Quote Originally Posted by piperdbh View Post
They're sewn shut to prevent people from smuggling things out of the factory, is my guess. I'd try cutting one open and see if it's a real pocket or not.
They're actually tacked shut to prevent them from warping during steaming and shipping. Open them very carefully if you intend to use them. If not, leave the tacks in. Waistcoat pockets are mostly decorative these days anyway, but any proud tailor will make them functional.