Front hip pockets come in different shapes and are all attached to a garment at the waistline and side seams. The pocket opening edge can be understitched or topstitched.
Constructing the pocket
Apply a strip of fusible tape or interfacing on the wrong side of the garment along the pocket opening.
Cut the pocket lining from cotton or other lining fabric and the hip panel, which forms part of the pocket, from self-fabric.
Pin the pocket lining to the pocket opening, right sides together, and stitch it in place using a 1 cm (⅜ in) seam allowance. Press the seam flat.
Trim the lining seam allowance to half its width. Press the seam allowance towards the lining. At this stage, the pocket opening can be understitched if desired. Topstitching is used for this tutorial.
Turn the pocket lining to the wrong side and press the pocket opening, ensuring that the lining is 3 mm (⅛ in) from the pocket opening edge.
On the right side of the garment, topstitch 6 mm (¼ in) from the pocket opening edge.
Pin the hip panel to the pocket opening.
On the wrong side of the garment, pin the hip panel to the pocket lining.
Stitch the pocket bag together, using a 1 cm seam allowance. Press. Neaten the raw edge around the pocket with overlocking. Turn the pocket to the inside of the garment.
Secure the pocket in place with pins and machine-baste it to the waistline and side seam. Neaten the side seam with overlocking.
