• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sponsor

see kate sew

sewing, crafts, tutorials, DIY

  • Patterns
    • Free Patterns
    • Pattern of the Month
  • Tutorials
    • Accessories
    • Bags and Pouches
    • Clothing
    • Costumes
    • Crafts
    • Cricut Projects
    • Holiday
    • Household
    • Kids
    • Maternity
    • Quilting
  • Topics
    • Baby
    • Boy
    • Christmas
    • dog
    • Dolls
    • Easter
    • Girl
    • Halloween
    • Lookbook
    • Party
    • pet
    • Printables
    • Training
    • women
  • No Sew
  • Sewing 101
  • Sew4Good
  • Pet
  • Sewing Room
    • DreamBox
  • Reviews
Home
  • Patterns
    • Free Patterns
    • Pattern of the Month
  • Tutorials
    • Accessories
    • Bags and Pouches
    • Clothing
    • Costumes
    • Crafts
    • Cricut Projects
    • Holiday
    • Household
    • Kids
    • Maternity
    • Quilting
  • Topics
    • Baby
    • Boy
    • Christmas
    • dog
    • Dolls
    • Easter
    • Girl
    • Halloween
    • Lookbook
    • Party
    • pet
    • Printables
    • Training
    • women
  • No Sew
  • Sewing 101
  • Sew4Good
  • Pet
  • Sewing Room
    • DreamBox
  • Reviews

07.26

sewing 101: adding pockets to any skirt pattern!

Welcome to See Kate Sew! If you’re new here, sign up for my email newsletter for access to free patterns, tutorials and all the latest sewing news! Tour my sewing room HERE!

Sometimes I wonder what the point of a skirt without pockets is. If I’m gonna wear a skirt, I need a place to put my lollipops! (and pacifiers, keys, phone and lipgloss. The essentials.) I think every skirt should have pockets. And that includes the skirts of dresses. 


It’s SO easy to add pockets to skirts and dresses with side seams. I’ve been making a lot of skirts this past week. I think my count is up to 10 now! About half of them I made with pockets. While making another skirt for pleat week, I slowed down to take some photos of the pocket adding part for you.

I made a big pocket pattern piece for you! (free!) Click on the link above to download it. (You don’t have to sign in with facebook to access this pattern.) Print it out, cut 4 and follow these steps:

add pockets to any skirt

If you have an existing skirt or dress, unpick the side seams in a space about 10″ where you want the pocket to go. If you are adding pockets while sewing with a pattern, pin the pocket piece where you want it. I always hold my skirt up to me and pretend to put my hands in my pockets how I normally would. Then I put the pocket just a little bit higher. Pockets that are too low to reach are the worst, so I go an inch or so higher just to be safe.

Then sew each pocket piece on with a normal stitch. The seam allowance should be the same as it was before, or the same as the pattern calls for. Press your pocket flat from the front. 

Now you can pin your front and back pieces together at the side seams.

Sew them (back) together, just how you would normally, but don’t sew straight down. Instead, sew around the pocket.


And now go put some lipgloss/lollipops in there! 


I have a super basic skirt tutorial coming soon! Maybe tomorrow if husband will take some pictures! (hint, hint!) ;)


Thanks for reading! You rock! Just like pockets! 
 

8 Comments | Sewing 101

Exclusive Free PatternRuffled Apron

Sign up for my email newsletter and receive my ruffled apron pattern totally FREE!

We take your privacy seriously. See our privacy policy here. Unsubscribe at any time.

You may also like these posts...

how to print pdf patternsPenelope Peplum Sew-a-long Day 2: Printing PDF Patternssewing101: add a seam to any pattern pieceWhy I never throw away fabric scraps with this viral Pinterest hack!sewing101: exposed zippers

Reader Interactions

8 Comments

  1. aeno

    07/26 at 12:31 PM

    I’m with you on this one. There is NO point to have skirts or dresses without pockets. If it doesn’t have pockets – I’m not going to buy it. But I guess now I should (if it’s perfect in every other way), as I haven’t ever thought of putting them there myself :D

    Ok… Maybe there shouldn’t be pockets in your wedding dress, or evening gown. But those are the only two exceptions I have.

  2. Amy

    07/26 at 1:01 PM

    Love pockets. Thanks for the tutorial. I am trying to do some more sewing for myself these days. Skirts are next on my list.

  3. Melissa @ Love Affair With My Brother

    07/26 at 2:20 PM

    Great tutorial! Thanks so much, I know I will be using this when I finally take the leap and start making clothes :)

  4. Miss Pixie

    07/26 at 3:47 PM

    Thanks for this! I seriously need some skirts with pockets I feel lost without pockets to put my hands/phone/emergency sweeties in!

    Katy
    x

  5. jennifer a

    07/27 at 2:32 AM

    Seriously, especially once you’re a mom, pockets are a MUST! I need to try this out — I always make my hubs carry my stuff for me, and he hates it!

    Jennifer

  6. Foundinthe-ALI

    07/30 at 7:59 AM

    Thanks so much for this! Pockets were always scary to me. My next dress will have pockets :)

    Ali
    http://www.foundintheali.blogspot.com

  7. Melissa

    08/15 at 2:51 AM

    Thanks; linking to this in a skirt refashion post I’m doing.

  8. CometGirl63

    09/17 at 2:30 AM

    I’m not sure if something changed since this was posted, but it will not let me download without paying for a scribd premium account. Just wanted to let you know!

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Exclusive Free PatternRuffled Apron

Sign up for my email newsletter and receive my ruffled apron pattern totally FREE!

We take your privacy seriously. See our privacy policy here. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Don’t miss these popular posts!

easy baby dress pattern for the summertime

easy baby dress pattern for the summertime

modern ombre + b/w triangle quilt tutorial + pattern

modern ombre + b/w triangle quilt tutorial + pattern

Fabric

Quilted Cosmetic Case Kiss Me KateKiss Me, Kate FabricOne Hour Granny Square Quilt Tutorial | See Kate SewModern Granny Square Quilt Whole Cloth

Pattern Hacks

Easy Baby Summer Dressthe EMMA pattern | See Kate SewThe EMMA Dress

Footer

Hello friends!

My name is Kate, a twenty something fashion lover and mother of two. When I’m not chasing kids you can find me at my sewing table or daydreaming up new designs. You can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

8a918f8da8e0e69102dc0f33a718de85a99c31a57283e0e3e2

FOLLOW ME HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sponsor

Copyright © 2025 See Kate Sew  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs