Hello all
I want to add a pocket to the sweater I’m making. The pattern doesn’t include a pocket so I’m looking for suggestions on a method, video tutorial, maybe your fav way to add a pocket or an easy way. I’d prefer not to just sew a patch pocket on afterward but to encorporate it into the knitting.
Thanks
Adding a pocket
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What kind of pocket are you thinking of: one that opens on a side seam, one that opens parallel to the hem or something else?
Here are a couple of methods:
This vertical pocket can be worked without a flap too. You might stablize the edges with a purl row to create a sharper turn.
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Thank you I’ll have a look at those and think over the next few days.
Definitely with the opening parallel to the hem. Mister wants the same colourwork on the inside as the outside and big enough for a tissue/handkerchief to go in.
I love pockets. I hate sewing pockets into a garment I’ve knitted. So I do seamless pockets. Here are two videos for it. I played with a pocket idea I want to use and now it’s just hanging around, that’s the photo.
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Great thanks.
I imagined doing a diagonal style similar to yours but Mister wants it straight, he says diagonal pockets let things fall out.
Thanks for the kinks.
I only included the photo to show that I don’t know why any pocket couldn’t be done this way. I think Roxanne Richardson shows how she did square pockets in a sweater she did but it might be hidden in one of her longer Friday videos. If you wish I’ll see if I can find it. If you prefer seaming, that’s fine too. I don’t wish to impose my preferences on anyone! I’ve now had my requisite caffeine intake for the day. Lack of sufficient caffeine is my excuse for not including why I posted the photo. 
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I have always fancied this one, but am yet to try it:
https://www.asatricosa.com/flap-pocket/
It is for a top-down garment.
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Thank you for the link. I’ve saved it to look at more closely later.
Thank you. This sweater is bottom up, I should have known to mention that.
I keep thinking to try a top down knit but never seem to get to it.
If it ain’t broke… Since you want square pockets (or Mister does ) bottom up no seam pockets are easy. Just knit to where the bottom of the pocket should be and leave that on hold, pick up stitches on the WS for the bottom of the pocket then knit it to size needed doing a knit on both ends of every row for garter stitch selveges, put live stitches on hold. Go back and resume knitting using ssk or k2tog, whichever you think looks better, and join the edge stitch on the pocket piece with the knitting you’re doing. Picking up the purl bump on the pocket edge is used in the decrease. When you get to the top of the pocket, finish off the edge for the opening and put the held stitches on the needle where you just bound off and continue on your merry way, not a care in the world because you just eliminated seams. Can you tell I really love doing pockets this way?
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Thanks, that’s great. Took me a minute to get my headnariund it but I think I did.
I’ll use either this or the seam method salmonmac posted. They are both good options for what we need.
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I mostly knit bottom up too. That’s probably why I haven’t tried this pocket!
I think I like bottom up because I like to start with the easiest part of a garment. Gives you time to master stitch patterns or work out gauge problems before you have to do any complicated shaping of armscyes or necklines.
I should give top down a try though, and this pocket. Would be nice on a child’s garment to have cool pockets.
Look forward to seeing your pockets!
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Yeah, Misters original idea was a sweater with lots of pockets all different sizes and I like the sound of that, unusual and fun, maybe different colours or striped patterns on each one. Then we side tracked as I’ve been saying for a while I’ll make a sweater of his drawings (although what we have is not what I envisioned but a kind of morphed idea), but even on this one he wants a pocket. Fair enough, I like a pocket too.
If I made a top down I’d need a pattern can just follow and not need adjustments, so often I need to adjust patterns and feel like it’s a step too far to adjust and knit the opposite way at the same time.
My new favourite cast on method is fabulously stretchy for a rib hem which is adding to my like of bottom up sweaters. The same cast on would obviously be good for a neck which needs to have good stretch but in my mind it’s still adding to the bottom up preference!
With so few patterns available for the tween/teen size I can’t imagine even finding a top down pattern for Mister - although at present we still seem to be using age 9 to 10 patterns with size adjustments, I can’t imagine I’ll be able to do this for much longer.
At the risk of overkill on seamless pockets, I found the video I was looking for before. This link should take you right to pocket part of the video. No promises.
Seamless Inset Pocket: Seamless Inset Pocket: 17:34
/watch?v=Rb3KE_cccpY&t=1054s)
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Thanks so much.
I haven’t started the pocket yet. I needed to get my other top finished so i could us those needles for the pocket piece - they are interchangeable but the size is sooooo tiny on the barrel I didn’t want to risk putting the wrong one back on for either project, especially with my confused state too!
I’m just starting to feel ready for the pocket though.
I would probably try the seamless I I could sit and support the knitting a bit better but as I’m laying down and have limited movement I wonder if the separate pocket inner might be an easier option. The one salmonmac posted, knitting the inner and joining it at te top of the pocket. Going back later to sew the inner down.
I don’t know.
Thanks for the video, I’ll definitely watch it.
The best way to do it is what you think will work for you with the least complications to deal with. Some days the only knitting I can do just knits.
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I like to knit the sweater from the bottom, put the stitches for the pocket onto a holder. Cast on stitches for a lining separately. Knit it to size. Then insert it into the spot where the held stitches are and continue up the front of the sweater.
You can knit a ribbed top onto the held stitches (I usually do a seed stitch). Either make it a flap or catch it into the knitting above, on the ends of the flap, for a decorative top. Then you can invisibly stitch the pocket to the interior of the sweater as a final step.
I have also stitched lightweight but strong fabric to the pocket piece for more strength. The pocket, from the pocket back onto the top of the front is still invisible, but finishing the top under the decorative top or flap must be done so as to hide it.
But I like it because I feel the result is stronger, less prone to holes. Especially if I catch a binding tape (like for shoulders) in the pocket seam. It doesn’t show from the front unless there is negative ease. It’s more work, but I walk around like Captain Kangaroo when I have pockets, stuffing them full of stuff. So I like the perception of more strength.
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I had to look up who Captain Kangaroo was.
This is the method I’m using. I have made the lining and almost up to the top of the pocket now.
A fabric lining sounds lovely and I really like interesting linings in things, a beautiful fabric hidden inside something is like a luxurious secret!
Mister wants the same intarsia cartoon picture in the inside- his own happy secret, so that what I’ve done.
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You must not know who Mr. Green Jeans was either. 
. The show ran for a long time, but you are probably much younger than I am.
Too funny about the intarsia inside the pocket! It is like a little secret, isn’t it? Imma gonna try that soon.
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Maybe not younger. Just different TV shows. I’m in the UK.
Mr Green Jean’s? No idea. Sounds like something I’d call Mister though- I’m always on the look out for coloured jeans and chinos for him.
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