How to make a hanging travel pouch

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one pouch, standard size)

• Outer (nylon, water-repellent or Oxford cloth) — about 110 cm wide × 70 cm (43 × 28 in)
• Lining (the same) — about 30 × 55 cm
• Fabric for the ties — about 55 × 8 cm
• An eyelet or D-ring for hanging — 1
• Sewing thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Bags” → “Hanging travel pouch” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the width, the opened length, the pocket depth and the number of rows. Presets cover small, standard and large.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines.
2. Cut the pieces
   One outer and one lining body, pockets to the number of rows, and two ties.
3. Transfer the notches
   Mark the pocket positions on the body and the divider positions on the pockets.

4. Sewing

4-1. Hem the pocket tops

1. Turn the top edge of each pocket under twice, 1 cm each time, and stitch.
2. This edge is rubbed every time something goes in or out, so sew it well.

4-2. Attach the pockets

1. Lay the pockets onto the outer body at the marked positions, working from the bottom up.
2. Stitch the base and both sides of each pocket.
3. A line of stitching at the divider notches makes smaller compartments.
4. Backstitch a triangle at the top of each divider.

4-3. Add the ties and loop

1. Fold both ties in four and topstitch.
2. Stitch one at the top center as a hanging loop.
3. Stitch the other at the side, partway down, to tie the roll.

4-4. Add the lining and finish

1. Place outer and lining right sides together and sew round, leaving 10 cm open at the bottom.
2. Turn through the gap and press.
3. Topstitch all round, closing the gap.

✏️ Backstitch a triangle at the top of every divider seam. That point is pulled sideways each time something goes into the pocket. Plain stitching splits from the top after a few trips.

5. Tips & variations

• Water-repellent fabric: it lives in a bathroom; something that shrugs off water suits.
• Vary the pocket depths: cut pockets of different depths and stack them.
• One clear pocket: a row in vinyl lets you see what is inside.