Set-In Pockets: Part One

As part of our ongoing Deluxe Cable Collection Knitalong, today I bring you a tutorial on adding set-in pockets to a sweater.

There are two cardigans in the collection that are written to have set-in pockets. We have the Tallulah Cardigan:

TallulahCardigan_132_hires

And the Greensboro Cardigan:

Greensboro_095_hires

First, let me explain what the”set-in” part of set-in pockets means. There are several ways to incorporate pockets into a piece of knitting. In addition to the set-in method, the other common way to add a pocket is to sew on a patch pocket. With patch pockets, you complete your garment, knit a pocket, and sew it to the outside of your knitting. It can be nice to place the pocket exactly where you want it, but for a sweater that’s patterned, it can be tough to make a patch pocket look nice.

With a set-in pocket, you sew a liner separately. Then, when it’s time for the pocket opening in your garment, you put the pocket stitches on hold and then begin working from the liner set of stitches.

The most beneficial aspect of the set-in pocket, and the reason I chose it for both projects above, is that it makes your pocket blend seamlessly into a heavily patterned garment. Let me explain the how and why!

To show you just how easy it is to put pockets on virtually any cardigan or sweater, I decided to knit the Wesley Heights sweater from the collection (which is written to be a pullover) and turn it into a cardigan. I’m basically making a Greensboro Cardigan with Wesley Heights patterning.

Here are the fronts for my cardigan. I’m working them two at a time on a single circular needle.

SetInPockets_1

I’ve reached the height where I want my pocket opening to be. I have knit a pocket liner for each pocket in the same yarn in simple stockinette stitch. The liner will be going on the inside of the sweater and won’t be seen, so stockinette works fine. It will also provide a smooth surface for my hand to slide into.

SetInPockets_2

First, I knit part of my row  up to where my pocket opening will be.

SetInPockets_3

The next step is to place some of my sweater stitches on a holder. I will eventually come back to these stitches and knit my ribbed pocket edging.

SetInPockets_4

My liner is 25 stitches wide, so I put the next 25 stitches from my front piece on hold also. Next, I work the next row of my twisted pattern stitch over the liner stitches. I am incorporating the liner into my main sweater pattern so it will look like a pocket magically grew out of my sweater.

SetInPockets_5

After working in pattern across the liner, I simply finish my row and the rest of my front piece like usual.

SetInPockets_6

You can see that the liner is sitting behind my sweater front. Once I’ve finished the front, I’ll come back and knit my pocket edging and sew down the liner to the inside. And I’ll show you how – stay tuned!

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4 Replies to “Set-In Pockets: Part One”

  1. Seems intuitive, but it sure does help to have images. Thanks for the clear, close up images and the easy to understand instructions.

  2. Have I missed Part II? I’d love to understand the rest of this process before attempting a sweater with this style pocket.

    1. Hi Annette,

      I’m so sorry – i never did get to doing the second part of this tutorial. But there’s really not much to it! After the rest of the front piece of the sweater is complete, there are just two steps left. One is to knit the pocket edging upward from the held stitches. The other step is to sew the pocket liner to the inside of the sweater. Both of these instructions are included in this particular pattern. I hope you give it a try – it’s my favorite way of making pockets in a knit sweater!

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