thank you so much for the
sweater love. i'm happy that the pockets were liked.
if you'd like to try adding pockets to your knits too, here is a photo tutorial of how i've done it. ready?
here we go...
here is what you'll need to make your pocket(s). i've used contrasting color wool for the inside, but if you'd rather keep to all one color, then disregard the second color. for demonstration purposes i've made a swatch. before cutting into your sweater, i would suggest always making a swatch to practice on
first, you'll want to determine where the pocket should be, then find the center on the sweater (swatch). it's easy to just look, but if you like you can add pins to mark the placement
if you pull your swatch apart, you'll be able to see the stitches a bit clearer. do you see the double vertical bars? the upside down v? choose one in the top center of where you'd like your pocket opening to be
lift the stitch so you isolate just one
see?
now it's time for the scissors
making sure you have just the one stitch
make (deep breath) the cut
:) okay, that was a bit exhilarating wasn't it?
next, begin unraveling. delicately, pull the cut thread, from one side, then the other. (remember, your working from the center).
having already determined the length of your pocket, only unravel as many stitches
as you want your pocket
again, carefully, without pulling, pick up the bottom stitches. these will be the top of the pocket. do not cut the unraveled wool, these will be woven in at the end
here we have nine stitches picked up. now turn your swatch over to pick up the stitches for the back
now we're on the back side, picking up the stitches from the bottom (which is really the top of the pocket)
don't worry, if that doesn't make sense, i promise it will.
you should have the same number of stitches, here we have nine on the front of the pocket, and nine on the back
now on the back, using a contrasting color if you like, attach your yarn to the first stitch on the needle, and begin to knit across the row. here i used a silky merino held double. it's a good idea to use a yarn with a similar weight if you'll be adding a second color
keep knitting until your pocket is the the length you want
here is how the backside will look, see how the top stitches that you picked up are knit down?
when you get to the desired length, bind off, and come back to the front
front of work, with the green hiding behind
see?
now attach the main color yarn to the first stitch and knit one row across
then bind off, and the front is done
it's already beginning to look like a pocket :)
now it's time to seam and stitch your pocket down
using the main color wool, split your plies and use one to sew with
starting at the top right corner begin seaming. you will of course be much neater than i am here,
the light was fading fast, and i wanted to finish up while it was still good!
but you can see what needs to be done. sew all the way around your pocket, picking up just the backside of the knit stitch. this is so your stitches won't show on the front. sometimes it might be necessary to split stitches. it's okay
now weave in all those left over pieces
admire your bravery
it wasn't so scary afterall and now you'll have a place for your treasures. one of my favorite posts,
is about these things (treasures and pockets), and it's titled, very originally,
pockets (there is knitting too)
if you'd like more of a hidden pocket, when your using a contrasting color, just knit the first two rows
on the back side with the main color yarn, then add the contrast
your friends will think you are quite clever. happy pocket making!
xxx lori
Clever indeed!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, thanks so much for taking the time to make such a great tutorial for us! Count me in as one more friend who thinks you're very clever indeed ;)!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
G
Wow, I agree with Heather, very clever indeed. I will need to practice on a lot of swatches before getting the hang of this knitting trick. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! :)
ReplyDeletethat is the cutest post of pocket making ever! i'm going to come back to this day when i need to add a pocket! lori - thank you for all the loving comments on my blog. i loved reading them and can't wait for you to meet indy. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks! Love your sweater and, I think, I'm going to try it WITH the pocket!
ReplyDeleteYour instructions for the pocket making are so wonderful. I might even try to add pockets to a couple of sweaters that don't have them before I knit your sweater. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteDiane in North Carolina
oh I LOVE this - clearer than anything I have ever seen - I feel bold!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are so nifty aren't they ... brilliant tutorial Lori x
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Now.. I just have to figure out how to do this with something knit in stockinette.. hmmmm. Thanks for the excellent tutorial!
ReplyDeleteyou can do this on stockinette, it will just be more visible. i would try it on an old sweater or a swatch so you can see how it will look.
DeleteFunny, I caught myself holding my breath as I looked at the picture of you with the sissors! Lori, this is fantastic and I can not wait to try it myself! You my dear are a knittng Goddess!
ReplyDeleteYou make it look easy!
ReplyDeleteSure you helped a lot of people with this tutorial :)
That was great! Last frame was so cute.
ReplyDeleteScotch! Scotch! I need my bottle of Scotch!
ReplyDeleteWow! Nice tutorial! A bit scary with the scissors... You definitely need to know what you're doing! So cute with the little swisses...
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic tutorial! Thank you so much for taking the time to show us all, Lori.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing--I'll look forward to giving this a try sometime!
ReplyDeleteYou are so clever Lori! Nana arrived on the plane today with lots of knitted goodies..yay! :)
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully clearly explained! I can't wait to try it. I think you left out one very critical step--shouldn't there be a glass of wine in there before the scissors part? No wait, I think it comes after the scissors part to celebrate! Maybe this is a 2 glasses of wine project.
ReplyDeletesteph, this is definetly a whisky project. cutting into a sweater you've just knit feels a bit like jumping off a cliff. it is scary! swatch practice though, and you'll feel comfortable. (like jumping with wings). hee hee.
DeleteWow, what a fantastic tutorial Lori, I shall bookmark for future reference. I couldn't help thinking that the step where you make the "cut" is a bit like the scene in every spy movie (or numerous episodes of British secret service drama "Spooks") where they crouch over the ticking timebomb with a pair of snippers, and hold their breath while they choose a coloured wire and hope for the best...
