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How to Cut Out Pockets in Sewing

Pockets can be useful additions to many sewing projects. There are two main styles of pockets: side pockets, the kind you slide your hand into in the sides of skirts or pants; and front pockets, such as the pockets on shirts, aprons, overalls and bags. While side pockets don’t show, front pockets can be decorative as well as functional. Both kinds of pockets are easy to make. You can use purchased patterns to cut the pockets, or draw your own pocket patterns.

Things You'll Need

Pocket pattern or a piece of paper and a pencil
Ruler
Fabric
Straight pins
Scissors
Iron (optional)

Instructions

Make a Side Pocket Pattern
- 1
  Place your hand on a piece of paper.
- 2
  Draw a curved line about 1 inch away from your fingertips and thumb. This will be the bottom and side edge of the pocket pattern.
- 3
  Draw straight lines for the top and other side of the pocket.
- 4
  Draw a tab along the straight side edge of the pocket, about 5/8 inch wide and 2 inches taller than the width of your hand. This tab will be the part of the pocket you attach to the side seam of the pants or skirt to make the opening you will slide your hand through.
- 5
  Cut out the pocket pattern.
Cut Out Side Pockets
- 6
  Use the pocket pattern that came with a skirt or pants pattern, or make your own by following the directions above.
- 7
  Fold the fabric in half, right sides together.
- 8
  Place the pocket pattern on the fabric, lining up the straight edge of the pocket with the grainline of the fabric.
- 9
  Pin the pocket pattern to the fabric.
- 10
  Cut around the edges of the pattern. Remove the pins.
- 11
  Repeat Steps 2 through 4 to make a second pocket. (You need two pieces of fabric for each pocket.)
Cut Out a Front Pocket
- 12
  Use a pocket pattern, or draw your own on a piece of paper. The pocket can be a simple rectangle, or have slanted sides (like many shirt pockets) or rounded edges, but it needs to be 1/2 inch larger all the way around than you want the finished pocket.
- 13
  Place the pocket pattern on the right side of the fabric, lining up the straight edge of the pocket with the grainline of the fabric.
- 14
  Pin the pattern to the fabric.
- 15
  Cut around the edges of the pattern. Remove the pins.
- 16
  Flip the pocket over.
- 17
  Turn the side and lower edges over 1/2 inch and press them flat. (You may need to clip curved edges or corners to get them to lie flat.)
- 18
  Turn the top edge over 1/4 inch and press it flat. Turn it over another 1/4 inch and press it flat again to enclose the raw edge. You’re now ready to hem the top edge of the pocket and stitch it to the front of the clothing or bag.

Sewing