How to Sew a Fleece Scarf with a Cell Phone Pocket – Free Sewing Pattern

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sewing pattern for a scarf with a cell phone pocket

Sew a scarf with a cell phone pocket so you won’t need to carry a wallet! This free sewing pattern uses fleece fabric to make the ultimate gift for anyone with a cell phone. It’s perfect for winter walks, sporting events, festivals, sightseeing, Christmas caroling, waiting at the bus stop, or any outdoor fun.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The free Craft Project Bag sewing pattern is included in the blog post below and is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The Optimized for Printing PDF download for $2 is totally optional.

My teenagers immediately loved this scarf – more than anything I’ve sewn in a long time (unfortunately, they don’t see the benefit of having hundreds of quilts)! They were so happy to find that they could still use their phone to text their friends, scroll instagram, and watch videos through the vinyl window.

how to sew a scarf with a camera window

There’s even a vinyl window on the back so you can take pictures too!

If you are new to sewing with vinyl, don’t worry – this is is a very easy project. Check out my post Tips for Sewing on Vinyl.

If you already sew with vinyl all the time, don’t miss my roundup of Free Sewing Patterns with Vinyl.

I used pretty (and durable) size 4.5 zippers for easy sewing and because they have nice big zipper pulls (great for cold hands).

There’s another pocket on the other end of the scarf so you can carry other items too.

fleece scarf with a wallet pocket and cell phone pocket

The second pocket is just the right size for carrying your keys, cash, cards, some lip gloss, and even a face mask. You really won’t need to carry a wallet!

Let’s make Fleece Scarf with a Cell Phone Pocket from my free sewing pattern!

You will need:

  • 3/4 yard of fleece fabric
  • about 6” x 10” of craft vinyl (14-16 gauge recommended, sold in craft stores)
  • 2 handbag zippers, YKK size 4.5 or size 5. The zippers must be at least 6” long after cutting off the ends and the stoppers (not needed for Zippers by the Yard).
  • Pins and Wonderclips
  • a Sewing Stiletto (optional, helpful for sewing zippers)
  • a zipper foot for your sewing machine (unless you have another narrow foot – your 1/4” quilt piecing foot may work.

*You can buy YKK size 4.5 handbag zippers separately or as Zipper by the Yard. I have started using them interchangeably with these pretty size 5 faux metallic nylon zippers that I found on Amazon. Any of these zippers that I linked to will work great. For this project I used the faux metallic nylon zippers and matching pulls. I do not recommend the smaller dressmaking zippers for this project because they are too small.

Cutting

Note: all cutting dimensions are height x width.

cutting layout

From the fleece fabric, cut:

  • 1 rectangle 7 1/2” x 57 3/4” (center back)
  • 1 rectangle 7 1/2” x 56 1/2” (center front)
  • 2 rectangles 7 1/2” x 4 1/2” (front ends)
  • 1 rectangle 7 1/2” x 9” (back phone pocket end)
  • 1 rectangle 7 1/2” x 12 1/2” (back wallet pocket end)
  • 2 rectangles 2 1/2” x 8” (front phone pocket)
  • 2 squares 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” (back phone camera window)
  • 1 rectangle 6” x 8 1/2” (front wallet pocket)
  • 2 rectangles 4 1/2” x 1 1/2” (front phone pocket)
  • 2 rectangles 1 1/4” x 2 1/2” (wallet zipper tabs)
  • 1 rectangle 2” x 8.5” (front wallet pocket)
  • 2 rectangles 2” x 1 1/4” (phone zipper tabs)

From the craft vinyl, cut:

  • 1 rectangle 6 1/2” x 4 1/2”
  • 1 rectangle 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Sewing instructions:

Use a 1/4” seam allowance throughout.

This pattern assumes that your fleece fabric is double sided. If there is a right side and a wrong side to your fleece, place the pieces right sides together before sewing.

Prepare the Zipper Panels

1. If you are using handbag zippers that have ends and stoppers (not Zipper by the Yard), cut off the ends and stoppers and trim the zippers so they are exactly 6”’ long.

2. Clip one set of zipper tab pieces to the ends of each zipper as shown:

  • clip the 2” x 1 1/4” tabs to the ends of one zipper that will make the phone pocket
  • clip the 1 1/4” x 2 1/2” tabs to the ends of the other zipper that will make the wallet pocket

3. Sew the tabs to the zipper ends with a 1/4” seam allowance. All of the zippers that I have suggested are nylon zippers, so you don’t need to take any special precautions to sew over them, although you should go slowly.

Repeat to sew all 4 tabs to the zipper ends.

4. Finger-press each tab away from the zipper and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

Repeat for both zippers.

5. We’ll call these pieces the ‘zipper panels.’

Trim the ends of the phone pocket zipper panel (the shorter one) so that it measures 1 1/4” tall x 7 1/2” wide.

Trim the ends of the wallet pocket zipper panel (the slightly longer one) so that it measures 1 1/4” tall x 8 1/2” wide.

Set the zipper panels aside for now.

Make the Phone Pocket Front

1. Clip the 4 1/2” x 1 1/2” fleece pieces to the ends of the 6 1/2” x 4 1/2” vinyl piece.

2. Attach both ends by sewing with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Tip: I found it easiest to sew with the fleece on top and the vinyl against the bed of my sewing machine. If the vinyl sticks to your sewing machine, you may turn it over and sew with the vinyl on top.

