

If you want, you can wash, dry, and iron your fabric before starting, but I didn’t feel it was necessary for this project.

Once that’s all cut, place the mat bottom fabric right-side-down on the worktable, followed by the larger batting piece, then place the mat top fabric right-side-up on top. Pin the edges together. Set aside. We’re going to put together a couple of things, then tackle the sewing, because it’ll make it come together faster if you pin “all the things” at one time.

Next, place the pocket lining fabric right-side-down on the worktable, followed by the smaller batting piece, then place the pocket outside fabric right-side-up on top. Pin one long side and two of the short edges together just to help you hold it in place for the binding. Then pin a length of binding on the remaining long side. Set aside.

Then, place one of the shape flex interfacing pieces onto the wrong-side of a thread catcher outside fabric piece. Iron the shape flex interfacing onto the thread catcher outside fabric piece. Repeat with the other shape flex interfacing piece and thread catcher outside fabric piece.

Now, place the thread catcher lining fabric wrong-side to the shape flex interfacing side of your outside piece and pin a length of binding on one side. Repeat with the second thread catcher piece. Set aside.

Using the fabric pencils, mark a large “x” from corner to corner on the mat fabric top or bottom, then mark a line from side-to-side and top to bottom. These marked locations are where we will quilt the piece in the next step.

With the walking foot installed on your sewing machine (do not skip this – the walking foot is very important when making layered items like this to keep the insides from shifting while you sew), top-stitch along the marked lines of the mat. Set aside. 

Next, top-stitch along the edge of the binding on the pocket. Set aside.

Then top-stitch along the edge of the binding on the thread catcher pieces. Set aside.

With all of those pieces sewn, align the bottom of the pocket piece along the bottom edge of the mat piece. Pin the binding along this aligned bottom edge, catching both the pocket and mat in the binding.

Continue pinning the binding around the edge of the entire mat, taking care to fold the binding at the corners into a crisp 90-degree angle. Set aside.

Then, place the two thread catcher pieces lining-side to lining-side with the binding sides aligned.

Pin the binding along the two sides and bottom edge, catching both sides of the thread catcher in the binding. Take care to fold the binding at the corners into a crisp 90-degree angle. Set aside.

Next, top-stitch along the edge of the binding on the mat and bottom of the pocket. Set aside.

Top-stitch along the edge of the binging on the outside edges of the thread catcher. 

Now, you’ll want to identify where you want your thread catcher to sit on the organizer. For a left-handed person, having the thread catcher on the left may be more appreciated. But since I’m right-handed, I wanted it on my right. Based on where you want the thread catcher to be, pin the soft length of velcro to the front of your pocket, along the binding. Next, measure and mark where you would like your pocket partitions to be located along the front of the organizer. I marked two lines to create three larger pockets because my scissors and whatnot tend to be large. But if you would like 5-6 smaller pockets, you do you – this pocket is plenty big enough to work whatever size pockets you’d like.

Then, pin the stiff length of velcro to the backside (your choice of which side is the back) of the thread catcher. 

Sew the velcro in place, taking care to only sew the piece you want the velcro attached to, not the piece underneath. To do this, I actually removed the front piece of my sewing machine to work the thread catcher over the end.

Next, sew the marked pocket partitions in place, catching both the pocket and mat in the sewing.

Now, all that is left to sew on this sewing machine mat with pocket tutorial is the ribbon. Place the center of the ribbon onto the back of the mat and sew it in place with an “x”.

sewing machine mat completed

Finally, trim your loose ends and enjoy being more organized. And that’s it! Now you know how to make a sewing machine mat with pocket!

Simple Sewing Machine Organizer

If you liked learning how to make a sewing machine mat with pocket, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!

Yield: 1

How To Make A Sewing Machine Mat With Pocket

Sewing Machine Mat Create Card

Keep your sewing area neat and organized with this cute little sewing machine mat. So handy!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Difficulty Moderate
Estimated Cost $20.00

Instructions

  1. Cut out fabric pieces according to the cut list.
  2. Place the mat bottom fabric right-side-down on the worktable, followed by the larger batting piece, then place the mat top fabric right-side-up on top. Pin the edges together. Set aside.
  3. Place the pocket lining fabric right-side-down on the worktable, followed by the smaller batting piece, then place the pocket outside fabric right-side-up on top.
  4. Pin one long side and two of the short edges together just to help you hold it in place for the binding. Then pin a length of binding on the remaining long side. Set aside.
  5. Place one of the shape flex interfacing pieces onto the wrong-side of a thread catcher outside fabric piece. Iron the shape flex interfacing onto the thread catcher outside fabric piece. Repeat with the other shape flex interfacing piece and thread catcher outside fabric piece.
  6. Place the thread catcher lining fabric wrong-side to the shape flex interfacing side of your outside piece and pin a length of binding on one side. Repeat with the second thread catcher piece. Set aside.
  7. Mark a large “x” from corner to corner on the mat fabric top or bottom, then mark a line from side-to-side and top to bottom. These marked locations are where we will quilt the piece in the next step.
  8. With the walking foot installed on your sewing machine, top-stitch along the marked lines of the mat. Set aside.
  9. Top-stitch along the edge of the binding on the pocket. Set aside.
  10. Top-stitch along the edge of the binging on the thread catcher pieces. Set aside.
  11. Align the bottom of the pocket piece along the bottom edge of the mat piece.
  12. Pin the binding along this aligned bottom edge, catching both the pocket and mat in the binding. Continue pinning the binding around the edge of the entire mat, taking care to fold the binding at the corners into a crisp 90-degree angle. Set aside.
  13. Place the two thread catcher pieces lining-side to lining-side with the binding sides aligned. Pin the binding along the two sides and bottom edge, catching both sides of the thread catcher in the binding. Set aside.
  14. Top-stitch along the edge of the binding on the mat and bottom of the pocket. Set aside.
  15. Top-stitch along the edge of the binging on the outside edges of the thread catcher. 
  16. Identify where you want your thread catcher to sit on the organizer. Based on where you want the thread catcher to be, pin the soft length of velcro to the front of your pocket, along the binding.
  17. Measure and mark where you would like your pocket partitions to be located along the front of the organizer.
  18. Pin the stiff length of velcro to the back side (your choice of which side is the back) of the thread catcher. 
  19. Sew the velcro in place, taking care to only sew the piece you want the velcro attached to, not the piece underneath.
  20. Sew the marked pocket partitions in place, catching both the pocket and mat in the sewing.
  21. Place the center of the ribbon onto the back of the mat and sew it in place with an “x”.
  22. Trim your loose ends and enjoy being more organized.

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