HCDE 451: Sewing a pouch

Rachel Wallace
Nov 4 · 2 min read

This week, I was challenged to sew a pouch with an enclosure mechanism. Since I had never sewn before, I was both nervous and excited. I had always wanted to learn, but I didn’t know any of the techniques or how to use the machine. To start the process, I sketched out an idea.

Sketching

Since it was my first time sewing, I wanted to keep my design as simple as possible. I sketched out a rectangle, with stitching lines a half inch from all the edges. This became my guide. I then created a template to trace to make sure my pieces were even and I would have an easy guideline to follow when sewing.

First Prototype

My first draft of the pouch was a quick-and-dirty style sewing job. I followed the rectangular stitching lines, then flipped it inside out. The style got the job done, but there were raw edges that made the piece look unfinished and messy.

2nd Draft

From here, with the basics of using the machine down, I wanted to create a cleaner pouch with finished edges. I looked online for sewing tips, and consulted a friend who has sewn many times before. She helped me understand where to fold and sew, and in what order. This was extremely helpful because as a first time sewer it was hard to visualize the best way to go about it. With her help, I followed my same pattern, but took extra time to fold in the edges for a cleaner look. She gave me tips on how to sew the velcro on as well, and although it was simple, I was happy with the finished product.

Reflection

For my first time sewing I was really happy with how this pouch turned out. I ended up sticking with muslin for my final prototype, but if I was to do this again I’d definitely want to experiment with a thicker and nicer type of fabric. Additionally I would be very interested in learning to sew straps onto the bag as well.

Rachel Wallace

Written by

Senior at the University of Washington studying Human-Centered Design & Engineering || Aspiring UX Designer

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