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The Figurative Pocket

"The word 'pocket' also can refer to many things in life besides what is mentioned above. As a part of speech, it has found its way into almost every aspect of modern life, referring to objects that are smaller than normal (pocket-sized) such as the 'pocket mouse' and 'pocket gopher' - two distinct species of rodents with large external cheek pouches (these are common in the Americas).

In the financial area, there are many terms that make good use of 'pocket', such as 'pocket money' and 'to touch the pocket'. Also, 'pocket piece' is a piece of money kept in the pocket and not spent.

In politics, a 'pocket borough' is a borough with very few voters. Before the parliamentary reform in 1832, it was a small borough controlled by a single family or person. As well, a 'pocket sheriff' is a sheriff appointed by the sole authority of the crown, without a nomination by the judges in the exchequer.

In other areas of life: a 'pocket pistol' is not a firearm, but a flask of whisky carried just in case no drink is available on a journey. In addition, the popular video game series Pokemon is derived from the words 'pocket monster'. In mining, a 'pocket' is a rich deposit of ore found in a cavity in rock. In sailing, a 'pocket' is a strip of cloth sewn onto a sail through which a spar or batten can be inserted. In billiards, it is the pouch into which the balls are driven."

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To begin with, the definition of the word 'pocket' states that it is 'a small baglike attachment'. The reason for this particular definition is that the pocket was not originally sewn into garments as it is today. In fact, the first pockets were actually small pouches that hung from the belt where one could carry valuables and coins. The word itself comes from the Anglo-Norman word pokete and traces its roots to the Germanic root word 'bag', which is like the Old English word pocca. Therefore, the definition makes sense. 'Purse' and 'pocket', incidentally, have the same root word, only one is plural and the other singular.

In addition and worthy of note is the Scottish sporran, which is that nifty purse worn at the front of the kilt in traditional wear. The word sporran itself comes from the old Irish word sparán, which traces its roots back to the Latin word bursa, or 'purse'.

The First Interior Pockets

Since the pocket was on the outside of one's clothing, it was unfortunately subject to thieves or, more appropriately, cut-purses. More cautious people realised that if they kept their purses inside their trousers¹, it would deter the pickpockets by making the theft more difficult.

But, there came a realisation: Although keeping one's pouch inside of one's clothes made it more difficult for thieves to get at the pouch, it also made it more difficult for the owner of the purse to get at the contents! And as the point of the purse in the first place was to make it easy to carry one's money, making it impossible to get at without embarrassment was not the greatest of solutions. Imagine, there you are, in the common market, and you want to buy yourself an apple. In order to buy it you must drop your trousers and expose your buttocks to the entire marketplace! (Note: In that day and age, not only did people not have interior pockets, but they also did not wear undergarments!)

The next step in the evolution of the pocket was what most people see them as today: a simple slit in the clothing. A slit cut into the side of your trousers (or by that time your skirt as well, as women have never been known for dropping their skirts in the marketplace... much) would enable you to reach into your purse with ease, while others would find it difficult to reach in without your knowledge and acquiescence. This development of the clothes slit caused a revolution in the shape and the angle of the opening in the purse, and it was around that time that they began to be called pockets.

The pocket flattened out, and became two pieces of cloth, one solid (the one at the back) and the other shaped almost like a 'U'. The pocket was also attached to its own belt, usually cloth at this time, and was often elaborately embroidered and decorated. You can still see some of these beautiful works of pocket artistry in museums that are dedicated to original period costumes.

However, if history had been left to the rich and carefree who had time to make and elaborate on the undergarment pocket, then our pocket history might have ended there. In many ways, that would have been a prettier solution. Imagine, pocket factories, we'd have them made out of all sorts of materials; after all, they were often right up next to the skin. Angora pockets, velour pockets, pockets made of polar fleece with silken tassels on the bottoms, etc...

The Modern Pocket

Looking to the modern pocket, we must go back to the trousers again. We are now in the late 1700s. Let's say it's 1784 before some poor soul gets sick and tired of having to remember to tie his pocket on every day before he gets dressed. Most likely, you know a person like this. This is a person who has problems remembering to put his trousers on before his shoes, let alone remembering to tie his pocket on before his trousers.

