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Radiant Home Studio | Sewing Patterns & Surface Design

Radiant Home Studio

April 25, 2014 ·

Skirt Pocket Tutorial: Add Pockets to {Almost} Any Skirt

Sewing· Tutorials

A few weeks ago I made a “Paris Skirt” with front hip pockets. I took photos along the way, but most of them were blurred. I had planned to sew up another one this week but was short about another 1/4 yd. of fabric for the pockets. So instead, I made illustrated instructions for adding pockets to (almost) any skirt! It’s really very easy once you understand the process.

How to Sew Pockets on Almost Any Skirt | With Free Printable Pattern | Radiant Home Studio

(Some links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks!)

I also made a printable pocket pattern in 3 sizes! There’s one for toddlers, one for girls, and one for ladies. Just print out the pages and tape them together, matching the little arrows.

Paris Skirt Pocket Detail | Radiant Home Studio

A simple gathered A-line skirt will work best with these pockets. I used the Paris Skirt Tutorial at Nothing Too Fancy. You could also try Gertie’s Gathered Skirt. Just look for something with a rectangular front and back piece, that is gathered and attached to a waistband.

If you want to add piping, you can make your own or buy some ready-made. Making your own offers more color and pattern options. If you don’t have a piping foot, you can use a zipper foot, or try this neat fusible product that allows you to create piping without any sewing!

Skirt Pocket Pattern and Tutorial | Radiant Home Studio

And here’s the skirt pocket tutorial:

(you can pin this whole image!)

Skirt Pocket Tutorial | Radiant Home Studio

I have a couple of process pictures, just to help you visualize the construction if you’re one of those people that like to see things in 3D. These are near the end of the process.

Skirt Pocket Tutorial | Radiant Home Studio

In this photo, I have already stitched along the pocket curve, turned it right side out, and topstitched. You can see how the pocket piece is folded in half to form the inner part of the pocket and fill in the gap that I cut out in the beginning.

Skirt Pocket Tutorial | Radiant Home Studio

Here I have pinned along the sections that need to be basted together. Basting here helps hold everything in place during the rest of the skirt construction.

Skirt Pocket Tutorial | Radiant Home Studio

After the pocket pieces are added, you can follow the directions to assemble the rest of your skirt. I gathered along the top edge and stitched it to the waistband.

Skirt Pocket Tutorial and Pattern | Radiant Home Studio

And…the finished skirt!

How to Sew Pockets on Almost Any Skirt | With Free Printable Pattern | Radiant Home Studio

Please let me know if you use this tutorial! I’d love to see your finished skirt pockets!

Previous Post: « The Retro Rucksack is here!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. MammaNene says

    April 25, 2014 at 4:02 pm

    Great tutorial and I truly loved your drawn instructions… it’s one of those things I always plan to add to my patterns and tutorials… but I’m too lazy to start… Do you use Illustrator?
    Hugs from Italy,
    MammaNene @ SergerPepper (now following you everywhere)

    • Sara Curtis says

      April 25, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      I use Inkscape…it’s free! And there are tons of tutorials out there. Most of the Illustrator tutorials work for Inkscape too. I’ve spent almost two years learning to use it well, but now I’m really enjoying designing my own fabric too! Thanks!

      • MammaNene says

        May 9, 2014 at 7:29 am

        I use Inkscape a lot me too, from years… I draw posters and flyers for the swimming pool I work in my day-job 😉
        Fun that I’ve never thought using it for my second occupation: patternmaking LOL
        xox

        • Sara Curtis says

          May 9, 2014 at 7:42 am

          You have a day job too!? How do you find the time? I’m home all day with the kids (not that it isn’t busy at home too), and work at nap time. You are a very busy lady 🙂

  2. Preethi says

    May 1, 2014 at 5:06 am

    very detailed tutorial. I’ll use it next time I make my phus phus skirt. My daughter loves pockets. Who doesn’t 🙂

    • Sara Curtis says

      May 1, 2014 at 9:54 am

      Great! Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Crysta says

    May 2, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    Oh pockets in skirts, how I love you… Thanks for the awesome and simple tutorial. Makes me want to run right home and get sewing!

    • Sara Curtis says

      May 3, 2014 at 8:48 am

      Thanks! I’d love to see what you make!

  4. Kathy says

    August 2, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Love the help. I am just starting the pockets but your website on this was super. I had a smaller size and needed to learn how to enlarge it so thank you so much,

    • Sara Curtis says

      August 3, 2014 at 12:40 pm

      You are welcome! Glad it was helpful!

  5. Coeur de freesia says

    October 3, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks a lot for this great tutorial. It seems very simple !

    • Sara Curtis says

      October 4, 2014 at 5:34 pm

      Glad to help!

  6. Carine says

    November 23, 2014 at 8:09 am

    Thanks for this great international tutorial. I’m from France 🙂 I referred to my blog.
    http://auxquatreventsdeleguaa.overblog.com/le-tuto-de-la-petite-jupette

    • Sara Curtis says

      November 23, 2014 at 9:01 am

      Thank you for sharing a link to the tutorial! Your skirt is lovely!

  7. Claire Oliver says

    June 29, 2015 at 7:57 am

    Please tell me about your piping. I’m still a beginner & would love a link to the type of piping technique you used. The other piping techniques make the piping look bigger than yours. Did you use rope with your piping?

    Thanks!

    • Sara Curtis says

      June 29, 2015 at 8:12 am

      Hi Claire,
      The piping I used is flat piping. There is no cord inside the folded fabric. It is just a bias strip, folded in half. It’s very easy to make! I used it on a bag in this post. I think I made it wider on the bag, but you can adjust the width of your bias strip to make it as wide or narrow as you like. Just add it between fabrics in the seam, and make sure it is nice and straight. Then just sew your seam as usual. Hope that helps!

      Sara

  8. Originale says

    September 27, 2016 at 2:44 am

    Hi Sara,

    Thanks for sharing this tutorial .

    I made this pocket with the paris skirt.

    best regards

    • Sara Curtis says

      September 30, 2016 at 1:47 pm

      Awesome! Thanks for letting me know it was helpful!

  9. Tinu says

    October 18, 2016 at 2:20 am

    Wow lovely tutorial. It’s very useful to me! My clients like me adding pockets to their dresses and it’s kind of a chore for me. But here it’s soo simple. Thanks.

    • Sara Curtis says

      October 18, 2016 at 3:27 pm

      You are welcome!

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