Monday, December 22, 2014

TUTORIAL - a pretty hanging pocket...



I usually share a Rosedaisy tutorial on the 20th of the month, but as I had a rather busy weekend with Mr E it's a couple of days late. Will you forgive me?

This month we are featuring the "Live Your Best Life" stitchery from the set of ten Rosedaisy designs (available here as a single pattern or here in the full set of 10 patterns)



You can use any stitchery in this project, or omit the stitchery completely and use a fussy cut piece of fabric for your pocket instead!

I've chosen to share the hanging pocket tutorial with you because of the huge response to the ones I made HERE in a UFO Finish Tuesday a few weeks back...



Last week I made another one for my friend Michelle in our sewing group swap, using more UFO stitcheries...




You can make as many pockets as you like, but for this tutorial we'll make a single one, as that's very quick for a last minute Christmas gift!

I won't give exact fabric measurements because it will all depend on the stitchery you use or the size of the pocket you need, however the steps are the same no matter what dimensions you make.

Start by trimming your stitchery to the size you prefer - you should have a little open space around the block, but not a lot. Mine had a 3/4 inch border around all edges of the design.

Sew a length of feature fabric to the bottom of the design. This will give you a good deep pocket...


Fuse the centre of the pocket front to a piece of medium weight fusible Pellon or scrap quilt wadding slightly larger than the pocket. If you're using fusible Pellon don't let the iron touch the Pellon as you will melt the adhesive onto your iron's hot plate...

Turn it over and gently iron a piece of backing fabric in place, also larger than the pocket, and also just around the centre.
Because the pocket is small you won't need spray baste for this step, just the gentle pressure of the iron on the fabric will hold the backing in place well enough to quilt...

Machine quilt a line about 1/4 inch under the join (ditch)...

Cut a piece of binding from your fabric. This will be about 1 inch longer than the width of your pocket, and 
2 1/2 inches wide. Fold in half across the middle, and pin in place across the top of the pocket edge.
Sew to the pocket with a 1/4 inch seam, and trim the excess afterwards...

Fold the binding over to the back of the pocket, press, and pin...

Turn your pocket over so it faces up towards you and sew a line along the ditch...

This will catch the fold of the binding along the pocket back...

Trim the excess wadding and backing from the pocket and put it aside while we make the hanging section.

Make a quilt sandwich with two pieces of fabric and a piece of wadding or Pellon. They should all be slightly wider than the pocket, and for the height it is up to you. Mine was 4 inches higher than my pocket as I knew I'd be trimming it back later...

 Machine quilt the layers. I just did wavy lines ('cause you all know I'm free-motion-quilting challenged, right?)...

Trim the excess from the sides so that your hanging section is the same width as your pocket.
Trim the top and bottom so that the hanger is a few inches higher than your pocket...

Pin the pocket along the bottom of the hanging section, and machine sew the pocket to the hanger around the bottom edge and both sides with a scant 1/8" seam...

Make a length of quilt binding (I have a tutorial HERE if you've not done that before) and sew it around the edges of the hanging...

Fold the binding to the back and slip stitch in place.

Sew a few buttons across the top like I have, or maybe some little hexies or a lace trim...

The final step was to attach a small wire quilt hanger to the top of the hanging pocket with some sweet silk ribbon...
All done!

I have mine hanging by my cutting table to store patterns and a calendar...




I'd love to see your pockets if you make some!
Email me HERE with a photo or link to your blog, ok?

It's a very hot and sunny Monday in North Queensland today so I think I'll stay inside under the air conditioner and stitch.
What will you be doing?

hugs


14 comments:

Leeanne said...

Gosh this is so cute! very clever! I love the stitcheries on the red pocket hanger are they yours?

e said...

Your little "pocket" is adorable. Thank you for sharing the tutorial :)

Christine M said...

mmmmmm! Storing patterns I want to make! Now how big is your hanging pocket, Jenny? I'll need a giant one as there's so many patterns I want to make. Your pocket is very pretty.

Melody said...

A brilliant project. Thank you so much.

Machelle said...

Lovely just lovely! God bless you thank you Jenny!

Noela said...

This is so pretty Jenny. Love your design and the fabrics suit it to a tee. Thank you for the tutorial. Hugs......

Baa. xxx said...

So lovely - I have a spare little stitchery Miss H made - think I might make it into a pocket! Yippee!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jenny boy I love your work and your pocket is so pretty,Thankyou for the tutorial you are always so generous.xx

gibbygoo56 said...

Very sweet! I love the fabrics you have chosen. It matches the sentiment perfectly. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the clear directions. You must stitch about 20 times faster than I do, you always get things done so quickly! I hope your days are going smoothly, and you are filled with peace.

Patricia said...

Thank you for the pattern.

Createology said...

Love this pocket idea as it is not only beautiful but it is functional. I adore "pockets" for putting things into. Excellent tutorial dear. Merry Christmas Blessings with Peace and Joy for all of 2015...

Dawn said...

Thank you for sharing this lovely stitchery idea. It will make a lovely present for my sewing girls weekend away. Your generosity is appreciated.

Margot said...

Muito lindo! Obrigada!