Clothing without pockets is ridiculous.
I carry a lot of things in my pockets. I put my phone in, my keys, money, a small wallet with ID. At times my pockets carry lens caps, tissue, paper towels, pens or pencils or markers. If I can stash things in pockets, I would rather do that than go out with a purse slung on a shoulder.
Defined by Wikipedia as
A pocket is a bag– or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets are also attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items. In older usage, a pocket was a separate small bag or pouch.
That works for me. Pockets have been found as bags to carry items, such as with Otzi the Iceman, bags worn under clothing with slits to access them, and so on. It’s good to have them to carry things, leaving hands free. Backpacks and other types of bags (fanny packs, butt bags, whatever, be you English or American 😉 ) are all useful ways to tote.
And then there is a “poke” – a dialectical word for a pocket, used in mountain areas to this day in the US. “A pig in a poke” leaves a lot to the imagination.
So, why pockets?
Sewing. I love sewing, and have decided to work on expanding my skills as well as knowledge. Hand sewing is an art I have long enjoyed, and have set myself the task of improving those skills, such as hand sewing a 17th century shift in linen. (Nearly done!) I have also collected some books on medieval clothing, Tudor, and Regency era clothing. Hand sewing was done in all those eras. But, as I also like modern clothing, I have decided to improve my machine skills, such as with my serger / overlocker and coverstitch machines. All this in addition to my first love, painting.
Back to pockets.
Burnley & Trowbridge have a whole YouTube series on sewing pockets that tie around your waist, accessible through your clothing. Very simple and elegant. Here is the first video in the process:
And there is a book that I just bought, by Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux:
Definitely a great read so far – scholarly, thought-provoking, and a great look at the humble pocket.
However, is it just utilitarian? Nope! Pockets can also be works of art, with fine embroidery, as seen on the cover of the book above. They are also included in the wardrobes of dolls form long ago. You can read about pockets at England’s great Victoria & Albert Museum.
Besides the V&A, VADS has a whole series of pictures and information about pockets – 373 to be exact – of accounts of material bought for pockets, paintings with pockets, dolls clothed with pockets, children and adult clothing with pockets. Scroll through it – it is a stunning resource for pockets and all kinds of other things. Words cannot describe the visual richness and historical treasures found at these sites. Here is an image of a doll, skirts flying, and pocket showing:
And so, I will leave you with thoughts of the humble pocket. I have plenty on me today – two in my fleece vest, two big ones in my pants. I am a very happy girl, I assure you. If it ’twere true I had on socks, I could also use those for pockets. (We won’t discuss my underwear.)
Pocketses are truly precious. Gollum knows. So do I. So do you.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 