Yet, absent minded as he is, he is no dunce. Therefore, in a fit of pique, he asks his wife to sew the pocket right to his trousers so he will never forget it again. And suddenly, there you have it. The pocket. The real, true, ultimate pocket. The friendly pocket you and I know and love that has been our most intimate friend since childhood... warming cold hands or holding fluff, bits of string and useless notes from friends long past and best forgotten.

The pocket has gone through many changes since that fateful day. People have placed pockets in other places than the waist: on the knee, on the thigh, and at the chest (the infamous 'breast pocket'). People have even returned to the practice of inside pockets, again requiring people to pull down their trousers and moon the supermarket in order to get at their cash (though, thankfully, that is very rare).

Types and Uses of Modern Pockets

The modern pocket is a tool with various uses and styles, and it can be found in almost every article of men's and women's casual attire in a variety of forms. Here are just a few examples:

Watch-pocket - Essential for keeping a gentleman's pocket watch. Often found on the man's vest or even on his trousers. The watch had a chain or a fob, to prevent it from being lost, and this pocket sometimes could be called the 'fob pocket'.

Breast pocket - Located on the outer left-hand side of a gentleman's jacket, it must contain nothing more than a pocket-handkerchief and is for display only.

Inner breast pocket - Found on the inside of the jacket. It's normal to have two of them, for carrying a wallet or pen, or legal papers such as a passport.

Ticket pocket - This is a small pocket inside the right-hand waist pocket on a jacket and was used in previous times for carrying small cardboard rail tickets. These days, it might be used to store your business cards or other light items (such as a lucky coin).

Coin pocket - This is a small pocket inside the right-hand hip pocket on a pair of jeans. It's a rather tight fit, but its design is quite effective at keeping your loose coins from rattling around.

Cargo pockets - These pockets appear commonly on trendy jeans and cargo pants as a large pocket on the thigh, usually with snap-flaps or Velcro flaps, and accordion folds in the sides for increased capacity. It's believed these first appeared on battledress uniforms.

There are various other pockets of note, such as hip pockets, thigh pockets, etc. Other pockets with specific uses include a mobile pocket on a woman's purse for carrying a mobile phone (which are often unsightly-looking afterthoughts of pockets, carelessly sewn on the outside of the purse) and the unusual 'mitten pocket' found on some woolen scarves, for storage of the matching mittens.

The Figurative Pocket

The word 'pocket' also can refer to many things in life besides what is mentioned above. As a part of speech, it has found its way into almost every aspect of modern life, referring to objects that are smaller than normal (pocket-sized) such as the 'pocket mouse' and 'pocket gopher' - two distinct species of rodents with large external cheek pouches (these are common in the Americas).

In the financial area, there are many terms that make good use of 'pocket', such as 'pocket money' and 'to touch the pocket'. Also, 'pocket piece' is a piece of money kept in the pocket and not spent.

In politics, a 'pocket borough' is a borough with very few voters. Before the parliamentary reform in 1832, it was a small borough controlled by a single family or person. As well, a 'pocket sheriff' is a sheriff appointed by the sole authority of the crown, without a nomination by the judges in the exchequer.

In other areas of life: a 'pocket pistol' is not a firearm, but a flask of whisky carried just in case no drink is available on a journey. In addition, the popular video game series Pokemon is derived from the words 'pocket monster'. In mining, a 'pocket' is a rich deposit of ore found in a cavity in rock. In sailing, a 'pocket' is a strip of cloth sewn onto a sail through which a spar or batten can be inserted. In billiards, it is the pouch into which the balls are driven.

And so, for all of you who thought you knew all about the pocket... think again. It is an elusive creature, hiding deep in the folds of the clothing of time, and it is clear that it still has a long way to go to make itself useful and accessible to all. Now you know.

You may also be interested to read about the history of the handbag.

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h2g2 - A Very Brief History of the Pocket - Edited Entry

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To begin with, the definition of the word 'pocket' states that it is 'a small baglike attachment'. The reason for this particular definition is that the pocket was not originally sewn into garments as it is today. In fact, the first pockets were actually small pouches that hung from the belt where one could carry valuables and coins.

