knittingthestash Tutorial: Adding Pockets to a Top-down Sweater

[@gillianm6843]

So grateful for technology and those who know how to use it! This was just what I needed.

[@knittingthestash]

Awesome, Gillian! Thanks for the kind comment!

[@cindyczarnecki2836]

Thanks! Granddaughter wants a button up cardigan with a hood and pockets, I want a top down pattern! Great tutorial 🎉

[@knittingthestash]

Excellent! Good luck with the sweater project :)

[@vickik2369]

You’re a very good teacher. Thx for sharing your talents. :)

[@knittingthestash]

Thank you so much for your kind comment!

[@knittingszn]

Very interesting. Adding pockets seems intimidating but the technique you used is more straight forward than I had thought. Thanks for the video.

[@knittingthestash]

Excellent! appreciate the feedback and kind words :)

[@cathyinmt]

Another great tutorial Melissa! Thank you for all you do for the knitt community!

[@melissalittlefield907]

Thanks, Cathy! :)

[@Snow-ij8of]

Great video, clear instructions and perfect in screen knitting. I also wondered how pockets look so well put together.

[@jilliankonig2759]

Great tutorial! I wondered why you didn't use magic knot or split splice to make the yarn at the top of the right side of the pocket to make it long enough to tack the pocket downward and end up with only one end to weave in.

[@lynntimmer1620]

Great timing! I am making a similar cardigan and will now probably add a pocket! Your method works well on color work, too, because you can continue the color pattern. I did this on my bottom-up Alice Starmore Rona cardigan because I wanted a small pocket! Your tutorial was well done and such a great idea to add to one's toolbox. Thank you!

[@knittingthestash]

Great point, Lynn! I hadn't considered that angle, but yes, colorwork would be just fine and continuous with this method :) Thanks!

[@Zillah123]

Perfectly explained, thanks Melissa! Worked well for my RebelRebel which I’m just finishing off.

[@knittingthestash]

Wonderful! Thanks for the kind note, Karen!

[@cwiddoes100]

Thank you for this tutorial, I wasn’t sure how to tack down the sides of the sweater I am finishing and this solved it all for me!

[@knittingthestash]

So lovely to hear this! Thanks for commenting :)

[@MsMegil]

Thank you! I have a cardigan here that has been patiently waiting here for me to learn this.

[@knittingthestash]

OoHhh perfect timing! Go for it!

[@knittingpoppy]

So pleased to see you are doing tutorials Melissa. I once put pockets on a little dress, but I had to get some help in a knitting group because it was quite a puzzle. I'm going to put this in my knitting tutorial list I have here on You Tube as it looks really comprehensive, thank you. I wonder if you could put on your future list a tutorial on adding short rows to a top down garment when they aren't included in the pattern.

[@melissalittlefield907]

Thanks, Louise! The possibilities are endless now :) And yes I will absolutely add the short row demo to the queue--thanks for the reminder! Happy new year to you and yours!

[@knittingpoppy]

@@melissalittlefield907 Happy New Year to you, Spencer, Tink, Millie and all the family!

[@conniehoffman5917]

Very nice! Always love learning new things from you.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks so much, Connie :) I'm honored

[@MikiCrespo]

Excellent tutorial. Thanks so much 💖

[@melissalittlefield907]

Thanks, Maria!

[@suemercer9859]

Very interesting. I feel very confident now in placing a pocket when not part of the otter. Many thanks xox

[@knittingthestash]

Excellent! Thanks, Susan!

[@candygrubisic]

Cool. Love it. I prefer pockets too. Look forward to seeing it finished.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Candy!

[@juliehertel21]

Thank you. I have not tried pockets this way and I am so looking forward to this more professional pocket.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks Julie! I hope you do!

[@KittenWAW]

Wow, this really led to an interesting history lesson for me! Pocket: A pouchlike inclusion in pre-pandemic clothing to facilitate carrying objects, such as keys. Key: An archaic device used to engage a locking mechanism, often used to secure the entrance when leaving the domicile - a practice which was allowed in pre-pandemic times; also used to start the engine of an automobile, a system of conveyance, when there were places to which one could convey, in pre-pandemic times. Here's to a better year starting in a few days.

[@melissalittlefield907]

LOVE this. HAHAHA. Again, I passed your brilliance on to Spencer over breakfast. Thanks for the good humor and happy new year!

[@KittenWAW]

@@melissalittlefield907 I think next year will have to be somewhat austere for me. I started out conscientiously wearing the mask over my nose and under my chin. Now, with my covid weight, when I put it under my chin, it only seems to reach up to my navel. SIGH.

[@SuziQZ]

Looks great. You are very good at explaining things.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks, Suzi! Thank means a lot :)

[@cindymaag4212]

Brilliant!

[@melissalittlefield907]

Thanks so much, Cindy!

[@ML-tn1jl]

Perfect! Thank you!

[@agnesadyana7344]

Thank you for sharing. 👍

[@vickishaw374]

Great video. I wish I had seen this for my last sweater. Question... for a shorter sweater, would you ever extend the pockets into the body ribbing or do you suggest stopping them before the ribbing? I never seem to start my pockets soon enough for my top-down sweaters so I’m always excited looking for that little extra length that the ribbing gives me, but I’m never sure if it’s okay for the pockets to be as long or almost as long as the ribbing. Thanks!

[@knittingthestash]

Good question, Vicki! The issue I'd see with extending into the ribbing would be maintaining an equal stretchiness in the ribbing over the pocket (which would likely be tacked onto the back (or, less likely, the front, I suppose). Tacking it down might make the ribbing appear more stiff . . . but you're making me think this might be an interesting challenge . . . and I'm guessing there are some designers who have some tips.

[@cindyendres6085]

Trying to knit my first sweater and all was going good until the pockets.... Ugh

[@knittingthestash]

Which sweater, Cindy?

[@cindyendres6085]

@@knittingthestash it is called Pure Comfort Cardigan.... I have now ripped it out to before the pockets and am going to try to do it the way you do, or maybe no pockets.

[@knittingthestash]

@@cindyendres6085 Sometimes ripping is the only way! Good luck with the sweater :)

[@kathydent2116]

What's going on with KZbin knitting podcasts? How come the verb to knit only has a present tense? If you made this jumper in the past, then you knitted it.