saint_arlo

Here’s the first pair of 18th century pockets I sewed. I designed the embroidery based on historic examples of floral patterns. It’s the only art piece I’ve ever had displayed in an art show, which was very exciting.

Unfortunately this pair of pockets, like most of my possessions, was destroyed in hurricane Helene. But I’m happy to report that before their destruction they were deeply loved and were used for every reenacting event I went to and every 18th century school tour I gave for several years!

If you've ever heard the nursery rhyme Lucy Locket Lost Her Pocket and wondered "how does someone lose their entire pocket?" then tying a pocket on like this would be how.

Unlike current pockets in women’s clothing, for several hundred years women’s pockets were massive! They were a separate garment that was tied around the waist over a woman’s stays but under her petticoat(s), which would have slits in the side to allow for ease of access to her pockets. They weren't small pockets either! At one point I was able to fit my phone, keys, wallet, an apple, and entire plastic water bottle in one of my pockets.

You could have a singular pocket, which could be tied independently or you could have a pair that were tied together like the ones I made.

While the most common and affordable reproductions you can purchase now are plain, many of the extant examples we have are embroidered. While it may seem odd at first to put all that work into an accessory that's hidden under your clothes, remember that this was something you'd wear every day, and sometimes it's just nice to see something beautiful as you're getting ready to take on the world. Having spent god knows how many hours hand sewing my pair of pockets, I can confidently say that the labor was worth it for the little delight I got from seeing them every time I got dressed.