Adding Pockets to Dresses ???

Rubber Ducky ↓

Sat, Dec 13 2014, 8:23 pm

I love April Cornell dresses and she finally has one in a winter weight fabric with 3/4 sleeves in a style and color that I know will work for me (yes, with a cropped shell underneath). On sale it's even... almost... affordable... but alas, it has no pockets. Link: http://www.aprilcornell.com/pr...../sale

Except for the dress I wore to my son's wedding, all my dresses have pockets! Are they hard to add? Would pockets ruin the line of the dress? Is this something I can do myself or would I need to hire a seamstress? I piece and quilt well by hand and mend clothes, but modifying a garment may be above my pay grade.

shanie5

Sun, Dec 14 2014, 12:33 am

I agree with amother. I would have a seamstress do it if you havent sewn in pockets before. Placing them, cutting in the right shape....

If you want to do it yourself, practice first on a less expensive item. Or sew 2 pieces of fabric together like the side of a dress, and then try adding a pocket there. If you do well, then do it on the dress.

little_mage

Sun, Dec 14 2014, 5:52 am

From the picture you posted, I can't see the shape of the skirt, which makes me reluctant to recommend adding a pocket. It shouldn't be too hard to add an inseam pocket, but you'll need a fairly loose skirt. In a straight/pencil skirt, a pocket will ruin the line because there won't be enough space between the skirt and your leg, or enough fabric to cover the extra volume once you put something in it. On the other hand, any sort of A-line, flared, gathered or circle skirt would probably work fine, although I do second Shanie5's suggestion of practicing on something else first.
Off topic, but where do you buy your skirts with pockets?

↑ Rubber Ducky

Sun, Dec 14 2014, 11:22 am

Thank you all for your input. I ordered the dress — it has an A-line skirt — and will have a seamstress add the pockets.

Little mage: Try these:
Vermont Country Store: http://www.vermontcountrystore.....ckets
National: http://search.shopnational.com.....ckets
eshakti: http://www.eshakti.com/search/skirt%20pockets

I have ordered dresses and or/jumpers from Vermont Country store and from National. I haven't ordered anything from eshakti but most of their clothes have pockets, and they have diverse styles with a lot of customization options including longer lengths.

greenfire

Sun, Dec 14 2014, 1:15 pm

shape an inside pocket copying a skirt you already have ... cut extra for seam allowance - at the right measurement on the skirt - rip open the seam at the side securing with a simple back & forth stitch so the rest doesn't unravel

then simply sew down each top side of the pocket - to the opposite sides of the seam

alternatively you can cut out a rectangle of a coordinating material [either bought to match or look in the inside of the dress & see if there is some material hanging around] and sew a pocket with a top-stitch in a place that's good for you

tzniutfashion ↓

Thu, Mar 12 2015, 11:50 am

Here are two illustrated tutorials for sewing patch pockets and side inseam pockets.

http://kosherpatterns.com/how-......html

http://kosherpatterns.com/how-......html

When you sew patch pockets you need to find fabric that matches the garment.
You can sew inseam pockets anywhere there is a seam, which you will have to split open (if you are altering a garment) and the shape of the inseam pockets can be anything, even a rectangle.

Mimisinger

Thu, Mar 12 2015, 12:45 pm

The biggest thing that I miss about pants (which I haven't worn in 18 years) is the pockets! That and the lack of stickage in summer Smile

↑ tzniutfashion

Thu, Mar 12 2015, 1:32 pm

You will find pockets mostly in jean skirts sometimes at the wrong places.

Inseam pockets you can easily add if your skirt has side seams.
Patch Pockets you can add anytime as long as they fit nicely to the skirt pattern.
You can design patch pockets to be part of an applique that you can easily apply yourself on a solid color skirt.