The "Hoodini" Hood Pocket

Transform your ordinary hoodie into a clever storage solution with this hidden hood pocket design! This project creates a discrete, secure pocket within your hood using everyday materials. The vinyl reinforcement ensures durability while maintaining the hood's natural shape, and the velcro closure system keeps your items safely stored.

1 hoodie (pre-owned is fine)

1 dish towel

12" x 12" sheet of vinyl

Scissors

Sewing machine

Thread

Velcro

Measuring tape or ruler

Time Required

1-2 hours

Difficulty Level

Intermediate

To begin your hidden pocket project, gather all your materials and find a clean, flat workspace. The first task is to prepare your fabric pieces. Take your dish towel and cut it into two distinct pieces with one twice the length of the other. The exact dimensions aren't specified because this design is meant to be customizable to your storage needs. Next, turn your attention to the vinyl sheet. You'll need to cut two rectangles from it: the first should be slightly smaller in both length and width than your larger cloth piece, while the second should be slightly smaller than the length of both cloth pieces when stacked together, with a slightly narrower width. Finally, cut six equal-sized squares from your velcro strip. Take your time with these cuts, as precise measurements at this stage will ensure a more professional final product. Please see images above to help guide your cuts.

With your materials prepared, you'll begin by installing the foundation of your pocket system. Take the longer vinyl piece and position it carefully in the middle of your hood's interior. Using your sewing machine, create a square stitching pattern around the vinyl's perimeter, staying close to the edges. This vinyl base is crucial as it will help maintain the hood's shape and prevent any stored items from poking through the fabric. Make sure your stitches are secure and even as this is the foundation of your entire pocket system. Please take your time to ensure it's properly attached. Please see images above to help guide your stitching. The red lines represent where you should make your stitches.

Now it's time to create the layered structure of your pocket. Begin by taking the smaller vinyl piece and attaching it to the inside of the larger cloth piece. Center the vinyl carefully and stitch around its edges in a square pattern. This reinforcement will provide structure to your pocket while maintaining flexibility. Next, attach three of your velcro squares to the upper halves of both cloth pieces. When sewing the velcro, use two horizontal stitch lines for each square to ensure they're securely fastened. The placement of these velcro pieces is crucial and they need to align perfectly when the pocket is assembled, so take extra care with their positioning. Please see images above to help guide your stitching. The red lines represent where you should make your stitches.

Now we'll begin the assembly process with the shorter cloth piece, which will form the upper section of your pocket. Take this piece and position it on the hoodie, starting just above the vinyl square you installed earlier. The velcro should be facing toward the vinyl and closer to the collar of the hood. Create an inverted U-shaped stitching pattern, but be sure to stop your stitching just before you reach the velcro sections. This strategic pause in stitching is essential as it allows this section to swing open freely, creating the accessible top portion of your pocket. Take extra care to ensure your stitching is strong and even, as this piece will be frequently moved when accessing the pocket. Please see images above to help guide your stitching. The red lines represent where you should make your stitches.

With the upper section secured, it's time to attach the larger cloth piece that forms the main pocket compartment. Position this piece below the smaller square you just attached. The velcro on this piece should be facing outward, and the side it's attached to should be positioned away from the collar. Ensure that the upper section of velcro on the smaller cloth aligns perfectly with the velcro on this larger piece when they come together. Once you're confident in the alignment, create a right-side-up U-shaped stitching pattern. Unlike the upper piece, you'll want to stitch all the way to the edges of the cloth, creating a secure pocket base that won't gap open at the sides. Please see images above to help guide your stitching. The red lines represent where you should make your stitches.

The final step of construction is simple but important. Carefully trim any excess fabric with your scissors ensuring clean edges while being careful not to cut too close to your stitching. Take a moment to test your pocket's functionality, checking that the velcro aligns properly and creates a secure closure.

Looking back on this project, several valuable lessons emerged about both practical skills and design thinking. The interaction between different materials proved to be very interesting; the vinyl provides essential structure while maintaining flexibility, and the dish towel offers both durability and comfort. The two-layer system with velcro closure demonstrates the importance of user-friendly design, creating a pocket that's both secure and accessible. Throughout the construction process, challenges arose, particularly in ensuring proper alignment of the velcro pieces and determining optimal stitching patterns. These obstacles required creative problem-solving and careful attention to detail. By designing this pocket without specific dimensions, we've created a template that makers can adapt to their needs, encouraging creativity and personalization.

Tips for Success

For best results, consider pre-washing your dish towel to prevent future shrinkage. Use a heavy-duty needle when sewing through multiple layers, and always test your velcro placement before permanent attachment. Think about the weight and size of items you plan to store when choosing your dimensions.

Safety Considerations

Always exercise caution when using scissors and sewing machines. Keep your fingers away from the needle while sewing, ensure you have proper lighting while working, and remember not to store sharp objects in the completed pocket.

This project transforms an ordinary hoodie into a practical storage solution while maintaining its original appearance. The hidden pocket design offers discrete storage without compromising the garment's comfort or style.