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"Women's clothes didn't really have internal pockets for most of history, even while men's started appearing in the late 1600's

The frustrations and limitation of women's access to money and ownership of property were neatly mirrored in the restricted scope of their pockets."

https://mic.com/articles/133948/the-weird-complicated-sexist-history-of-pockets#.PSQSDF0Qb (a quite badly written text but makes some important points)

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Jetted Pockets. The first jacket pockets were sewn inside the lining or seams of garments, and are called “jetted” pockets. In their simplest form, they consist of little more than a slit; if you look at the left breast of your suit jacket, you’ll likely see an example. Jetted pockets can also have flaps, and this is what you’ll probably see on the bottom hip pockets of your jacket. These flaps came into vogue at the beginning of the 20th century and were originally designed to protect the contents of the inner pouch from falling out and from getting wet with rain. When you went inside, and the flap was no longer in use, you tucked it into your pocket; this tradition is of course no longer practiced, and the flap is kept perennially outside the jacket. Suits that are the most formal, especially tuxedos, do away with flap pockets altogether to give the piece a more streamlined look.

Ticket Pockets. Sitting above the right hip pocket, and about half the size, its purpose is easily guessed: it held a gentleman’s train ticket when he traveled by rail. In the 20th century it became known as a change or cash pocket, and it communicated that your suit had been custom tailored. Still today, few off-the-rack suits come with a ticket pocket, and they often must be specially ordered.

Patch Pockets. When gents of the 19th century desired additional pockets for storing their odds and ends while out in the countryside, tailors began adding patch pockets to their sports coats. A patch pocket consists of a piece of fabric sewn to the outside of a garment, forming one side of the pocket, with the other side formed by the material of the garment itself.

Patch pockets can have pleats that expand their capacity and flaps to protect their contents. The sporting men of yesteryear used them for storing provisions, cartridges, and various other supplies when hunting, shooting, riding horses, cycling, and playing golf and polo.

Because they added an extra layer of fabric to a garment, patch pockets were considered the least formal kind of pocket, and still today are generally considered only appropriate for sport coats, rather than blazers or suit jackets.

Rich x
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/05/20/a-mans-pockets/

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„Pocket” comes from the Old Northern French “poque” meaning a bag. In the 19th century in a dictionary it would define “a small pouch or bag attached to or inserted in a garment.” The original pockets were separate bags, not sewn-in but detached from clothing. In the 17th century theft became a problem which led pockets to be installed rather inside the clothing or attached to it.

Source: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/05/20/a-mans-pockets/

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"A pocket was a handy place to keep everyday implements, such as a pincushion, thimble, pencil case, knife and scissors. Other useful things found in pockets were keys, spectacles, a watch and pocket books."

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Wearing pockets

From the 17th century to the late 19th century, most women had at least one pair of pockets, which served a similar purpose as a handbag does today. There are no pockets visible on this woman's ensemble of 1760. They were usually worn underneath their petticoats.

Men didn't wear separate pockets, as theirs were sewn into the linings of their coats, waistcoats and breeches.

Images of Lady Clapham, a doll dressed in the clothes of the 1690s, show her pocket in relation to her underwear and outer clothing. Underneath her petticoat (skirt) she wears two layers of undergarments - a shift then an under-petticoat. She ties her pocket round her waist, in between her under-petticoat and petticoat.

How did you get your hand into your pockets?

With all those layers on top, how did you get your hand into your pockets? Petticoats had openings in the side seams so a woman could put her hands through and reach her pocket. The pocket was invisible but accessible.

What did people keep in their pockets?

There were no mobile phones, car keys or credit cards in the 18th century. Nevertheless, women kept a wide variety of objects in their pockets. In the days when people often shared bedrooms and household furniture, a pocket was sometimes the only private, safe place for small personal possessions.

Money
The heroine of Samuel Richardson's novel Pamela, published in 1742, had to flee her master by escaping out of a window.

'I took with me but one shift, besides what I had on, and two handkerchiefs, and two caps, which my pocket held (for it was not for me to encumber myself) and all my stock of money, which was but five or six shillings.'

Jewellery
On 4 December 1717, William Carlisle came before the Old Bailey Courthouse on a charge of theft:

'William Carlisle, of St. Ann's, Westminster, was indicted for privately stealing a Pocket, value 1 pence, 2 Gold Rings, value 19 shillings,... a Laced Handkerchief, value 10 shillings and 2 shillings 6 pence. in Money, from the Person of Susan Wright, the 23d of September last.

