Reed Skirt Modification: Ruffled Patch Pockets Tutorial

Patch pockets are the perfect opportunity to get creative and level up your garments. Today we'll be showing a tutorial for how to make the ruffled patch pockets featured on my reed skirt that we shared the other day. Let's dive right in.

First you will need the Reed skirt pattern and piece #14 - Patch Pocket: C & D.

 Here is the original pocket pattern and the modified version. As you can see, I made it slightly shorter and rounded off the bottom corners.

These are the exact modifications made to the original pattern piece but you can use whatever proportions or shape you desire.

Once the modified patterns are made, cut 2 pockets out of self fabric or a contrast fabric or whatever you choose to use. Begin assembling your pockets by folding the top edge of the patch pocket to the wrong side along the first set of fold line notches and press. 

Next you will need to cut two strips of fabric measuring 2 1/2" wide and 34" long. You can alternatively use ribbons or other trims, as well as experiment with the width or length of the strips depending on how wide and how dense you want your ruffle to be.

Fold the strips in half right sides together at each end. Sew along each end with a 1/4" seam allowance. Grade the seam allowance and clip away the corner. 

Turn the corners right side out and press. Continue folding the strip in half with wrong sides together and press well.

Serge or staystitch along the raw edges of each strip.

Run two lines of basting stitches across the length of the strip one at 3/8" and one at 5/8" leaving long thread tails at each end. 

 Align one end of the strip to the lower notch on the pocket piece with right sides facing and the strip's raw edge along the pocket's edge.

Align the other strip end to the lower notch on the other side of the pocket. It is also helpful to pin the center of the strip to the center of the pocket for even ruffle distribution.

Pull the thread tails to gather the strip to fit around the pocket edge and pin in place. 

Stitch from notch to notch with 1/2" seam allowance. 

Fold the top edge of the pocket down towards the front along the notches. Sew the folded edges in place with a 1/2" seam allowance and clip the top corners. 

Flip the pocket so the right side and ruffles are facing out, and press well. Remove basting threads.

Edgestitch across the free-folded edge of the pockets.

Align the pocket to the center front skirt along the pocket placement markings transferred from the pattern. Smooth pocket over and pin in place. Topstitch around the pocket edge to secure pocket to the skirt.

That's it! I hope you feel inspired to go out there and add your own spin to make  the garments you create feel truly your own!