Removing the pocket from a shirt

[johnnynorman3]

Saw a white, spread collar Borrelli shirt in my size yesterday for $129. French cuff. Exactly what I need for my wedding. I was going to wear my Jantzen shirt, but it would be cool to wear Borrelli. The only problem is that it has a pocket with a monogram on it

. Is it possible to just remove the pocket without incurring substantial extra costs or screwing up the shirt?

 

[j]

I've removed a pocket before. It's simple. Get a seam ripper, carefully pick at the edge of the stitching at the top of the pocket, and gently pull it apart as you cut every couple of stitches. Continue all the way around, pull out the threads, wash and iron, and you shouldn't be able to tell.

...But is the shirt used? If it has a pocket with a monogram it sounds as if it might be. The only issue with a used shirt is that there may be some difference in the way the fabric has faded under the pocket. If it appears in like new shape, though, I don't think it would be a big worry.

 

[johnnynorman3]

it's new. My guess it was a nonpickup or an overproduction. It was still in its original bag and was flawless.

 

[j]

Should be fine then. Just hack off that pocket and wash it; should be good as new.

 

[hermes]

i've done this as well but i find it depends on the type of cotton weave of the shirt

i've found fine poplin shirts even after laundering still leave tell tale marks of where the pocket was sewn

 

[j]

That's true, I imagine a very fine weave might show needle holes. In the shirts I've done it to I never had the problem but I haven't tried it on every type of fabric. What texture/weave is the fabric?

 

[johnnynorman3]

It's a cotton twill -- not a broadcloth. A beautiful shirt.

 

[armscye]

I do this to all my dress shirts. As long as you do it before the shirt is first washed, you'll be okay with virtually any cotton fabric other than perhaps a sateen. The stitch holes will still be there when you take the shirt out of the washer, but then vanish during drying.

Remember to seam-rip threads from above the pocket fabric, not the underside, to keep from snagging the shirt body.

On previously laundered shirts, I would hesitate. I've seen it work with blends, but I also threw away a cotton tone-on-tone because I removed the pocket after wearing it several times, and the corner-reinforcement areas of the pocket opened up into holes.

 

[Sevcom]

I just tried it out on two broadcloth shirts. One was a medium blue with cream candy stripes that came out like a champ. The other was a plain sky-blue shirt that unfortunately now bears the sad, ghostly image of a pocket. I'm going to try washing it again and then ironing it to see if the pinholes will go away.

 

[ernest]

Better buy with no pocket.

PS
It seems manys tried to unsew pockets. Have you nothing better to do in your life ?

 

[VMan]

Better buy with no pocket.

PS
It seems manys tried to unsew pockets. Have you nothing better to do in your life ?

No, gentleman farmers usually do nothing but farm and un-sew pockets.

 

[jcusey]

No, gentleman farmers usually do nothing but farm and un-sew pockets.

How about we start the League of Extrordinary Gentleman Farmers? The official uniform could be a striped or checked shirt, crocodile belt, and brown shoes.

 

[imageWIS]

Better buy with no pocket.

PS
It seems manys tried to unsew pockets. Have you nothing better to do in your life ?

Have you read the thread? Do you not understand why he wants to remove the pocket? Does the concept of finding shirts at great deals, but that have unwanted pockets elude you?

Jon.

P.S. I saw you're two pictures on Andy's site, and seriously: your trolling remarks are really humorous. Humorous for me anyways, you spend all this time on fashion forums reading on how to properly dress; yet you obviously cannot. And then you have the utter nerve to poke fun at everybody else that seriously posted on this thread regarding the question posed, stating that they do not have lives, because they removed the pockets; whereas you cannot even dress properly.

Regarding you post on Andy's forum:

What do I think about that style? If the style you are going for is sleazy used-car salesman, you achieved your goal, both in looks and vocabulary.

 

[ernest]

Quote:

(ernest @ 08 June 2004, 10:00) Better buy with no pocket. PS It seems manys tried to unsew pockets. Have you nothing better to do in your life ?
Have you read the thread? Do you not understand why he wants to remove the pocket? Does the concept of finding shirts at great deals, but that have unwanted pockets elude you? Jon. P.S. I saw you're two pictures on Andy's site, and seriously: your trolling remarks are really humorous. Humorous for me anyways, you spend all this time on fashion forums reading on how to properly dress; yet you obviously cannot. And then you have the utter nerve to poke fun at everybody else that seriously posted on this thread regarding the question posed, stating that they do not have lives, because they removed the pockets; whereas you cannot even dress properly. Â Regarding you post on Andy's forum: What do I think about that style? If the style you are going for is sleazy used-car salesman, you achieved your goal, both in looks and vocabulary.
H&K classik shirt for 67 euros is not a great deal for you? You prefer a simple white shirt in which you have to unsew the pocket? For me a shirt with a square of holes on the chest because you have unsew the pocket is not a good deal... I can not dress proeerly? Why? Help me. Please give me the way to dress properly by showing me you picture of you. Give me some advices . PS why do you "answer" here to question on Handy's forum?

 

[ernest]

Quote:

(ernest @ 08 June 2004, 10:00) Better buy with no pocket. PS It seems manys tried to unsew pockets. Have you nothing better to do in your life ?
Have you read the thread? Do you not understand why he wants to remove the pocket? Does the concept of finding shirts at great deals, but that have unwanted pockets elude you? Jon. P.S. I saw you're two pictures on Andy's site, and seriously: your trolling remarks are really humorous. Humorous for me anyways, you spend all this time on fashion forums reading on how to properly dress; yet you obviously cannot. And then you have the utter nerve to poke fun at everybody else that seriously posted on this thread regarding the question posed, stating that they do not have lives, because they removed the pockets; whereas you cannot even dress properly. Â Regarding you post on Andy's forum: What do I think about that style? If the style you are going for is sleazy used-car salesman, you achieved your goal, both in looks and vocabulary.
Most people are enough busy in their working/personal life not to have 2h to unsew pockets on shirt. You can reply, most people do not go on forums to talk about garment...and you would be right I do not understand how someone can only have idea to unsewing a pocket on a shirt when he works 9h per day, have a girlfriend, friends...so when he had better to do than unsewing pocket during 2h. That's why I asked my question...Perhaps our friend do not work? About great deal, having holes in fabrics is not a great deal for me and this is obvious you will have some holes in such a case. The great deal would be to wear it with pocket for WE.