'The Prosecutor deposed, That her Pocket was with great Violence pulled off by a Boy, which tearing down her Petticoat in doing it, she was obliged to take it up, and so could not follow him, and so be got off: She verily believed the Prisoner to be the Person, but was not positive enough to influence the Jury to find him guilty, so they acquitted him.'

A pocket was a handy place to keep everyday implements, such as a pincushion, thimble, pencil case, knife and scissors.

Eighteen Maxims of Neatness and Order, written by Theresa Tidy in 1819, lists the essentials for a pocket:

'It is also expedient to carry about you a purse, a thimble, a pincushion, a pencil, a knife and a pair of scissors, which will not only be an inexpressible source of comfort and independence, by removing the necessity of borrowing, but will secure the privilege of not lending these indispensable articles.

Other useful things found in pockets were keys, spectacles, a watch and pocket books (diaries).

The Public Advertiser, 22 January 1772:

'STOLEN out of a lady's pocket last night at Covent Garden Playhouse, an old-fashioned silver watch, maker Peter Le Conte, no.9, with an old brown chain, a small pinchbeck seal (impression: a woman' s head), steel key and hook. If offered to be pawned or sold, stop them and the party and give notice to Sir J. Fielding and you shall receive a guinea reward from the owner.'

Objects of vanity
Many pockets held objects essential to personal grooming, such as a mirror, scent bottle, snuffbox and comb. In the Female Spectator of 1745, the editor Eliza Haywood advises on the use of snuff and scent:

'The snuffbox and smelling-bottle are pretty trinkets in a lady's pocket, and are frequently necessary to supply a pause in conversation, and on some other occasions. But whatever virtues they are possessed of, they are all lost by a too constant and familiar use. And nothing can be more pernicious to the Brain, or render one more ridiculous in Company, than to have either of them perpetually in one's hand.'

One of Jack the Ripper's victims, Annie Chapman, was found wearing a pocket that had contained a small-tooth comb and a pocket comb in a paper case (Philip Sugden, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper, 1994).

Food
A pocket was a useful place to carry food. James Henry Leigh Hunt wrote a collection of essays in 1812 which included a description of an 'old lady' and the contents of her pockets:

'In one is her handkerchief, and any heavier matter that is not likely to come out with it, such as the change of sixpence. In the other is a miscellaneous assortment, consisting of a pocket-book, a bunch of keys, a needle-case, a spectacle-case, crumbs of biscuit, a nutmeg and grater, a smelling-bottle, and, according to the season, an orange or apple, which after many days she draws out, warm and glossy, to give to some little child that has well behaved itself.'

Bonbon box
Grandmama's Pockets, written in 1849, is a story about the contents of a little girl's grandmother's pockets,

'Annie had often longed to peep into them, but was afraid. She knew their contents were numerous, and very tempting. Amongst them was a large silver bon-bon box, with a puzzle top to it - and a cup and ball, which she was permitted to play with when she was very good.'

Cakes
In Charles Dickens' novel The Personal History of David Copperfield, 1850, the young hero is sent away from home by his cruel stepfather. His nurse, Peggotty, bids him farewell:

'Releasing one of her arms, she put it down in her pocket to the elbow, and brought out some paper bags of cakes which she crammed into my pockets, and a purse which she put in my hand, but not one word did she say.'

Even a bottle of gin!
In Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the D'Urbervilles, 1891, the heroine becomes so destitute that she can only find work on a turnip farm. Her companion, Marian, carries a bottle of gin in her pocket:

'Marian's will had a method of assisting itself by taking from her pocket as the afternoon wore on a pint bottle corked with white rag, from which she invited Tess to drink. Tess's unassisted power of dreaming, however, being enough for her sublimation at present, she declined except the merest sip, and then Marian took a pull herself from the spirits. 'I've got used to it,' she said, 'and can't leave it off now. 'Tis my only comfort.'

Buying and losing pockets

Many pockets were handmade and they were often given as gifts. Some were made to match a petticoat or waistcoat. Some were made over from old clothes or textiles. Pockets could also be bought 'ready made'. On the tradecard shown, the haberdasher (seller of dress accessories) advertises both pockets and fabrics to make pockets.

