The Round About Pocket Tutorial

I have been toying with a circle pocket design (mostly in my head) after seeing a picture of a dress that designer Heather Bailey had sewed. The dress featured a flower pocket complete with petals where the center of the flower was the pocket opening. So stinking cute! I went right to work sewing Soren a skirt featuring this type of pocket. I had no idea how to construct such a thing but pushed forward determined to make one similar. I turned out a wearable skirt but wasn't completely satisfied with the function of the pocket. Many months later I was still dreaming about this pocket and went on the search for a better method. After speaking to a professional seamstress friend I was pointed in the direction of vintage sewing books. Apparently circle pockets were once a popular look in athletic wear in the 60's. Go figure. I eventually hit pay dirt and found a description of how to create this type of pocket. Which I will now share with you. I am no pattern maker but may attempt a PDF if people are interested and can't follow my written directions here! ; )

The first step is to decide how large you want the hole to be. I made my circle 3.5 inches across. You can use a compass or find something to trace around. To make the pattern piece draw your circle on a piece of paper. Then draw a half circle 1 inch larger on the tops and sides of the circle. Draw straight lines down to create the overall pocket size size you desire (make sure it won't hang out the bottom of your garment). I think this picture will give most people the idea.


You will use this piece as the pocket lining (back). Cut one out of your pocket fabric.





Cut a second piece out of your pocket fabric with the center circle removed for the pocket facing.





Now use the pattern piece with the center circle removed to find the right placement on your skirt . Trace around the circle on your fabric.







Cut the circle you just traced out leaving a big scary hole in your beautiful fabric!





If you are going to add petals around your hole do it now.
Put your pocket facing on top of the hole in your fabric with right sides of fabrics facing each other. Sew all around your hole.




Turn the pocket facing to the inside of the garment and press.






Top stich around the circle close to the edge.






Flip your garment over and place the pocket back over the hole alining it's edges with the pocket facing.





Sew pocket facing to the lining. I used my serger.









Pocket Complete!!!







You can use bias tape around the hole instead of facing the pocket from the front. If that makes any sense at all! Here is a picture. Just assemble the pocket and join the pocket to the back of your garment edging the raw circles with bias tape.