How To Easily Embellish Your Non-Designer Jean Pockets Like A Designer

When a blog reader contacted me for help decorating jean pockets, I had to help her embellish the jean pockets. She loved the design esthetic of the Miss Me Jean Brand but struggled with the brand’s fit on her body. Her objective was to find a style of jeans that fit her body and would allow her the creative freedom to decorate the pockets in a style that reflected her personality. Thankfully, she found a brand that fit beautifully, but now needed a little sewing help with the best way to decorate her new jean pockets.

While this may seem like an overwhelming job, it really isn’t if you follow a few simple steps. So, if you too struggle with bare jean pockets and would like to create amazing designer and embellish your jean pockets, read on. Before sewing:

Select a pair of jeans with no existing design on the back pockets and no rivets on the lower section

Jeans often have some type of decorative stitching on the back pockets, so unless you can incorporate the detail into your design, look for a plain pocket. Most jeans have rivets at the corners to prevent the pockets from tearing with normal use. Rivets are a permanent feature and CANNOT be removed and reset after embellishment.

Select an embellishment style that will work on your jean pockets

Do you like a lot of fancy stitching detail or embroidery? Maybe you’re interested in adding sequin and rhinestone detail? Whatever design you select, make sure it fits within the pocket borders. One way to determine if a design fits, is to divide your pocket into three parts.

Most of your embellishment work will be placed in the lower two thirds of the pocket since it isn’t always possible to embellish the top, so be mindful when laying out your design. Using a disappearing ink pen is helpful for transferring design and stitching lines to your pockets.  Once you have your design elements marked out, it’s time to get to work!

Step 1:  Trace the outline of your pocket you want to embellish

VERY IMPORTANT!!  Before proceeding, TRACE the outline of your pocket with your disappearing ink pen. Make sure the line is clear and visible. If the line is faint, use a new pen to trace the line. This line will be necessary when positioning the pocket once you have completed your embellishment.

Step 2:  Loosen the jean pocket stitching

Jean seams are sewn with a heavyweight jean thread and you will need to use this thread and a jeans needle to resew your pocket once it is embellished.  For now, use a heavy weight seam ripper and CAREFULLY, rip out the pocket topstitching in your design area. AVOID removing stitching one inch from the top. It is best to only remove as much topstitching as necessary to work on the pocket. In my example, I only removed some of the stitching. I removed the stitching between the red arrows. I also left the top of the original thread so that I had a visual reference for design placement and a guide for reattaching the pocket. No need to ‘clean’ off the remnants of the old stitching.

Step 3: Prepping to embellish jean pockets

Before adding ANY decorative stitching or embroidery, apply a single layer of Sulky’s Totally Stable Iron On Stabilizer.  If you will be adding any embroidery or heavy decorative stitching, you will also want to use a layer of Pellon Stitch and Tear Stabilizer. NOTE:  Two layers of iron on stabilizer can be used if you do not have tear away stabilizer.

Step 4:  Sew Decorative Stitching or Trim

For this step, pretend you are decorating a cake.  When decorating a cake, your base layer is the thinnest and it’s the layer upon which you will build. We will be applying flat, decorative stitching or embroidery first.  Once you have all of your ‘flat’ sewing completed, you can then add your textured trim (if applicable). Think of this second decorative layer as the fondant, lines and dots, and secondary detail on the cake. Once all the foundation decoration work is finished, then add any raised decorations (like rhinestones or studs) since we cannot sew thru these items.  On our pretend cake, this would be the beautiful icing roses, fancy shells, and pretty ruffles.

It’s important to add the ‘un-sewable’ stuff last and keep it away from your pocket topstitched seams.  You NEVER want to sew over rhinestones, studs, buttons, etc.  These items can damage your sewing machine!

Step 5:   Carefully remove the stabilizer

Once all your decorative stitching is completed, carefully cut/tear away excess stabilizer. If you cannot remove all of it, don’t worry. It will work loose in future washings and pull away from the design.

Step 6:  Reposition the pocket on your jeans

Remember when we traced the pockets before starting? Now use those lines to easily reposition the pockets. They are VERY handy and will help you have accurate pocket placement. Pin pockets in place.

Step 7:  Sew pockets to jeans

Thread sewing machine with jeans thread. You will also need to use the jeans thread in your bobbin. Using a straight stitch and a jeans needle, start by sewing over the original seams. (This is why I don’t remove that original thread—I use it as a guide) Be sure to backstitch when starting and ending a seam. This will secure the stitching.

Finishing Up:  Trim all thread tails and if any old threads are sticking up, carefully pull them out.

If you want to add rhinestones, studs, rhinestuds, etc.,on your topstitched seams, now is the time to do so. If gluing, follow manufacturer’s instructions and allow the glue to cure before wearing.

If you follow these simple steps, you too can embellish your jean pockets like a designer!
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