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POCKETS ... Grrrr

7/18/2019

6 Comments

 
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Every woman I know has a pocket frustration story. Our pockets are TOO SMALL!!!

My most memorable one was returning from a long mountain hike in California only to realize after we got back to our rental house that I had lost my NEW iPhone. I found it using "Find my iPhone" from my computer. It was right next to a tree where I had stopped to answer the call of nature, at the very end of the hike (of course). I had, stupidly, put it in my back pocket. I normally keep in in my backpack. We did go back the next morning and I am still using that phone two years later. It's the one in my too small pocket above.

I tell everyone I know to call my house phone when I am home, because I don't keep my cell phone on me. It doesn't fit securely or comfortably in any of my pockets.
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This is as far down my phone will go in this front pocket.
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It gets worse when I sit down. The phone nearly pops out. Actually my phone has fallen out of my pockets a few times when I did sit down with it in both front and back pockets.

Read this
 Article about women's pockets. It expresses the frustrations so many of us feel.

But, if you you know how to sew ... you have the power to do something!
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Most of you know I am struggling with pants fitting. Something I really never had to deal with making Renaissance or Star Wars costumes. I will be teaching a pants fitting class in January in Santa Barbara and I am working out the kinks. SO, I thought to myself, self ... make these pants with a good cell phone pocket.

I want to carry my phone in my front pocket. If it's in the back pocket I will sit on it, not good. So, I pinned the pocket pattern to my hip where it will be positioned on the pants I am working on and then lifted my thigh to see if I could sit. The phone was right in the way. But, lowering it a bit fixed that problem.
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A longer pocket is what is needed so it won't be right at the place where my leg and hip bend. Check out some men's pants. Their pockets are really long.
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I decided to add 2" in length to my pockets. I can always trim off a little if they are too long. When in doubt, always cut bigger. It can be trimmed away if necessary.  I will report back after my pants are finished to let you know this adjustment works.

And, you know, I was surprised that my husband had no idea about this problem until we had to hike back that long trail to retrieve my lost phone. He was amazed at how shallow and useless the pockets were in all my pants when I had him take a closer look.

But, apparently most men don't realize how ridiculous the pockets are in women's clothing.

Check out this video of the "Try Guys". These three men wear women's pants for a week and learn for themselves. Ha Ha!!!!!
6 Comments
Theresa in Tucson
7/18/2019 02:31:17 pm

Longer pockets are the first things I change on patterns; even shirt pockets. The standard women's shirt pocket pattern (if it's even there) is too short for a pen and pencil, both of which I carry on a daily basis. A phone will fit in a longer front pocket but you can't make the pants too snug, it gets uncomfortable. And every jacket gets an inside chest pocket with a zip for added security, Over twenty years in uniform taught me the value of having everything necessary "on me" as purses were not allowed. I'm delighted you raised this up for discussion.

Reply
Wanda Schewe
7/18/2019 03:39:23 pm

I'm always dealing with this issue and have taken to wearing my apron around the house just for the pockets. That doesn't solve the issue when I go outside the house and am limited to tiny pockets. I'll be very interested to watch and see how you solve this dilemma. (I like the idea of the house dress with big pockets that our Mom's wore back in the '50s.)

Reply
John Yingling
7/21/2019 05:15:56 am

Great minds think alike! I was visiting my favorite thrift stores looking for white (not khaki) men's shorts for summer wear. None in the men's department, but plenty in the women's section, and most buttoned men's style. Of course, I had to purchase the largest sizes available, 14 to 20, for a compatible fit. At home I noticed not only a very short zipper, but also the smaller pockets. I could barely fit my man hands in the front, and my wallet wouldn't fit in the jeans style back pockets. Ok, time to over-alteration an orphan garment: rip out and replace with a 7" zip, extend front pocket bags about 2", and rip and replace back pockets with a larger design. Price paid for shorts, $5, alterations, $80, satisfaction for a job well done, priceless! Now the bundle of keys fits in the front pockets, and cell phone and wallet do not fall out of back pockets, now that's some thrifty shopping (and expensive alterations)!

Reply
Andrea
7/24/2019 10:47:47 am

Oh John! That is a pretty funny story. Glad it worked out!
Andrea

Jen
7/18/2019 04:11:33 pm

Just as frustrating (even more?) is when jeans have stitching that LOOKS like pockets at the front but is actually just decorative stitching! These jeans have back pockets only and even those are too small. Wish I could find a tute on slitting open the front decoration and adding pockets in there!

Reply
MadebyMeg link
7/21/2019 12:53:30 pm

That pocket pattern is ridiculous! The slit extends nearly the whole length of the pocket! Glad you thought to extend them :)

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    From Andrea 

    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
    The water is fine!!

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