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Lori. Very clear photos and instructions, a lot of thought and effort on your part. You make it all look so easy!
ReplyDeleteFantastic. Love the photos. You make it look so simple. If it's ok with you, I would like to link this post from our blog: arrowacresfarm.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteWould that be ok with you?
p.s. LOVE the little friends in the last picture.
leanne, thank you for asking, if it helps someone i'd be delighted. :)
DeleteThis was so incredibly helpful. I haven't yet braved cutting into my knitting but if I ever work up the nerve, I think I can do this.
ReplyDeleteJonny and I were up way too late reading through this tutorial last night. (I like for him to read through tutorials with me because he is good with details.) Then we went and read the other pocket post. I am going to knit this sweater just to do the pockets now. Thanks for sharing the instructions!!
ReplyDeleteHa I thought about that too, make a sweater just to add pockets!
DeleteThis is SO clever! Thanks for sharing. Oooooh, this could be made with old sweaters as well, right?
ReplyDeleteXO
Lis
yes!
DeleteYour using the word Fun in the title of this post was an excellent idea! Readers will be intrigued to learn from your excellent words and photos how a pocket can be inserted into a finished style.
ReplyDeleteBravo to you for your wit and generosity.
Thank you for going to all this work for a step by step tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI want to try it, and after reading Lis's comment, I think I'll start with an old sweater :-)
Love all the little Woodland admirers ♥
Wonderful! Thanks for posting this. Love the last picture. :)
ReplyDeleteLori, two things have inspired me this week to (re-)learn to knit: my friend made my baby son a knitted vest (a la Soulemama) and this pocket tutorial. So I'll be saluting you with my dash of whiskey as I broach the needles, ha ha :)
ReplyDeletewow lori, i missed this post.... this is excellent teaching !
ReplyDeletethank you !x
Wow - that is such a clear tutorial Lori - thank you for taking the time to do this. You have made it seem so do-able and not scary at all. xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial - the pockets look great and you made the yarn cutting seem almost not scary ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lori for the best ever pocket story! I can imagine you there on a dream island surrounded by all those beautiful treasures without any pocket!
ReplyDeleteThank you also for showing how you made this pullover pocket - easier than I guessed! And so cute!
x Teje
Thank you for a wonderful tutorial, Lori! It's not so scary after all when you know how!! You explained it all so well. Your lovely cardigan pattern is making me want to go and knit again!
ReplyDeleteBtw, thank you for your question on my post about cross stitch. I don't actually use a magnifier(yet) but I do always work in a really good light, either daylight by a window, or in the summer outside, or otherwise with a bright daylight lamp. (And I do know a lot of ladies who found they need reading glasses for cross stitching, even if they don't for anything else!!)
Have a great week.
Helen x
What a cute little post! I can't sew, or knit, or stitch, to save my life. BUT - I appreciate those who can. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd your little animals at the end are so adorable!!
You are very clever Lori Ann. Thanks for such a clear and concise tutorial...you make it look so easy. This must have taken ages to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for pointing out the lack of pockets in the annabel cardigan. It's one that I've been planning to make ever since seeing a lovely green version on another blog and now yours. Thankfully once I've saved up to get the yarn and make it I won't have to go through this process but knit them as I go along. Good job because I don't like whisky...he he... but seriously I'm sure I'd unravel the whole cardigan if I tried...
Take care.
Deb
You are such agreat instructor, Lori, and see how the little squirrels peer inside (that is the kind of pocket I sit inside, too, guys. Come on in. There must be some crumbs left). I will TRY it on a swatch, but still think I wouldn`t dare to do it on a real cardigan. I am so bad at losing and retracing stitches. Can you tell us how to do THAT? You will now get questions all over! Seeing you can explain so well! Where is your hat to but my Euros in?
ReplyDeletePinned it! As did several others, as I saw when I went to pinterest... Your pictures are so beautiful Lori. Thanks again for inspiring!
ReplyDeleteOh Lori! This is so wonderful, thank you so much!
ReplyDeletexo
Linda
Lori, thank you so much! This is very, very helpful and your pictures are great! Pinned it too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori, that doesn't look too hard... except the cutting into the knitting bit, which would be quite hard. ;)
ReplyDeleteLori, thank you so much for this tutorial. I think I might print it out and save it. A little scary, but do-able. I'm not sure I want to try it on my Annabel but perhaps. A little pocket is always helpful!
ReplyDeleteI cringed just LOOKING at your photo of the scissors snipping the knitting. But you really do explain it well and make it seem so do-able. That's a skill, you know. You are clearly a collector (and sharer) of impressive skills :-)
ReplyDeleteHow very clever ! This tutorial got me all excited and I can't wait to try it out...thanks so much Lori.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial, Lori! Very cleverly done!
ReplyDeleteHey Lori!
ReplyDeleteI just found this tutorial! How very wonderful of you to put this up! I may just give it a try soon!
Thank you so much for explaining this so clearly. I REALLY appreciate the pictures, and have bookmarked this for future reference. I'm thinking about making a reading shawl, and the idea of putting in hidden pockets instead of patch is VERY attractive and potentially WARMER for the wearer. ;-)
ReplyDeletegeez, very clever. I wonder if this brand new knitter could do that? :~)
ReplyDeleteyes!
DeleteThank you so much for posting this detailed tutorial. Just what I needed to get the courage to add pockets to a favorite sweater - Aidez. Once I cut the yarn, the rest was easy ...but a glass of wine is essential...thanks Lori!
ReplyDeletebtw...love the little squirrels in the last photo - too cute!
i love that you did this! thank you so very much.
ReplyDeletecheers!