However, many pockets were stolen - in the 18th and 19th centuries, thieves known as 'pickpockets' removed men's wallets and cut the strings of women's pockets.

The records of Old Bailey Courthouse document the prosecutions of many pickpockets, for example:

'On 5 November 1716:
Robert Draw of London, labourer, was indicted for privately stealing from Martha Peacock a linen Pocket (value 2 shillings), 1 holland handkerchief (value 1 shilling), a pair of white gloves (value 1 shilling), a pair of scissors and 3 keys, on the 1st of December last, The prosecutor depos'd, that as she was going along the street, the prisoner came behind her, thrust his hand up her riding-hood, and pulled her pocket off; that upon her crying out, he was followed and knocked down, and the pocket found upon him. The prisoner deny'd the fact, but the jury found him guilty to the value of 10 pence.'
OBP 5 November 1716 Robert Draw (t17161105-31)

The Old Bailey records tell us that thieves used a variety of methods to snatch pockets such as cutting the pocket strings and grabbing the pocket or slashing the pocket itself so the contents fell out. Securing your pockets while you were asleep was difficult. Many people put their pockets under their pillows, but even here they could be stolen. On 26 June 1773, Ann Grey testified at Old Bailey against Mary Stewart:

'I put 7 shillings 2 pence in halfpence and 3 shillings in silver, and put the pockets under the bolster with this money in them at night when I went to bed. The prisoner got up and took away my pockets. Atwood stopped her, at whose house I lodged, between seven and eight in the morning. When she came up stairs I claimed the pockets; the prisoner said they were her's. I said they were mine; there were 10s. 2d. in the pockets.'
OBP, 26 June 1773, Mary, the wife of Charles Stewart (t17730626-45)

Sometimes the pockets were stolen when empty along with other items of dress. All clothing was liable to theft as it was expensive and could be easily pawned. Advertisements for stolen goods often appeared in newspapers.

The Public Advertiser, 17 January 1772:

'STOLEN from a gentleman's house at Fulham: four small tablecloths and one large one marked P.D., seven shifts, two of them fine ones, the other coarser, six pairs of stockings, three worsted, one cotton and one thread; a large silver spoon (the crest a bugle-horn); a tea-spoon with the same crest, a cotton gown, two pair of pockets, three coloured aprons, several gloves, handkerchiefs, aprons, dresser-cloths, stockings, etc. two pairs of sheets marked P.D.

'If offered to be pawned or sold, stop them and the party and give notice to Sir John Fielding and you shall receive five guineas reward on conviction of the offenders.'

A pocketful of crime
The trial of James Dalton, a notorious thief, reveals the safest way to wear pockets. In the proceedings of the trial the accused confessed:

'He says, what gave them the greatest advantage, was the custom the women have of wearing their pockets under their hoop petticoats, where they might whip hold of it without the least interruption; whereas, says he, if to the contrary they would put their pockets between their hoops and their upper petticoats, they might defy all the Buzzes (thieves) in London to haul the cly (snatch pockets).'

Pockets go out of fashion

In the 1790s women's fashions changed very dramatically. Wide hoops and full petticoats went out of style. Instead, dresses had a high waistline and skirts that fell close to the body and legs. This meant that traditional pockets and their contents would ruin the line of the dress. As a solution, women began to use reticules, decorative bags designed be carried over the arm in the manner of our contemporary handbag. However, reticules are very small with barely enough room for a hankie and a coin, never mind the mirror, watch, keys, needlecase and oranges that a pocket usually contained.

Contemporary literature on proper behaviour suggests that women continued to wear their pockets:

Theresa Tidy, Eighteen Maxims of Neatness and Order, 1819:

'Never sally forth from your own room in the morning without that old-fashioned article of dress - a pocket. Discard forever that modern invention called a ridicule (properly reticule).'

Finding another place for a pocket
The Workwoman's Guide of 1838 is an early sewing manual full of patterns and instructions for a great number of practical items of dress for men, women and children, and contains five illustrations for pockets. Three main types are described in the text, including those that tie around the waist and those that fastened into the skirt. Clearly the mid-19th century was a period of transition, with both separate pockets and those sewn into the seams of a dress, in use.

