How to Add Pockets to Anything!

7 Materials
$2
30 Minutes
Easy


We all know there’s a dearth of pockets in women’s fashion. But we can change that with this simple method for how to add pockets to anything! Today, I’m going to show you how to add pockets to a dress, but this technique can easily be used for almost any kind of clothing that is missing this coveted feature.

Tools and materials:

  • Pocketless item of clothes
  • Fabric
  • Paper
  • Marker
  • Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
How to add pockets to a dress


How to add pockets to pants

Create a pocket pattern

Draw a pocket pattern on paper, using the measurements above, and drawing the curved part of the pocket around your hand. You can watch me do this in the video from 0:27-0:42.

Add pockets to pants

Cut

Use your pattern to cut two pieces of your chosen fabric. 

How to add pockets to a skirt

Finish edges and iron

Finish the edges of the fabric with a serger or a zigzag stitch, and then iron the fabric flat. 

How to add pockets to anything

Pin and sew

Pin the center of the pocket pattern in place, and sew a narrow rectangle in the center of the pocket pattern, leaving ½ an inch of seam allowance along the top and bottom edges of the pocket opening. 

Cut

Cut a slit down the center of the stitching, through both the pocket and the fabric of the clothing. 

Push through

Push the pocket fabric through the slit. 

Finish edges

Finish the edges around the pocket opening.

Sew

Sew the edges of the pocket closed. 

I used this method to add pockets to this sweater dress. I also turned it into a duster by cutting it down the center and using fabric tape to finish the edges. 


I hope this tutorial was helpful. Let me know which clothing in your closet is going to get upgraded with pockets!


 

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Paper
  • Marker
See all materials

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