If you've got a pile of stained or ripped clothing you can't donate — old jeans with blown-out knees, a shirt with a stubborn mark that won't come out — this short show-and-tell might be exactly what you need. I had a pair of my son's pants and a beautiful white shirt, both beyond saving for their original purpose, and I started thinking about the pockets. What followed turned into one of my favourite little upcycling projects: denim and fabric pockets sewn or glued onto cardstock, becoming journal covers, pen holders, tag pockets, and desk organisers.
What we cover
This is a show-and-tell of several finished pieces made from cut-out clothing pockets — a pocket-covered journal, a floating pen and brush holder, and a few individual pocket cards — plus a look at how I attached them to cardstock using a sewing machine (and why glue works just as well if you prefer).
What you'll learn
How to turn a clothing pocket into a journal cover element — by cutting the pocket from the garment and sewing or gluing it directly onto cardstock, so it becomes a functional part of the cover. I used a jeans pocket with a button, which made it especially satisfying to tuck things into.
How to make a floating pocket pen and brush holder — the same basic construction as the journal cover piece, but left unattached so you can carry it, hang it on a wall with a thumbtack, or tuck it into a project bag. The finished piece looks like an oversized tag with a pocket, and it works beautifully for paint brushes, pens, or anything slim.
Why cardstock at 216 gsm works as a base, including:
- Most standard clothing pockets fit the sheet without cutting
- The weight holds the pocket firmly without buckling
- It gives the piece enough body to sit upright in a cup or hang on a board
How to layer a pocket on a pocket — if the original pocket is plain or worn-looking, you can glue a second decorative pocket directly onto it. I used a technique from one of my earlier videos on making paper pockets for this, and it transformed a plain white denim pocket into something I actually wanted to look at.
How to work around bulky hardware when sewing — rivets, buttons, and metal closures on jeans pockets create awkward lumps near the needle path. I didn't switch to a zipper foot; I just slowed down and worked carefully around each one. It's not technically correct sewing, but it holds and it gets the job done.
How to hide the back stitching — when you sew a pocket onto cardstock, the reverse side shows the stitching. If that bothers you, a piece of scrapbook paper glued over the back covers it completely. If it doesn't bother you (it doesn't bother me most of the time), leave it — it has its own honest, handmade look.
Thinking about pockets in journals vs. floating pieces — I tried a pocket glued to a journal cover and found that items sitting inside it got in the way when I opened the journal to write. For that reason I left several of my pocket pieces as separate floating cards rather than committing them to a cover. Worth considering before you glue anything down permanently.
Tips & gotchas
If sewing isn't your thing, don't let it stop you — a good dollop of glue holds a fabric pocket to cardstock perfectly well. The sewing gives a slightly cleaner edge and a more finished look, but the result is functionally the same either way.
When you do sew, watch out for the hardware. Buttons, rivets, and metal studs on denim pockets sit higher than the surrounding fabric, and the presser foot can catch on them. I didn't change my foot and managed fine by going slowly, but if you're comfortable swapping in a zipper foot, it gives you a bit more clearance near those lumps.
If the back stitching bothers you, a single piece of scrapbook paper glued over the reverse hides it completely. You can even use patterned paper that coordinates with your pocket for a more intentional look.
Pockets on journal covers create bulk. Anything sitting inside them — tags, pens, cards — sticks out and can press into the pages when the journal is closed, or get in the way when you open it flat to write. I ended up preferring the pocket pieces as separate floating items I can pick up and use independently, rather than as permanent cover features.
For sizing the cardstock base: 216 gsm craft cardstock worked perfectly for almost all my pockets without any trimming. I only had to adjust for one larger pocket. If you have a stack of this weight lying around, it's a natural fit for this project.
One thing I found worth remembering: when you're cutting up a pair of old jeans or trousers, the whole garment is usable, not just the pockets. I made some of the interior journal pages from other parts of the same pair of pants, and the whole journal has a cohesion to it that I really love — same fabric, same fading, same history.
I haven't done it yet, but it's the project sitting at the back of my mind every time I look at a pile of clothes that can't be donated.