In the 1840s, dress patterns show pockets sewn into the seams.

Pockets remained an essential item of dress for girls, older women and working-class women during the 19th century. In contrast to the delicate, embroidered pockets of the 18th century, those of the 19th century are larger and quite plain.

The Times newspaper carried the details of a trial held in March 1858. Two women were convicted of picking pockets on the omnibus. Their victim was a Yorkshire woman and the exact nature of her pockets was important to the outcome of the trial:

'On the pocket being produced, an old-fashioned double one, to show how it had been cut, Mr Ribton (a cross-examining lawyer) said, "Why this is the sort of pocket our great grandmothers used to wear".'

Separate pockets also remained part of folk costume and these were often embroidered.

Spot the pocket

Can you find the pockets in these pictures? Click the 'solution' image to reveal where each pocket is.

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Wearing pockets From the 17th century to the late 19th century, most women had at least one pair of pockets, which served a similar purpose as a handbag does today. There are no pockets visible on this woman's ensemble of 1760. They were usually worn underneath their petticoats.

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Lina Arthur

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There are a variety of different kinds of pockets, some of which are more decorative than functional. A pocket can be sewn on like a patch, sewn in a seam or cut onto the fabric.

Patch pockets are very simple pockets, and as the name indicates, they are sewn on top of a fabric like a patch. The shape of a patch pocket can be rectangular, curved or tapered on the bottom corners. The pocket opening can be interfaced if needed, and it is recommended especially if the fabric is very thin and stretches easily.

1. Finish the fabric edges.

2. Interface pocket opening if needed.

3. Option 1. Sew a hem on the pocket opening, for example so that you first fold 1 cm to the wrong side and then again 2 cm, press and stitch. The size of the hem can vary a lot depending on how the pocket should look. You can also replace the hem with a turnup.

4. Option 2. Sew the top corners of the pocket; fold and press for example 1 cm of the pocket opening to the wrong side. Fold 2 cm of the edge, this time to the right side and stitch the folded part on the sides. Turn the fold right side out and press. If you want, you can stitch the hem from the right side close to the fold.

5. Press the pocket seam allowances to wrong side.

6. Place the pocket on the garment in the right spot. Pin or baste carefully.

7. Stitch the pocket on, starting from one of the top corners; secure the opening with a horizontal stitch and stitch around the pocket, following the folded edge. Secure the second corner with a horizontal stitch. If you want and depending on the material, you can use thicker thread for stitching or make a double stitch.

8. Press the pocket.

Patch pocket with pleats:
A pleat or pleats makes the pocket more unique. The size of a pleat can vary a lot. You can make an inverted pleat, box pleat or a formation of multiple small pleats. The pleat can remain open or it can be closed with a stitch.

1. Finish the fabric edges.

2. Interface the pocket opening if needed.

3. Form the pleat/pleats according to the style.

4. Sew or stitch the pleat/pleats the way you want.

5. Continue and finish the pocket same way as a regular patch pocket.

Patch pocket with flap:
You can sew a flap on a patch pocket but a flap can also be used in other kinds of pockets. The size and shape of a flap can vary. The flap consists of two pieces; the interfaced outer part and the lining. The lining is usually cut with the same pattern and of the same fabric, although it can also be made of lining material.

1. Make the pocket the same way as a regular patch pocket.

2. Interface outer piece of the flap.

3. Pin and sew the flap and its lining, right sides together. Leave the upper edge open. In flaps with corners, sew 1-2 stitches across in the corners; this way the corner will become sharp. Trim the seam allowances and if needed, notch the seam allowances in the curves. Turn right side out and press.

4. If you want, stitch the flap edge.

5. Place the flap on the garment on top of the patch pocket, interfaced flap side against bodice so that the flap is pointing away from the pocket opening. Sew the flap on from the open edge.

6. Fold the flap over the pocket and stitch close to the top fold so that seam allowances are hidden under the stitch.

7. Press the flap.

The flap can also be sewn in a seam between two garment pieces, if the pocket is under the seam. In this case, make the flap according to the instructions above, but place it in between the two garment pieces, and sew on at the same time as the seam.
Patch pocket with a fake flap:
In a patch pocket with fake flap, the flap is stitched on top of the pocket and it continues right below the pocket opening. It will not cover the pocket like a regular flap.