3. Finger press each side open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

4. Clip one of the 2 1/2” x 8” fabric pieces against the long edge of the vinyl. It’s okay if it doesn’t line up exactly – just center it along the edge.

Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Repeat to attach the remaining 2 1/2” x 8” fabric piece to the other side of the vinyl window.

5. Trim this piece to a 7 1/2” square. Try to keep the vinyl window in the center.

6. Clip the zipper panel for the phone pocket to one side of the window piece. Note the horizontal orientation of the window.

7. Stitch the zipper panel to the window piece with a 1/4” seam allowance. Unless you have a narrow sewing machine foot attached, you may need to switch to a zipper foot.

Move the zipper pull out of the way as you work so you can have a nice straight seam.

8. Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the zipper.

9. Pin or clip a 7 1/2” x 4 1/2” end piece to the opposite side of the phone pocket. Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Finger press the seam open. Topstitch 1/8” away from the seam on the end piece.

10. Place the phone pocket piece face down against one end of the long 7 1/2” x 56 1/2” center front piece. Clip in place.

Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

Make the Wallet Pocket Front

1. Sew the 2” x 8 1/2” rectangle to the top edge of the wallet zipper panel with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

2. Sew the 6” x 8 1/2” rectangle to the bottom edge of the wallet zipper panel with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

3. Trim the wallet pocket piece to 7 1/2” tall x 8 1/2” wide, as shown.

3. Pin and sew the remaining 7 1/2” x 4 1/2” end piece to the left side of the wallet pocket piece. Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the end piece about 1/8” away from the seam.

4. Place the wallet pocket piece face down against the free end of the 7 1/2” x 56 1/2” center front piece (opposite the phone pocket). Pin in place.

Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

5. Finger press the seam open and topstitch with a 1/8” seam allowance.

The front side of your scarf is done!

Make the Camera Window for the Back of the Scarf

1. Clip a 2 1/2” fleece fabric square to the side of the 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” vinyl piece. Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Sew the remaining 2 1/2” fabric square to the opposite side of the vinyl piece.

2. Finger press the seams open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

Trim this piece so that it is 2 1/2” x 7 1/2”.

3. Place the phone camera window face down against one end of the 7 1/2” x 9” back phone pocket end piece. Use clips to hold it in place.

Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance. Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

4. Turn the piece over and place it face down against one end of the 7 1/2” x 57 3/4” center back piece. Use clips to hold it in place.

Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance. Finger press the seam open and topstitch on the fabric about 1/8” away from the seam.

5. Sew the 7 1/2” x 12 1/2” back wallet pocket end piece to the free end of the scarf center back piece, right sides together. Finger press the seam and topstich as before.

The back of your scarf is done!

Sew the Scarf Front and Back Together

1. Place the front and back pieces of the scarf right sides together. The phone camera window on the back should line up with the top of the phone pocket window on the front.

Use lots of pins to pin the two scarf pieces all the way around.

2. The next step is to sew all the way around the scarf with a 1/4” seam allowance, leaving a 5” opening at one short end.

Start by sewing at one short end about 1” away from the corner. Make sure to backstitch and then begin sewing around the scarf. Pivot at the corner with your needle down.

3. When you get back to the short end where you started, sew for about 1” past the corner and then backstitch.

4. Trim away the extra fabric at the corners without cutting the stitching.

5. Turn the scarf right side out through the opening. Use a chopstick or point turner to gently press out all of the corners.

Carefully press the scarf flat with a warm iron. Turn the edges at the opening to the inside and press.

Do not let the iron touch the vinyl!

Topstitch the Scarf to Finish

1. Pin the opening closed.

Line up the seams (on the front and back of the scarf) above the pockets and pin them together. Also place pins along the seams below the pockets.

2. Topstitch along the open edge of the scarf about 1/8” from the edge.

Then pivot and continue to topstitch all the way around the scarf.

3. Stitch in the ditch in the pinned seams below both pockets (at the scarf ends). Remove the pins as you go.

4. Stitch in the ditch in the seam above the wallet pocket, removing the pins as you go.

5. Instead of stitching in the ditch, stitch in a straight line about 1/2” above the zipper for the phone pocket. This will make it easier to insert your phone, plus it mirrors the topstitching that is 1/2” below the zipper.

If you wish, you may use a ruler and fabric marking pen to mark this line before you sew.

If the intended user has a regular size phone (not one of the ‘plus’ size phones), you may wish to make the phone pocket narrower.

To do this, pin the sides of the phone pocket together and stitch parallel lines on the fabric. Each line should start at the corner of the zipper and extend down halfway in between the window and the side of the scarf. End and backstitch neatly at the bottom of the pocket.

Scarf with a cell phone pocket

I hope my free sewing pattern for a scarf with a cell phone pocket helps you and your loved ones stay warm this winter!

If you make one, I’d love to see it. Post a picture to Instagram and tag me @sewcanshe or #sewcanshe so I can take a look!

Happy sewing,

The post How to Sew a Fleece Scarf with a Cell Phone Pocket – Free Sewing Pattern appeared first on SewCanShe Free Sewing Patterns for Beginners.

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