New Pattern: ROO pocket
New year, new pattern. I’m excited to introduce a new pattern in TAUKO magazine, which has just come out. The theme for this issue is Pockets, celebrating pockets as a statement of style, function, and freedom.
There are some really interesting and clever patterns in this issue, all of which can be viewed here.
My pattern is an actual pocket. It was inspired by historical tie-on pockets that women wore under their clothes, with a gap in their skirt to access the pocket. My modern version is a gusseted, cargo-style pocket designed to be worn on the outside.
It can be used in multiple ways.
It can be worn threaded through a belt:
A tie can be attached to the pocket and it can be worn tied around the waist:
It can be added to a garment without a belt, and sewn permanently into the garment’s waistband:
Typically, it’s hard (but not impossible) to add pockets to bias cut clothes. It’s also difficult for slim-fitting clothes such as pencil skirts and bodycon dresses, because the pockets interfere with the streamlined silhouette.
Other people had some great ideas for this pocket. Sue Stoney made one with a strap attached (read her full blog post here).
It was also suggested to make it as a pocket on a belted coat, in the same fabric (I love this idea).
Here’s the pocket as it appears in the magazine.
There’s a sewalong to accompany the pattern – at the beginning I show and tell some samples.
The pattern accompanies an article on how I came to make it. Readers of A Year of Zero Waste Sewing may know that I experimented with the idea of a pocket matrix, where all the pocket pieces for a garment are nested together in one modular shape (you can download this section of the book for free). I had revisited this idea, and had been reading a book about pockets, when I chanced to see that TAUKO was accepting submissions for a pockets issue.
The name ROO somewhat obviously refers to kangaroo, me being Aussie.
This pattern is available in Tauko magazine or as a separate pdf pattern.
Cheers!
Thank you for featuring my pocket. I wore it for coffee this morning and it was much admired. Such a great pattern.
Many thanks Sue, yours is really beaut. The clip-on strap is genius!
I am imagining a plethora of uses for this pocket, starting with summer gardening when it is too hot to wear an apron! Yay!
I saw on Instagram yesterday that it fits a bottle of wine!
A nice roomy looking pocket!
I quite like how your bias cut skirt came out – is this the final iteration?
Thanks Lynne. Yes! The FINAL iteration! It started life as a pinafore, was cut down to a pocketless bias skirt, and now is as you see it. There’s absolutely no fabric left, but I’m 100% satisfied.
Congratulations on being in Tauko magazine again.
I really like the design of the pocket. It’s so clever and I feel I need to find an excuse to make one.
Or is there a way to incorporate the pocket as the main pockets at the front of a pair of jeans? I might be able to use the trouser front instead of the back piece, but sewing the gusset might get a bit tricky… Unlike your children I’m a huge fan of pockets in my garment and tend to stuff them rather than carrying a purse, but that might just be me…
I really enjoyed watching the video. You’re so good at explaining things and I learned something new: the idea to topstitch the fold of the gusset is genius! That’s going to improve my next cargo-pocket. The teens in this household are keen on cargo pockets. So they’re going to appreciate improved cargo-pockets! Thanks a lot.
Liebe Grüße
Judith
Thank you Judith. I reckon it could be used on jeans with, as you say, the trouser front instead of the back piece. A guide line chalked onto the front could be used to sew the gusset into place.
I think my teens do like pockets in principle, but one wears bias cut nighties 24/7, and the other likes leggings (although occasionally wears cargo pants). I’m sure your teens will love your new improved cargo pockets.
I‘m really sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive! You have written about your teen’s medical issues which make nighties the only comfortable item of clothing. I completely forgot about it.
If you can only wear nighties, then extra pockets are a very good addition and I totally get that they are much better than regular pockets. And Roo is such a clever design.
It’s OK Judith – no offense taken and no insensitivity detected at all!
I REALLY tried not to get into buying any MORE magazines but there, between your pattern and the others in the issue, I couldn’t resist! I’m looking forward to discover it 🙂
There are some beaut designs in this issue, and if you only make two then the magazine’s paid for itself.