DIY Easy Sewing: Insert Pockets Anywhere into Leggings, PJs, and others

**Notes**

Start off with nightwear/pants that aren't your favorite. The definition of "easy" varies on the individual. Practicing on PJs is necessary before sewing the desired pocket on fancy apparel.

Choosing pockets made of non-stretch fabric sews best. It will align and hold neater. However, after practice, reusing old leggings and t-shirts to make a pocket is plausible! Developing a good grip and a familiarity with pocket creation is key first!

If choosing leggings, check the quality. Is the fabric thin and stretchy? If so, items (phone?) could sag, stretch-out, and pill your legging over your pocket. If your legging has a weak elastic band or is low-rise, watch out for items (especially phones) weighing down your legging. You don't want to constantly pull up your legging to your waist! Decent quality leggings are tight at the top and have a strong, thick fabric (I don't imply super thick as in winter leggings).

Strive to find a pocket color that matches your clothing. If not, you can always sew your pocket high enough to be hidden by a long shirt. In the video I sewed my blue pocket high on my green capris, and I chose a blouse to hide it!

I find chalk washes out of everything I've sewn.

Instructions

1. Find fabric of your choice color. In the video I'm making it for pajamas, so I didn't mind the imperfect color.

2. Use a ruler, an object, etc. To identify the size, but leave extra space around that for seam allowance. Double that area because it will be folded on half!

3. Cut along the fold.

4. Put on desired pants. Take one of the halves you cut, and place it on the desired location. Move the piece upward half an inch due to factoring in weight of a phone or other objects sagging it down.

5. Using chalk, draw a vivid line along the top of the piece on the pants.

6. Take off the pants, use one hand to support pants underneath, and the other to cut. Avoid the mistake of cutting the other side of the pants!

7. Lay both pieces of the pocket on opposite ends of the cut line, and pin as pictured above.

8. Check the thread color of the machine. Usually the threads don't show anyway, but if heavy objects strain the pocket, they may be revealed somewhat.

9. Feed one of the pinned sides under the machine carefully to avoid sewing a pant leg or pocket together. Then sew together! Remember to backtack.

10. Repeat to the other side.

11. Don't fret over the extra fabric exposed, or if the pocket didn't reach far enough to the corners of the cut pants. This is an easy fix later.

12. Flip the fabric into the hole. Align it on the other side (the pants will be partially inside-out). Pin along the 3 sides show above to create a pocket.

13. Sew the pinned sides together.

14. Check the corners for holes. Put the sides together under the machine to sew those holes closed. Sew beyond the pocket onto the pants to sew the holes closed on the pants. This should fix step 11!

15. Position the pants no longer inside-out. Push the pocket inside. That's it! Go ahead and machine wash if necessary!

Afternotes:

You can fold the pocket sides inward and sew them to prevent fraying, but on tight pants (leggings) it may show a border. I find that just sewing the pockets without this step keep intact just fine after contiunous use and machine washing.

If the pocket came out too deep, go back and sew the bottom higher. :)
Music by Ivan Ujevic:

The Stars Are Falling https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUydynUiHc&t=3s
Ambient Guitar Soundscape #14 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tSQHSIhgw58&t=14s

Видео DIY Easy Sewing: Insert Pockets Anywhere into Leggings, PJs, and others канала Taylor R