We have another new sewing pattern for you and it’s one that you will be making over and over again! Consider yourself warned! It only uses a little bit of fabric and sews up quickly.
There are so many great uses for this pattern! It is perfect for school supplies with a calculator in the larger pocket. The large pocket also fits a glasses case. If you are taking crafts on the go, River can hold crochet hooks, paintbrushes, or embroidery supplies.
It also works on a car visor to hold those things that always seem to get lost like sunglasses, chapstick, pens, etc. You can move the elastic or double it up if you prefer, depending on the visor.
Let’s talk fabric. Quilting cotton is fine for this project but you will definitely need to interface for a bit more structure. Canvas and denim are good choices as well. Corduroy adds a lovely texture. Vinyl and leather create a sturdy pouch but it is more difficult to get sharp corners. Knit fabrics must be interfaced, like this River by Randi with cotton lycra yardstick accent fabric.
This is also a great pattern to use as an upcycle! It only takes small pieces of fabric and repurposing is one way to get different types of fabric. Annie used old denim jeans, Carol used a Kantha quilt, and Diane used BDUs.
Now, a bit about the notions… This pattern was designed for #3 zippers but you can also use a #5 zipper. Just trim 1/8″ from the upper and lower front pieces to account for the extra width. You can also use different elastic widths as long as it is still centered on the tab and the top and aligns similarly on the bottom. It is also important to test out your elastic before attaching to get an idea of how tight it will fit. Elastics vary in stretch so the desired length may vary. You would also want a longer elastic for a binder or laptop than a book or tablet.
We also designed this with the intention of being able to use the Love Letters Embroidery on the pocket! Our testers also found some other creative ways to use the embroidery designs!
If you are looking for a faster way to add an extra touch, why not add a label? We have partnered with Shine Bright Label Co for this pattern release and you can get a special River Pouch bundle, available in Galaxy and Checkers. Here are some of the ways that our testers used their labels and zipper tape:
River is also an excellent option for a handmade gift! Just add a book or journal and a nice pen. Fill it with colored pencils and wrap it around a coloring book. The pocket can even hold a gift card!
We would love to see your River pouches so make sure to share in the Sofiona Sewing Group and/or tag us on Instagram.
I am Mami de Sofiona 
I’m pleased to discover your blog! This looks like a fun pattern to sew for a gift. Does the phone pouch fit larger phones, like the IPhone 15?
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Hi there! The lines creating the pencil slots and main cell phone area can be sewn however you like! We tested making the cell pocket larger and having just one pencil slot. We still were able to fit 2 pens in the single slot. So feel free to test out what you need.
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