How to Add Inseam Pockets to Any Dress – Sustain My Craft Habit

Sharing is caring!

The three best words in fashion? ‘It has pockets!’ We’ve all been there…we put on a dress (or skirt) and realized we didn’t have room to hold our phone or lip balm or even our hands!

Adding side inseam pockets is one of the easiest and most appropriate sewing upgrades you can make, and once you’ve done it, you’ll want to add pockets to almost everything you own.

This inseam pocket tutorial works for casual dresses, formal dresses, skirts and even lightweight coats. All you need is a small amount of fabric, a few sewing tools and a little patience. The process is beginner-friendly and can usually be completed within an hour.

You will learn how to create a simple pocket shape, how to place it correctly, sew it cleanly at the side seams, and avoid bulky or awkward pockets.

Why you will like this project

• Functional inseam pockets add to almost any dress
• A beginner-friendly sewing project with simple techniques
• Uses cheap materials and fabric scraps
• Works for handmade clothes and ready-to-wear clothes
• A great way to customize clothing for comfort and practicality

Let’s keep in touch! Subscribe For our latest sewing patterns, tutorials and tips.

Materials needed

• Pocketless dress or skirt with side seams
• Same weight and colored fabric
• Basic Inseam Pocket Printable Pattern
• Fabric scissors
• Seam Reaper
• Sewing machine and matching thread
• Pins and marking chalk

How to add inseam pockets to any dress

Preparing the side seams

Measure 10″ from the underarm point of the dress. You can adjust this placement as needed if it’s most comfortable.

Mark that point and then measure another 6″ from the first point. Mark the second point.

Using a pair of seam rippers, open the side seam between the two marked points and extend the opening about ½” to 1” from the marked points.

This inseam pocket will be the opening of the bag.

Cutting pocket bags

Print Pocket Bag Pattern Using 8.5”x11” copy paper at home, tape the papers together aligning the red border.

Place the pattern piece over the fabric you plan to use.

Keep in mind, I use a contrast color fabric with a noticeable wrong and right side so it’s obvious to you. But it is best to use the same color fabric so that it will not show on the dress.

Cut 2 layers of fabric with the right sides of the fabric facing each other and cut along the solid line of the pattern, keeping in mind the grain line on the pattern. Be sure to align the arrow with the grainline of your fabric.

Flip the pattern piece over and cut two more layers of fabric for the second pocket bag.

Sew a pocket bag

Working on one side pocket at a time: Make sure the dress is right side out.

With the right sides of the fabric facing each other, align the straight edge of the pocket opening with the seam allowance on the front of the dress, fitting the small circles. Pin together.

Repeat this last step along the back seam allowance of the dress as well.

Next, on the sewing machine, sew the layers together, removing pins as you sew.

Press the seam allowance towards the dress side.

Turn the dress wrong side out and line up the pocket bag pieces with right sides together. Sew the pocket bag pieces from small circle to small circle with a ½” seam allowance.

Finally, line up the seam allowance of the dress, sandwiching the pocket bag piece in between. Secure the ends of the pocket opening (top and bottom) by sewing from the open seam to the small circle mark on the dress.

Turn the dress right side out and repeat with the second pocket bag to complete!

How to Add Pockets to a Lined Dress

If the dress has a lining, also open the side seam for the lining and then add the pocket bag as instructed above, treating the lining and outer fabric as one.

Best fabric for inseam pockets

Lightweight woven fabrics work best for most clothing as heavier and thicker fabrics can create extra bulk.

Enlarging the pocket bag

Pocket depth can be easily customized. Large pockets are useful for phone and keys.

Print the pattern as instructed and using a pencil, redraw the curve line of the pocket bag to enlarge the size. Maintain the opening as it is.

Pockets are a girls best friend

Once you learn how to add inseam pockets to a dress, it quickly becomes one of those sewing skills you use often. The process is simple, inexpensive, and makes handmade or store-bought clothes more wearable. A dress with pockets just makes sense!

More sewing projects and free printable sewing patterns

Get updates on the latest posts and more from Sustain My Craft Habit straight to your inbox Join our weekly newsletter. We promise to send you only good content!

like? Pin it for later!

Sharing is caring!