Even a Duchess needs pockets…

I’m so excited to be a part of the Duchess release tour today! This pattern has been in development for a while, and you may have seen a couple of my sneaks HERE and HERE. I just can’t stop making them…. I’m up to 5 now! I would have told you a couple months ago that I wasn’t really a “skirt kind of person”….so consider me a convert!

The fact that its a FREE PATTERN is just icing on the cake (and I swear, I didn’t know it would be free until yesterday!).

I’ve found this pattern works great in rayon spandex, liverpool, french terry and double brushed poly. My latest version was made from the “Anastasia” double brushed poly from Sew Vagabond– and it’s on SALE!

This was part of a surprise bundle Emily sent me- although it’s brighter than I usually pick for myself, I’m so glad she sent it to me, because I think it just radiates summer!

 

Since I never allow myself to wear a pattern until it’s been properly photographed (you NEVER know what will happen to an item of clothing with young children around), one of my Duchesses had its first day out at work last week. I got compliments galore (can you see my ego inflating before your eyes?) but I realized I was missing something very important: POCKETS!!!

I don’t know what the human race did before pockets were invented, but it must have been hard to be a cave-mom without them. What do you do when your cave-baby hands you some rock treasures? Or when your cave-boys need you to hold onto their arrowheads? Pockets people. There just as relevant now as they were in 3,300 BCE (see this wikipedia article if you’re curious).

But don’t worry! I’ve got a quick tutorial for you on how to add them- and it will only tack on another 5 or 10 minutes to the near-instant gratification that is the Duchess skirt! In this tutorial, I’m going to show you  how to add scoop pockets, but I’ll have another tutorial up soon for how to add inseam pockets as well!

Ready? Grab your pattern HERE (remember, its FREE!) and let’s go!

Step 1: The Duchess is a circle skirt, so it doesn’t have side seams. To add any type of pocket, we will need to create side seams on our pattern. To do this, first mark a line 1/2″ away from the center back seam (to eliminate the seam allowance).

Fold your center front (the part that would be cut on the fold) to meet the line you just drew and crease.

Step 2: Draw a line down the crease you just made. Trace two NEW pattern pieces, with 1/2″ seam allowance added to both sides of that line.

If you are making a knit version, you can eliminate the center back seam by cutting the back on the fold along the line you made 1/2″ from the edge. A woven will still need a zipper, so you can either cut the back on the fold and put your zip in the side seam, or put your zipper in back and cut it with the seam allowance present.

Step 3: Make a pocket pattern! Draw a gentle curve on the side front of your pattern piece. I just eyeballed this. Then, draw in another curve below the first. This will end up being the shape of your pocket! You can use your cell phone, a few random toys, or your car keys and a tube of lipstick to make sure it’s going to hold the necessities. (in the pic below I’ve already cut off the top curve)

Step 4: Trace your new pocket pieces. You will need two different pieces- 2 pocket linings (from the curve down) and two pocket facings (the full side of the skirt and rounded lower curve). Make sure to add seam allowance to the curved edges. Cut them out of your fabric- two of each!

Step 5: Cut out your skirt front and back (make sure you added in those seam allowances to the sides! ). For the skirt front, cut along the upper curved line.

Step 6: Sew the pockets to the skirt. Grab your pocket facings (the smaller ones with the curved side) and sew them right sides together with the skirt. Press the seam toward the pocket, and under stitch, then flip it and topstitch it from the right side.

Understitching:

Topstitched:

Step 7: Flip your pocket out, and then pin the pocket back to the pocket facing, right sides together.

Sew the pocket facing and pocket lining to each other along the curve, right sides together.

Step 8: Baste the pocket in place along the top and side edges

Step 9: Sew your skirt together as usual, adding in the step for sewing the side seams.

Yay! NOW you are ready for whatever life throws your way…Duchess style!

Check out all the other amazing bloggers on the tour below:

The Duchess Blog Tour Schedule

July 25th – Sewing With Sarah | Diskordia’s Curvy Sewing
July 26th – Kainara Stitches | Wonderfully Handmade
July 27th – Seams Sew Lo | Mermaid Mama Designs
July 28th – Swimming in a Sea of Estrogen | Cookie on The Loose
July 29th – On Wednesdays we Sew | The Crunchy Mommy

Get notified of new posts via email


7 Comments

  1. Denise on July 25, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Love this version!
    What pattern is your shirt? My first guess is the Green Tee…

    • Sarah on July 25, 2017 at 9:06 pm

      It SHOULD be a green tee. It’s even green. Sadly, it’s target. But when it falls apart it will be replaced with a genuine green tee!

  2. Johanna on July 25, 2017 at 12:52 pm

    This skirt is so cute!! I love your fabric choice also. I would love to give this a try.

    • Sarah on July 25, 2017 at 9:06 pm

      It’s a quick sew! Hope you get a chance to try it out!

  3. DIBY Duchess Skirt – Kainara Stitches on July 26, 2017 at 7:21 am

    […] 25th – Sewing With Sarah | Diskordia’s Curvy Sewing July 26th – Kainara Stitches | Wonderfully Handmade July […]

  4. […] 25th – Sewing With Sarah | Diskordia’s Curvy Sewing July 26th – Kainara Stitches | Wonderfully Handmade July […]

  5. […] Sewing With Sarah | Diskordia’s Curvy Sewing – July 25th Kainara Stitches | Wonderfully Handmade – July 26th Seams Sew Lo | Mermaid Mama Designs – July 27th Swimming in a Sea of Estrogen | Cookie on The Loose – July 28th On Wednesdays We Sew | The Crunchy Mommy – July 29th […]

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply