Years ago when I first started Picklefish Products NZ, there wasn't many options for those of us with kids with extra needs. I had to create my own products and through many trial and errors I came up with varying methods and techniques over the years.
One of those I learnt to do over the years was this Welt Pocket/Opening to allow access to PEG/Mickey sites and also to cover the site up and prevent the PEG being rubbed, or curious fingers pulling on the tubing or Mickey. The tubing could pass out through the hole and be safely and if you add a snap to the welt edges you can close the opening to protect the PEG and secure the tubing. There are many ways you can use this technique to provide an opening. You could use it to modify store brought Bodysuits, Onesies, sweatshirts or whatever you like.
This is a technique I used in the past and it has been successful at providing a robust opening but it will depend on the interfacing used, the fabric and how its used.
You will need the following to create the GTube Welt Opening:
- Iron On Interfacing scraps (medium weight interfacing specifically for knit fabric works best)
- Scraps of knit fabric that coordinates with the fabric of the outfit you will be modifying. (I recommend Cotton Spandex or 100% quilting cotton if you are modifying a non-knit item)
- Pins
- Tailors Chalk or something to mark your fabric (preferably something that will wash off)
- Ruler or Measuring tape.
- Standard Sewing Machine with matching thread.
- Ring Snap and snap press or pliers (optional you don't have to add the snap - you could also sew on a bit of velcro prior to sewing on the strips to help with closure).
From your interfacing scrap cut a rectangle piece about 2cm wider than your measurement above (usually about 18cm long and 8cm wide)
Also cut two strips about 18 cm long by 2cm wide for interfacing your welt strips.
Also cut two strips of your coordinating fabric about 4cm wide by 18cm long. Iron the two interfacing strips you cut above to the wrong side of each of the pieces of fabric.
On the wrong side of your top or Bodysuit iron on the rectangle across the markers you placed.
Draw a line about 16cm long and diamonds each end about 1.5 cm wide.
Fold your two strips in half longways and press with an iron.
on the front (right side) of your top or Bodysuit pin the two pieces of interfaced fabric aligning their centres with the centre mark you originally made. Pin the strips in place.
Stitch the strips into place from 2cm of each end and about 1cm from the raw edge.
Grabbing a stitch ripper, slash a small hole between the two strips of fabric then cut along the marker you made and cut on a diagonal to each end of the stitching making a triangle between the strips. (see photo above)
Pull back the strips and clip diagonally to the end of the stitching to create a little triangle piece between the two ends of the strips.
Push the strips through the hole you made and press them flat.
Make sure that they overlap slightly at the ends with the lower strip as the forward facing strip overlapping the upper strip. Make sure the triangle pieces fold up and back and away from the opening too and are pressed under the strips.
This is how to should look from the right side, as you will see the triangles are out of the way and towards the wrong side. The bottom strip overlaps the upper strip. You can pin the two strips together to hold them in place at this point if you want.
From the right side stitch the outer edges of your Welt 'pocket' hole ensuring the strips lay flat. Use a straight stitch.
Your finished Welt 'pocket' should look like this when finished.
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