Thomas Ryberg2d ago
Maaike
Patriarchy.
#FuckThePatriarchy
May 29 at 8:09amWeb
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Let's fix this puny little pocket. To the seam ripper!
Step 1: unpick the bottom of the pocket and a few cm of the side seam. (I find seam ripping relaxing and meditative, but you could totally just cut it open, we're adding extra fabric anyway. Not the side seam though, that really needs to be unpicked.)(You might not need to unpick the side seam at all, it depends on the construction of the pocket.)
#sewing #FuckThePatriarchy #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago

Step 2: find some fabric. I have some boring white cotton, but you can use whatever, it's now going to be visible anyway. Just make sure it's not too flimsy or too heavy. Look at what your existing pocket is made of and find something that feels the same(ish). An old sheet or ugly cotton shirt could be an excellent source of pocket materiaal.

My existing pocket is one piece, folded over, so I'm going to make a folded pocket as well. If your pocket is made of two separate pieces, cut two identical pieces. I've just eyeballed a pocket shape here and drew it straight on the fabric. You could make a paper pattern piece first if you want. I'm not going to sew the pocket into the side seam except at the point where it joins the old pocket, too much effort.
#sewing #pockets

Show threadMaaike4d ago
PS, don't forget to add seam allowances (1 or 2 cm extra fabric) or you'll end up with less deep pockets than you expected.
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 3: I've pinned the new pocket to the inside of the existing pocket. I've left 1/2 a cm overlap, to get a nice finish on step 5.
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 4: sewing! I'm using my machine, but you can see by hand if you want (or don't have a machine). Pink thread because I'm too lazy to change it to something matching.
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 5: more pinning. Look closely to the picture and see that the original pocket sticks out over the new pocket. I'm now folding that extra old bit over the new bit, and folding a second time and pinning to enclose all the raw edges.
Next, I'll sew that down. Now I won't get loose threads tickling me, and the second sewing line adds a bit of extra strength as well.
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 6: tine to close the pocket. I've turned the pocket inside out and pinned the outer edge. So we're looking at the inside of the pocket now, sticking out to the outside of the jeans.
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 7: sewing this bit can be a bit fiddly, so check if you caught the fabric on both sides. If you missed a bit, just seen an extra pass at that bit.
Next, trim the seam allowances to slightly less than 1/2 cm, and trim away fraying and lose threads.
Now, if your new pocket has curves, make little snips in those curves, but watch out and don't copy dough your sewing line. Just little snips, 1/2 cm or so apart (maybe a bit more apart on less steep curves). This will help your seam become nice and flat.
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 8: turn your pocket back to the right side (on the inside of the jeans. Make sure to push out any corners. Pressing it may help get things nice and flat ( though I'm not bothering right now). Now sew the pocket again, a bit more than 1/2 a cm from the edge.
(Also, my yarn has turned purple because I ran out of pink)
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Step 10: ooh look at that nice big pocket! With all the raw edges nicely enclosed. Now I just have to close the side seam again and we're done! (Shall I go and find matching yarn for this bit of stitching visible on the outside? Nah.)
#sewing #pockets
Show threadMaaike4d ago
Tadaa! Take that, patriarchy!
( Pocket nr. 2 wil have to wait until tomorrow)
#pockets #sewing #FuckThePatriarchy
Show threadMaaike4d ago
By the way, this method also works too fix pockets with a hole worn into. In that case, just cut off the holey bit and replace it with new fabric.
#sewing #mending #pockets
Show threadDiandra Linnemann12h ago

@Stratski Last summer a woman at the cinema was looking for her phone that had fallen out of her jacket, and my partner was like, "Why didn't she put it in the pockets of her denims?" And I was wearing denims and took his hand and put it in my pocket, and he barely got his fingers in there, and then he understood what I had been complaining about for AGES. ^^

(Not buying stuff unless it has proper pockets.)

Show threadfrolicking dirt child1d ago
@Stratski you should consider adding some stiching reinforcement either via a zig-zag on the allowance or wrapping around the exsiting stiches you placed, i found this out the hard way when my pockets ripped
Show threadMaaike1d ago
@sterophonick Good tip. I'll do that with the next pair of pockets i fix.
Show threadLeonieke4d ago
@Stratski bookmarking this for future reference: the other day after washing a pair of trousers I was looking at the pockets thinking exactly this!
Show threadkiennah4d ago
@Stratski oh ja, zo’n broek heb ik ook nog liggen om te verbeteren 😅
Show threadsonja4d ago
@Stratski i buy farmer pants now. i never have this problem anymore
Show threadMatt2d ago

@Stratski this nonsense about pockets in women's clothes is so well known and "up there" yet no one does anything about fixing it.

See also: ladies' loos in theatres

Show threadTrueNorthSpice 🇨🇦2d ago

@Stratski

Well, we don't need large pockets like men because pay equity is not yet enforced, so why have large empty pockets to remind us?

*sarcasm

Show threadLstn2urmama42d ago

@Stratski Totally agreed have been mad about since not getting a decent pocket for MANY MANY YEARS have been paying more for getting less ...

...phone has fallen into toilet and killed it and wonder how much more stuff has disappeared in travels in someone else's vehicles..

.found phone one day in van between under seats when 15 miles in middle of highway when needed to call employer and was not near anywhere .. took 20 minutes to retrieve in panic state...

Show threadIves1d ago
@Stratski When I was little I loved to sit at the kitchen table, watching my mom mending clothes with her sewing machine. Your photo series brought that all back.
Thank you for refreshing that memory. It's a dear one.
Show threadJustin Macleod1d ago
@Stratski I just don't understand the thinking behind this. I can't empathise with, can't relate to a decision being taken to make pockets different sizes? What is going through someone's head when they think that?
Show threadMaaike1d ago
@JustinMac84 It's the result of decades (centuries) of history. If your interested, this is a fascinating read about the history of women's pockets:
https://khronicledispatches.com/2025/09/11/from-fashion-to-feminism-the-controversial-history-of-womens-pockets/
From Fashion to Feminism: The Controversial History of Women’s Pockets

Let Girls Carry Their Belongings Too: The Debate Over Women’s Pockets. Why do men's clothes have so many pockets, and

KD
Show threadF4GRX Sébastien1d ago
@Stratski but just, WHY!
Show threadDaDiGi1d ago
@Stratski Don't you have these magic handbags being inside way bigger than outside in exchange?
Show threadMaaike17h ago
@dadigi Nah, I don't do handbags. I like to have my hands free.
Show threadPixel1h ago
@dadigi not exactly sure why it should be considered an exchange since anyone can carry a handbag... But also... Why not just have working pockets?
Show threadPerdita16h ago
@Stratski because of this I wear mens jeans. All the same but the pockets. 😁
Show threadPetra van Cronenburg12h ago

@Stratski That's why I often wear men's clothes. But your resistance sewing is even better. Thanks for that informative thread!

#visibleMending #sewing #pockets #pocketsize

Show threadAilbhe12h ago
@Stratski This thread is brilliant. I think you might want to change "snaps" to "snips" because it might not be totally clear to a beginner, but the rest of it is very very clear and suitable for someone doing their first alteration, I think.
Show threadMaaike11h ago
@artbyailbhe ah, the pitfalls of non native language! 😁 Thanks for the tip.
Show threadAilbhe7h ago
@Stratski I've read worse instructions from native speakers