Growing up I remember my mom and my grandma saying that you couldn’t have a pair of pants or a skirt without pockets. Where else would you stash your hanky? As a teenager, I thought a pocket’s only purpose was to make my tummy pooch out. So when did I turn into my mother?

Mom and Grandma were absolutely right: Pants need pockets. And not the little shallow kind. They need nice, deep, useful pockets. Now, when I encounter a pants pattern sans pockets, the first order of business is to add some. With many of my favorite patterns, this means that I need to work around a side-seam zipper. I could move the zipper to the center front or back, but my preferred method is to shift the side-seam opening into the left front pocket. I like this choice for several reasons: It means I don’t need to install a zipper, and if I need to adjust for  t I can easily make adjustments to both side seams. Plus, having the opening shifted toward the front makes for easy dressing and comfortable wear. Let me show you how I revise a pants pattern to add pockets, and how to construct the pants for a good-looking, sturdy result.

Modify the pants front pattern

Begin with a pattern that fits well. It can be intended to have a side, front, or back zipper. Remove any fly zipper extensions.

DRAFT THE POCKET OPENING AND THE BAG

1. Trace the pants front pattern. Trace the top section, from the waistline to a few inches below the crotch point. Include the grainline and dart(s).…