How to Knit a Semi-Round Patch Pocket with Short Rows
A half-round pocket knitted separately and sewn on. Short rows shape the curve, a few garter rows stop the edge rolling, and fur yarn makes it cosy.
This half-round pocket is knitted on its own and then sewn onto a sweater or coat. The curve at the bottom is made with short rows: you start with a few stitches in the middle and pick up three more at each side on every row.
Stitch count
My wool is quite thick, so I cast on 21 stitches. Cast on more or fewer depending on how wide you want the pocket and on your wool. Keep an odd number so there's a middle stitch.
Short rows for the rounded bottom
- Row 1 (RS):right side
Knit 10. Mark the middle (11th) stitch, knit it, and knit 3 more. Turn.
- Row 2 (WS):wrong side
Purl 3, purl the middle stitch, purl 3. Turn.
- Row 3 (RS):right side
Slip 1, knit to the middle stitch, knit it, knit the 3 you worked before, then knit 3 more. Turn.
- Row 4 (WS):wrong side
Slip 1, purl to the middle stitch, purl it and the stitches worked before. You'll see a small gap where you last turned. Purl 3 more past the gap. Turn.
- Continue
On every row, work to the gap and then 3 more stitches past it, and turn.
- Last short rows
When only 4 stitches are left unworked at the side, purl to the gap, purl 3 more (1 stitch left), and turn. Knit the whole row to the very end, then purl all 21 stitches.
The rounded bottom is now done.
The body and border
- Work stockinette (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) until the pocket is as tall as you want. I knitted 21 rows in all, which gave 8 cm high and 11 cm wide. Go by the measurement, because your wool and tension may differ.
- To stop the top edge rolling, knit a garter border: knit one row from the wrong side, then knit 2 more rows.
Optional: a fur yarn edge
For a cosy look, switch to fur yarn and knit 4–6 rows in garter stitch (knit every row). I did 6 rows on each pocket. Then bind off.
Attach the pocket
Place the pockets where you like. On a coat they look best lower down, one on each side. Sew them on with a sewing needle and the same yarn.
- knitted pocket
- patch pocket
- short rows
- baby coat
- fur yarn
- knitting technique
- hand knitting
- wool
