Cool Jean Pocket Idea... Lost pics from Chantilly....

Hi everyone, 

I was meaning to show you a cool pocket idea that I saw in Chantilly, but I lost the card that the pics were on.  Cleaning up this morning I found it on the floor behind my desk!  Yay, now I can share. 

Here is the front pocket:

The design under the pocket is neat, but what really caught my attention was the little welt opening that was sewn into the denim facing...

I'm wondering if I would want that to be a decorative or functional welt.  If decorative, it would be really easy to do.  --Slash the denim facing pattern where you wanted the welt to be positioned, add seam allowances and then cut out two denim pieces.  To construct this "welt", I would treat it like a slot seam.  Baste the pieces together and press the seam allowances open.  Position a piece of contrasting fabric behind the basted seam (Use a strip of fabric the width of your seam allowances pressed open x the length of the  basted seam.)   Topstitch 1/4" away from the basted seam on each side.  Remove basting stitches and you're done!  The contrasting fabric will peek out -- I would use the same print fabric as my waistband facing and pocket facings.  Then you can treat the denim facing as you would if the slot seam wasn't there...

Now, on to the back pocket.

Again, neat denim details.  You can applique denim shapes onto the back pocket before you topstitch it in place.  ... And, I really like the faux welt opening at the top of the pocket.  Again really easy.   Cut your back pocket pattern piece into two pieces--The top piece would be about an inch wide and the bottom piece would be the rest of the pocket.  Remeber to add a seam allowance to the cut edges of the pattern piece. Cut the pieces out of denim.  Baste the top and bottom pocket pieces together and press the seam allowances open.  Topstitch 1/4" away from the basted seam to create the faux welt opening.  Start stitching along the top pocket piece, 1inch away from the side edge. Stop 1 inch from the opposite side edge.  Pivot and stitch 1/2 inch down, thru the basted seam onto the bottom pocket piece.  Pivot and stitch 1/4" away from the basted seam along the bottom pocket piece.  Stop 1 inch from the side edge, pivot and stitch to your start point!    You can bar tack the 1/2" side edges of the faux welt opening to reinforce them. 

Then treat the pocket as you normally would.  Turn the side and top edges under, press well.  Position the back pocket on the back leg and topstitch in place as usual... except you're topstitching along the top edge of the pocket as well! 


If you have any questions about this technique, post a comment or shoot me an email!

One last pic from Chantilly.  I love it when ladies visit the booth wearing something they made from one of my patterns.  I love the exposed seams on this Tee!  She used a 4-thread wide with varigated thread... very cool!