PICK A POCKET
Q Is it possible to add pockets to an existing garment? I have a favourite solid colour sweater that’s just calling out for a couple of patch pockets for storing snacks and stationery.
Mary Otterburn, via letter
Every jumper should have a handy pair of pockets, you never know when they’ll come in handy, and womenswear is usually lacking in the pocket department. Adding patch pockets to any garment can create a real wow factor to the finished look too! I have a pocket that can be worked on any existing project, you just need a set of DPNs in the same (or as close as possible) size as the garment needles and some matching or contrasting yarn, depending on your style. Pic 1 Decide where you would like the pocket to lie, and determine the height and width required. You can pick up stitches by using yarn at the back of the work and pulling it through to the front, or by holding the yarn at the front, folding the work and pulling the yarn through for each stitch. With your method of choice, pick up the required amount of stitches down the right side of where the pocket will be, across the bottom and up the left side. Use a different DPN for each side of the pocket.
Pic 2 Using a new ball of yarn and a fourth DPN, slip the first stitch on the bottom needle, knit across the stitches until you get to the last stitch, then SSK this stitch together with the stitch at the bottom of the DPN that’s holding the stitches on the left side of the pocket. Turn the work, slip the first stitch, purl across the bottom stitches to the last stitch and then purl together the last stitch with the stitch at the bottom of the needle on the right side of the pocket. Continue in this manner, working across in rows and joining the side stitches at each end, until all the stitches are used up. Cast off neatly, making sure the tension matches that of the garment. Faye