Sprouts - Back Pockets Hack
I've had the opportunity to test an amazing pattern by Flosstyle. It's the Sprouts pattern and has 6 base styles of pants (3 short and 3 long) from one pattern piece.
I could go on and on about what a versatile pattern this is. How comfy the finished items are. How cute they are. All the extra mods and mashes that you can do (it mashes with the Zoo Pattern). But that would take too long. So check these photos out instead.
All that from one pattern. Woohooo.
To shake things up, I've put together a little tutorial on adding the back pocket. Have you got your pattern (grab it here). Ready. Here Goes.
The pattern includes directions on placing the pocket on the side leg (like in the Trees below) but what if you want your pocket somewhere else? What if you've promised your girl a 'monkey pocket' but only have enough coordinating fabric for shorts? (true story) What if you just like the look of a back pocket? Well, read on.
In this photo, you can see a pocket I added to a pair of Stumpies (straight cuffs, but with a paperbag waist). This original pair is a size 4, with the largest pocket.
I'm going to apologise in advance for the late night flash photography coming up. It's not my best, but daylight and sewing time rarely coincide for me.
In this tutorial I'm adding a back pocket to a pair of size 3 straight Bloomies - gathered cuff shorts with a paperbag waist.
There isn't a heap of room back there. So for the size 3 I've chosen the medium sized pocket.
Add your pocket while you have nice flat pattern pieces (before you sew any leg seams or anything). While it is possible to sew the pocket on the larger sizes after the shorts/pants are put together, it is a little tricky, and I wouldn't like to give it a go on smaller sizes.
Sew up the pocket as per the pattern instructions. Now it's time to figure out placement. Refer to the image below when working through the numbered steps.
To these ones I added ties at the bottom cuffs.
I could go on and on about what a versatile pattern this is. How comfy the finished items are. How cute they are. All the extra mods and mashes that you can do (it mashes with the Zoo Pattern). But that would take too long. So check these photos out instead.
All that from one pattern. Woohooo.
To shake things up, I've put together a little tutorial on adding the back pocket. Have you got your pattern (grab it here). Ready. Here Goes.
The pattern includes directions on placing the pocket on the side leg (like in the Trees below) but what if you want your pocket somewhere else? What if you've promised your girl a 'monkey pocket' but only have enough coordinating fabric for shorts? (true story) What if you just like the look of a back pocket? Well, read on.
In this photo, you can see a pocket I added to a pair of Stumpies (straight cuffs, but with a paperbag waist). This original pair is a size 4, with the largest pocket.
I'm going to apologise in advance for the late night flash photography coming up. It's not my best, but daylight and sewing time rarely coincide for me.
In this tutorial I'm adding a back pocket to a pair of size 3 straight Bloomies - gathered cuff shorts with a paperbag waist.
There isn't a heap of room back there. So for the size 3 I've chosen the medium sized pocket.
Add your pocket while you have nice flat pattern pieces (before you sew any leg seams or anything). While it is possible to sew the pocket on the larger sizes after the shorts/pants are put together, it is a little tricky, and I wouldn't like to give it a go on smaller sizes.
Sew up the pocket as per the pattern instructions. Now it's time to figure out placement. Refer to the image below when working through the numbered steps.
- Make sure you position your pocket on the back portion of the pants. The back 'rise' will have a deeper and longer curve (cause there's a little more flesh at the back to go around). Choose what side you want your pocket on. In this one I've chosen the right side.
- Fold the fabric in half with the inside leg seams roughly lined up. This will give you an idea of what fabric forms the back of the pants.
- Check the pattern directions, and find out how much fabric will be taken by the waistband. This will be the amount the raw edge is folded under, then two lots of the casing depth, and will be quite large for the paperbag waist. You don't want the pocket to get caught up in the waist band.
- At this point, I draw a line in disappearing marker to show where the bottom of the wasitband stitching will be (can you see it in the photo above)
- Position the pocket on the back of the pants to suit your aesthetic. Usually the centre back of the pants gets pulled upwards, so I have positioned mine on an angle, with the bottom of the pocket approximately parallel to the bottom cuff. Don't forget that some of the fabric will be taken up with seam allowance, so I have nudged mine towards the outer edge of the pants.
- When you're happy with your placement, carefully pin it in place (to just one layer of fabric) and stitch in place as per pattern instructions.
With your pocket in place you can finish off your shorts or pants according to the pattern instructions.
Who says blue and green should never be seen????
This pair are for my daughter's friend's little sister (did you get that?) I can't wait to hand them over tomorrow afternoon. I think she'll like them.
If you want a copy of the pattern, follow this link right here. It's on sale until the evening (AEST) of Friday 20 May - $7.50 for 6 base patterns is a great deal. Then go and add pockets to all the pants!
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