1. Finish the fabric edges.

2. Interface the flap.

3. Sew the flap on the pocket opening, the right side of the flap against the wrong side of the pocket. Press open and fold the flap on the right side of the pocket.

4. Fold and press the seam allowances on bottom edge of the flap to wrong side and stitch the flap on, close to the fold. If you want and depending on the material, you can use thicker thread for stitching or use a double stitch.

5. Finish the pocket same way as a regular patch pocket.

In-seam pocket:
Pocket sewn on a seam is clean looking, fairly simple to make and quite unnoticeable. You can also make the pocket with a flap.

1. Finish the fabric edges.

2. Sew the pocket's facing on the smaller pocket bag, press the seam allowances open.

3. Sew the side seams of the garment around the pocket opening and press the seam allowances open.

4. Pin and sew the pocket bag with facing on the garment's back part's seam allowances right sides together, so that the pocket is set on the correct place and position.

5. If you want, stitch the back edge of the pocket opening, about 5 mm from the edge so that you start from top with a horizontal stitch, then stitch along the pocket opening and finish in the bottom with a horizontal stitch.

6. Pin the other pocket bag in its place onto the seam allowance of the garment's front part. The right sides should be together so that the pocket is pointing towards the back part. Sew.

7. Stitch the front edge of the pocket opening approximately 5 mm from the edge so that you start from the top with a horizontal stitch, then stitch along the pocket opening and finish at the bottom with a horizontal stitch. Fold the pocket bag towards the front part and press.

8. Sew the pocket bags together.

9. Press the pocket.

A welt pocket is usually made so that the pocket opening is cut into the bodice and finished with a welt. You can also make the welt pocket with a flap. This type of pocket construction is most common in coats and jackets. Size and shapes of welt pockets can vary a lot. When you are making a garment that has welt pockets, it is important to mark the welt opening on the bodice with a thread before removing the paper patterns from the pieces.

1. Finish the edges of the pocket parts.

2. Interface the outer side of the welt, the welt facing and the area in the bodice where the cut will be made.

3. Fold the welt in half right sides together and sew the ends. Trim the corners, turn right side out and press.

4. Draw the welt opening on the bodice with chalk using a ruler as a guide.

5. Place the welt on the right side of the bodice, interfaced side against the bodice so that its open side is aligned with the center line of the welt opening.

6. Sew the welt 7 mm from the edge, aligned with the edge of the welt opening, from corner to corner.

7. Place the welt facing on the bodice on the other side of the pocket opening than the welt, right sides together. The shorter long side of the facing should be centered on the welt opening line.

8. Sew the welt facing 7 mm from the edge, aligned with the edge of the welt opening, starting 5 mm after the first edge and finishing 5 mm before the other edge.

9. Cut the pocket opening line with scissors from the first triangle's tip until the second triangle's tip. Cut the sides of the triangles 1 mm from the corners of the welt and welt facing. Be careful not to cut too close to stitches.

10. Fold the welt towards the pocket opening and push the welt facing through the opening on the wrong side and press.

11. Sew the smaller pocket bag onto the edge of the welt facing. Keep right sides together. Sew the bigger pocket bag onto the welt's seam allowances. Keep the right side of the welt against the right side of the pocket bag. Press.

12. Sew the pocket bags together.

13. Stitch the short edges of the welt onto the bodice as far from the edges as you want. Make sure that the pocket is in the correct position before stitching.

14. Press the pocket.

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There are a variety of different kinds of pockets, some of which are more decorative than functional. A pocket can be sewn on like a patch, sewn in a seam or cut onto the fabric. Patch pockets are very simple pockets, and as the name indicates, they are sewn on top of a fabric like a patch.

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LIna Arthur

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A "witty" stop motion animation about pockets…
I tried

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There is a lot out there that you can find about pockets. You can  post anything from historical fact, illustration, pictures, videos how to make it and more. 

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There is a lot out there that you can find about pockets. You can  post anything from historical fact, illustration, pictures, videos how to make it and more. 

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Inform your self and fellow students in a creative way.
HAVE FUN!!!