Adding pockets to a skirt transforms a simple garment into a functional and versatile item. This alteration enhances the versatility of any skirt, providing practical space for carrying small essentials. It offers a personalized touch, making clothing more adaptable to daily needs.
Pocket Styles and Essential Supplies
Two prevalent pocket styles suitable for skirts are inseam pockets and patch pockets. Inseam pockets are discreetly integrated into a garment’s side seam, making them nearly invisible from the exterior. Patch pockets, conversely, are sewn directly onto the outside of the skirt fabric, creating a visible and often decorative element. These two types offer distinct aesthetic and functional qualities.
To add pockets, several tools and materials are needed. You will require fabric for the pockets, which can either match the skirt or provide a contrasting accent. Matching thread ensures a cohesive look, while a sewing machine handles the stitching. Essential notions include pins, sharp scissors, a measuring tape, and a seam ripper. An iron is also useful for pressing seams, which contributes to a professional finish.
Preparing for Pocket Integration
Begin by selecting the optimal placement for your pockets. Hold the skirt fabric against your body and mark where your hand naturally rests for comfort and accessibility. For inseam pockets, the top of the pocket often aligns with the hip bone, or approximately 4-5 inches down from the waistband, depending on the skirt’s design and your preference. Mark these positions on both the front and back skirt panels, ensuring symmetry.
Next, accurately cut your pocket pieces. For inseam pockets, you will typically need four identical pieces, forming two mirrored pairs for each side of the skirt. You can use a pre-made pocket pattern or create your own by tracing around your hand on paper, adding a seam allowance of about 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch around the perimeter, and ensuring one edge remains straight for attachment to the side seam.
Before attaching the pocket pieces, finish the raw edges of each pocket piece using a serger or a zigzag stitch on a standard sewing machine. This prevents fraying and contributes to the longevity and neatness of the pocket’s interior.
Sewing Your Pockets Step-by-Step
Begin by taking one skirt panel and aligning one pocket piece with its straight edge along the side seam, right sides of the fabric facing each other. Pin the pocket piece securely in place, ensuring the top of the pocket aligns with your pre-marked placement point. Stitch the pocket piece to the skirt panel along this straight edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, remembering to backstitch at the beginning and end for reinforcement. Repeat this process for all four pocket pieces, attaching one to each side seam of the front and back skirt panels.
Once all pocket pieces are sewn to their respective skirt panels, press the seam allowance towards the pocket itself. An understitch, a line of stitching sewn close to the seam line through the pocket and the pressed seam allowance, prevents the pocket lining from rolling to the outside of the garment. This technique keeps inseam pockets hidden and tidy.
Next, place the front and back skirt panels together with right sides facing, aligning the side seams and the attached pocket pieces. Pin along the entire side seam, carefully matching the pocket edges. When stitching this seam, begin at the top of the skirt, sew down to the point where the pocket begins, pivot your fabric with the needle down, and sew around the curved edge of the pocket. Continue stitching until you reach the end of the pocket curve, pivot again, and then sew down the remainder of the skirt’s side seam to the hem. This creates the pocket bag while simultaneously joining the skirt panels.
After stitching, trim any excess fabric from the seam allowances, especially around the curves of the pocket. Clip into the curves without cutting through the stitches to allow the fabric to lie smoothly. Press the entire side seam and pocket assembly thoroughly. For a clean finish, you can serge or zigzag stitch the raw edges of the joined side seam and pocket to prevent fraying.
Refining Your New Pockets
After the pockets are sewn, a few finishing touches ensure they are both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Thoroughly pressing all seams and the pocket bags helps them lie flat inside the garment, creating a smooth exterior appearance. For patch pockets, topstitching around the perimeter secures the pocket edges and adds a decorative element, reinforcing its attachment.
Reinforcement at stress points, particularly the upper corners of patch pockets or the top and bottom of inseam pocket openings, enhances durability. A small triangle of stitching or a few extra backstitches at these points can prevent tears from regular use. Finally, test the pockets by placing your hands inside to check for comfort and functionality. Minor adjustments, such as pressing again, can resolve subtle issues, ensuring your newly added pockets are a practical and well-integrated feature of your skirt.