If you’ve been inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee then this is the upcycling tutorial for you. Learn how to add pockets onto all your old, plain tees with our super simple tutorial. It’s easy to do and a great way to rejuvenate your wardrobe. Don’t worry if you’re new to sewing. We have a sewing for beginners guide and a how to use a sewing machine tutorial right here on Gathered that will teach you all the terms, techniques, and skills you need to sew your own pockets. Grab some fabric scraps from old projects, some contrasting threads and join us behind the sewing machine for a how to sew a pocket masterclass! Once you’ve started sewing pockets on clothes you’ll never stop – trust us.
• A pocket-sized piece of fabric
• An iron
• Pins
• Other sewing notions
Cut a pocket-sized square of fun fabric. Mine measures 15cm. Fold in half and trim off the bottom corners with a curved snip. Open out and overlock (serge) the edges. Next, fold and press a 2cm hem at the top edge. Straight stitch in place.
Tuck the pocket sides and bottom edges under with a 1cm hem. Play with the corners until you get an even curve and press it all in place. Pin the pocket to your top wherever you like it best. (Tip: try it on before you commit to the placement.)
Stitch the pocket to your top, keeping your stitches nice and close to the pocket edge. Be careful to keep the back of the t-shirt out of the way when sewing. Press once more to set your stitches and you’re done! How easy was that?
Done! Now you can add pockets to all your outfits. Teach a pal how to sew a pocket by forwarding on this tutorial and tag us in a pic of your finished garments using #molliemakers. Make sure you also check out our sewing patterns for beginners which are full of fun projects for you to make. We also have a round-up of the best sewing machines for beginners if you’re on the market for a new machine.
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