Pockets carry more than objects. They carry stories of autonomy, access, and the long fight for equality. For generations, women in Western societies were denied functional pockets, not because they didn’t “fit” the silhouette, but because pockets symbolised independence: a private space, a place to keep money, a small but powerful sign of agency.

Thankfully, this is something we can change with our own hands. By designing and sewing our clothes, we reclaim the right to decide what we carry and how we carry it. In this issue, ten designers take on the challenge of reimagining garments from the pocket outwards: visible, generous, useful, and unapologetically central.

Issue No.18 celebrates POCKETS as a statement of style, function, and freedom.

Inside, you’ll discover 10 sewing patterns by independent designers worldwide, each exploring pockets as form, function, and expression. Expect beautifully engineered details, sculptural silhouettes, clever construction, and playful ideas that turn a practical element into a defining feature.

Each pattern design comes with printed sewing patterns and step-by-step instructions, making them accessible for sewists of all skill levels. With sizes ranging from 31″ (78 cm) to 57.5″ (146 cm) bust, these patterns celebrate creativity for every body.

Alongside the patterns, you’ll find essays and stories diving into clothing, identity, and the cultural history of pockets, a reminder of how the simplest parts of our garments can carry the deepest meaning.

TAUKO Magazine No.18: POCKETS — for makers who believe that what we wear should hold space for us.

TAUKO Magazine is an award-winning independent print and digital publication for home sewists worldwide. Featuring sewing patterns, interviews, columns, articles, and expert tips from international contributors, it connects craft, culture, and sustainability in every issue.

FORMAT

TAUKO is a 128-page collectable that measures in at 275mm high x 215mm wide. There are four folded paper pattern sheets included with the magazine. It is printed in Estonia with a glue and stitch binding to secure durability and easy reading.

DESIGNS & DESIGNERS

ANITA by Claudia Pozzoli / @s.e.n.t.i.m.e.n.t.a.l

AUDETTE by Aishat A. Sulaiman / @sleev3d_studio

BLOCK PARTY by Satu Peltomäki / @meandkiddo.patterns

FARM TO TABLE by Ai Le / @ai.made.it

KEJA by Anke Nellen & Anja Montforts / @smartpattern

LINDEN by Laura Fullerton / @capstone_pattern_co

ROO by Liz Haywood / @lizhaywood3754

RUCKUS by Laura Casey / @sewdifferentpatterns

SEDITION by Laura Casey / @sewdifferentpatterns

TAMI by Regina Winther / @soft.fold.studio

POCKETOP by Cindy Bithell / @the_sew_sew

Articles, essays and columns:

Designing Freedom: On Pockets, Power, and Women’s Clothes

Words by Hannah Carlson

Clothing and Identity

Words and photography by Cornelius Quiring

From 18th-Century Hanging Pockets to Modern Zero-Waste Designs

Words and photography by Liz Haywood

Pocket Index

Book Reviews

Words by Mila Moisio, photography by Laura Oja

Sponsored pages:

Masters of the Cut: LDH Scissors

A Legacy of Strong Women and Community:

The Story of Katia Fabrics

The Pocket Location: Puistokatu 4, Helsinki

Community Spotlight: Patterns from TAUKO Magazine Issue 17 in Practise

Contributing writers, photographers, stylists, hair and make-up artists, and models

Books