Adding a pocket in Elastic Waist Pants

I have a favorite pants pattern. It is an elastic waist pull-on pant that makes up beautifully in linen. The only problem: they have not pocket. So, I added one!

I traced my hand so I would know about how wide I needed it to be.

I drew a slanted tear drop around my hand.

I added 5/8 inch seam allowances around it.

I taped the pocket to my pattern tissue, matching the side seam lines and cut out my pants. (You should note that this took about an extra 1/2 yard and had much wasted fabric.)

I stitched a piece of ribbon along the seam allowances on the front of each pocket for support. (At this point I referred to a handy sewing guide. Look for a review of the Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing coming soon.)

I basted the pocket opening closed along the seam allowance.

I stitched the pants leg together from the hem up to the waist, following the curve of the pocket.

I clipped the corners at the pockets and finished the raw edges. I removed the basting and "bingo!" I've got pockets!

Grandma's Blanket and a pop quiz!

My Big Girl asked her Grandmother in Arkansas "Whatcha makin'?" sometime last fall. The reply, "Oh a blanket for a little girl."


Imagine the BG's surprise when she opened her gifts at Christmas and found this cozy pink, blue, and purple blanket.


She loved it!

And now, for the pop quiz: Notice something different?


Scroll down for a closer look.


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Yep, that's 3 current gaps and 5 teeth she's been paid for. At this rate, the tooth fairy will need a second job!

On more glance at the Christmas tree...

It's almost time to take the tree down. We will wait until next weekend to take down all the Christmas--and pull out some Mardi Gras! But until then, here are a few of the ornaments we've added this Holiday season:

Of course each has its own story.

The candy cane: The LM came home from school with a plain ol' candy cane and said, "Mrs. Claus came to my class today and gave me this to put on the tree so Santa would know I listened good." So we did.

The carousel: The kids and I took a weekend jaunt to New Orleans with my parents. We had a blast at Christmas in the Oaks and rode a carousel that went on and on and on and on... The best part of the entire trip--we were walking through "The Miracle on Fulton Street" when the LM saw a man (in regular clothes) with long white hair. As we walked past the man, LM looked backwards, with his chin on the ground, to see the man also had wire-rimmed glasses, rosy cheeks, a rounded belly, and a long white beard. Then, with his wife giggling beside him, the gentleman leaned down to LM and handed him a candy cane with a wink. I don't know who was more excited to see the real Santa--LM, me, or my Dad!

The red bell: My grandmother gave this to me this year. My Dad made it back in his cub scout days.

The blue ball: Mrs. Lary sent these home with sweet fingerprint snowmen decorating them.

Somehow, I've misplaced the pictures of the ornaments from Great-Grandma, but she gave us 3 beautiful ones also.