Today we are going to sew the Darling Ranges dress skirt and inseam pockets for View A, but the same method applies to the pockets of View C.
Oh, how I love pockets! Personally, I think the most important thing about including pockets in a dress or skirt is the order in which you do it. I have a specific way I like to do things so everything is neat and all the raw edges get finished. So I’m going to focus on that!
Also, I feel it’s worth mentioning that you can pretty easily leave the pockets out of this dress. I am a superfan of pockets – but if you don’t like them, leave them out and save yourself some sewing time! Okay, let’s get started, shall we?
The very very first thing I like to do is neaten the raw edges of the pockets. The reason is that if you don’t do it first up, then try and do it later you’ll have a bit of a mess on your hands and may need to leave sections of the pocket edges close to the seam unfinished. I have (and love) a serger/overlocker so that’s usually my method for neatening the edges. Other ways you can neaten raw edges are using a zig-zag stitch on a regular sewing machine, using pinking shears on the raw edges, and also binding them with bias tape.
Next, we lay our pockets on our skirt pieces. One of the problems I first had when I started learning about pockets was that I kept having alignment issues. I’d put one piece of the pocket up too high, the other too low and they wouldn’t match. Or I’d accidentally sew them to the wrong side. UGH. Here’s an easy way to avoid that. Layout all the skirt pieces with the right sides facing upwards, and so that the side seams are aligned. This way you can keep an eye on whether everything is placed correctly. Then position your pockets on the side seams, with their right sides facing downwards, so that the pockets match up with each other and so that the top edge of the pocket lines up with the notches on the pattern pieces. Then pin and sew in place 1/2″ from the raw edge.
After that, I like to neaten the raw edges of the side seams since it will be awkward to do that once we sew the skirt pieces together. Once again you can do this with a serger/overlocker, a zig-zag stitch, pinking shears or some sort of binding. Choose your favourite method!
Press the pockets open so that the right sides are all facing outwards – and then understitch. You can skip the understitching if you feel lazy, but I don’t think it takes much time and definitely adds to the neatness of the pocket and prevents it from showing on the outside of the dress.
Okay, we’re almost done! Lay your back skirt piece with right sides facing upwards and pockets sticking out to the sides, and then lay the front skirt pieces on top with right sides facing downwards. Match up the side seams and the pockets, then pin. Sew down the side seams till you reach the pocket, and sew 5/8″ beyond the edge of the pocket, then sew around the curve of the pocket, then back down the side seams.
Lastly, press the seams and pockets towards the centre front of the skirt. This may be slightly controversial, but in this case, I like to press my seams forwards rather than open, as that would require snipping the seams at the pockets, and I just hate raw exposed cuts! But it’s up to you :)
Okie Dokie, that skirt piece is done! Not hard at all right?? Next up we’ll attach it to the bodice!
LOOKING FOR MORE TUTORIALS?
Here’s the full list of Darling Ranges tutorials:
- Project preparation
- Pattern alterations: full bust adjustment
- Pattern alterations: small bust adjustment
- Pattern alterations: lengthen the bodice
- Pattern alterations: raise the neckline
- Pattern alterations: rounded neckline
- Pattern alterations: fishtail hem
- Pattern alterations: add darts to the back bodice pattern piece
- Sewing & construction: Bodice & darts
- Sewing & construction: Skirt & pockets
- Sewing & construction: Attaching the skirt & bodice
- Sewing & construction: Placket & Neckline
- Sewing & construction: Sleeveless version
- Sewing & construction: Attaching the sleeves
- Sewing & construction: Hemming
- Sewing & construction: Ties & beltloops
- Sewing & construction: Closures
- Sewing and Construction: Sleeveless variation
- Sewing and Construction: Dartless Versions (V2 &V3)
We absolutely love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to tag your creations with #MNdarlingranges and @megannielsenpatterns if sharing on social media.
Don’t have the pattern yet?
