How To Add Pockets To Your Cosplay

Have you ever complimented someone on their cosplay and had the response, “Thanks, it has pockets.”?

Let’s be honest, pockets make our lives in cosplay so much easier. Since the beginning of my cosplay making adventures I have found many places to hide my phone and money while walking the convention floor. Everything from my boot to a bow quiver, and once I even turned a stuffed Flounder Plush into a purse so I had something. It wasn’t until 2015 when I was making an 18th Century version of Belle that I realised the true power of pockets.

Ever since then, it has been my mission to add pockets to all of my ball gowns. Adding pockets to costumes is not as hard to do as you might think. You might have to get creative to find a place to hide the pocket but I’ll give you some tips on adding pockets and share with you 3 ways to add pockets to your cosplay.

During Costume Construction

The first and easiest way to add pockets is while you are making the darn thing. I have created a printable pocket pattern for all to enjoy, it should be large enough to hold a cell phone, small wallet and maybe even a snack or two. For this tutorial I will show you how to add pockets to a skirt or dress.

1. Cut out 2 “pocket bag” pieces per pocket in matching fabric, this can be the actual fabric used on the garment or something close to it.

2. Overlock or zig zag stitch all the way around the pocket in order to keep the fabric from fraying.

3. On the side seam of the front panel of the skirt or dress measure 4” from the waist and pin the top of the pocket piece down to the bottom with the pocket right sides together, repeat on the side seam of the back panel that lines up with the front.

4. Sew that down and press the pocket piece away from the skirt panel.

5. With the right sides together, pin the two panels together starting at the top, once you get to the pocket, pin around the pocket and continue down the panel.

6. Sew together making sure to reinforce the connection of the pocket, to do this backstitch on the corner turning into the pocket and when turning out of the pocket.

7. Press the entire panel, including the pocket and proceed construction as normal.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have dozens of costumes that you already made and want to add pockets to. Someday I will sit down and add pockets to every single costume I made previously. That day is not today but I will share with you two different methods to add pockets to costumes that have already been constructed.

Add Pockets to a Dress or Skirt After it’s Constructed

Adding a pocket to a finished skirt or dress is very similar to adding it during construction. You will need your seam ripper for this and depending on how the garment was constructed come prepared with patience.

1. Cut out 2 “pocket bag” pieces per pocket in matching fabric, this can be the actual fabric used on the garment or something close to it.

2. Overlock or zig zag stitch all the way around the pocket in order to keep the fabric from fraying.

3. On the side seam of the skirt or dress mark with a pin 4” below the waist. This can be at your natural waist or from a waist seam or band.

4. Measure the opening of the pocket and place a pin that distance away from the first pin.

5. Using your seam ripper, pick out the seam from the inside between the two pins.

6. Once all the unpicking is done, dispose of as much of the thread as possible and then proceed to pin the pocket pieces right sides together to the garment.

7. Sew the pocket pieces to the garment and then press the pocket pieces away from the garment.

8. Bring the pocket pieces to the inside of the garment. Pin them together and then sew them together reinforcing the corners like you would if you were adding them during construction.

Now your garment has pockets!

Add Pockets to a Vest, Jacket or Shirt After it’s Constructed

Adding a pocket to the inside of a shirt or jacket is a bit trickery than adding it to a skirt or dress. What makes it difficult is sewing the pocket into the garment without the stitches being seen. This is easiest to do if the garment has a lining in it.

1. Cut out 1 rectangle at 6 inches wide by 8 inches tall for every pocket you would like to add.

2. Overlock or zig zag stitch all the way around the pocket in order to keep the fabric from fraying.

3. Fold the top of the pocket down ¾” press and sew that in place.

4. Press the other three sides in by ½”.

5. For placement of the pocket, try to find a location that is easy to get to but also won’t look weird if there is say a cellphone in that space. Pin the side and bottom of the pocket piece to the garment.

6. Using a whip stitch, hand stitch down the pocket on the sides and bottom trying to avoid stitching through to the top fabric. Hand sewing is easiest with a thimble, sharp needle and thread wax.

Now you have sufficiently added pockets to your cosplay. This means you hold the power of the universe in your very hands, or at least in your pockets.