In the spring of 2023 member of the guild studied the history of pockets. As part of that study, members were encouraged to make and embellish pockets.

Since then a proposal to exhibit the pockets has been suggested to the Silk Purse in West Vancouver and has been accepted. Members have been encouraged to add to the collection. The image presented below is the pattern template used to make the pockets. Feel free to embellish with needlework of your choice.

This was a fundraiser for our Guild in 2019. Thank you to Loretta H for the pattern.

There are two template sizes to choose from depending on the size of your embroidery.

Cut out the template pattern on solid lines. The patterns include all seam allowances. You may wish to trace the template onto your fabric to establish the margins of your embroidery. Embroider your fabric with a pattern of your choosing.

Place the template over your embroidery, or other fabric, and trace around pattern with a washable fabric-marking pen. You may wish to iron on interfacing to the fabric before doing this. Cut the fabric on the drawn lines.

with right sides together, sew a 1/4″ seam along the straight lines making a cone shape. Trim excess fabric at the point, turn, and finger press the seam.

Hand stitch a basting thread around the top edge of the cone 1/4″ from the edge. Start to gather the threads a little and then start stuffing the cone with fibrefill. Start with a small piece and pack it tightly into the point. Then add more fibrefill and pack each piece into the bottom of the cone. A rounded chopstick works well for this step. When it feels nice and full, finish gathering the threads as tightly as you can and tie off.

If you dampen the fabric slightly where the gathering threads are, the fabric is much easier to work with.

Thread up a needle and bury the extra ruffles from gathering so they sit nice and flat.

embellish as desired and include a loop of cord as a hanger. You will need about 8″ of cord for this as the loop should be about 3″ long when pulled tight.

Materials Needed: 3 fat quarters (one of which is an accent fabric); 18″ square of batting; 16-1/2″ square of clear vinyl; 18″ nylon zipper

Tips for working with vinyl: Do not iron! Leave tissue paper on as you cut it. This makes it easier also when sewing because the vinyl tends to stick to the bed of the sewing machine.

Cutting Instructions: Cut 2 fat quarters into 18″ squares. These will make the body of the bag. From the accent fabric cut 4 strips 2-1/4″ by 21″ for binding; cut 2 strips 4″ x 16-1/2″ for zipper; cut handle from remaining piece 3″ x 16″.

Sandwich your 18″ fabric squares with batting and quilt as you wish. This forms the backing of your bag. Now cut your backing down to a 16-1/2″ square.

Attach the zipper to accent fabric using a zipper foot. Fold each 4″ x 16-1/2″ piece of accent fabric in half and press. Sew the folded edge of one piece to the zipper. Take the other piece and open it, fold under 1/4″ on both raw edges and press. Attach this piece to the other side of the zipper at the fold leaving this piece open.

Place your vinyl piece inside the fold of bottom accent fabric all the way to the sipper and sew in place using a walking foot. Trim bag to 16-1/2″.

Fold the handle fabric in half lengthwise and press. Open the fabric and fold both raw edges in to meet the center fold. Press. Re-fold the centre to create handle. Top stitch along both long edges.

Attach handle to back of bag at top. Use clips to secure both top and bottom pieces in place making sure edges meet evenly all around bag. Baste in place as the vinyl tends to move easily using a walking foot. Finally stitch, bind and enjoy.

This was a fundraiser for the Guild in 2023.

Method A – embellish before construction

Make a template of the finished size of your heart. Transfer the shape to your fabric using a basting stitch or quilter’s pencil (must not show on the completed heart). Complete your stitch embellishments.

With right sides together stitch on the stitching line (taking note of instructions on diagram for stitching the points) and leave an opening for turning. Cut out the heart leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn, fold the seam allowance inside the heart and press lightly. Stuff with Fibrefill and stitch the opening closed.

Method B – Embellish after construction

Using freezer paper, trace the heart onto the dull side of the freezer paper and cut out. Iron the paper heart onto the wrong side of one piece of fabric.

Place a second piece of fabric right sides together and machine stitch around the heart shape leaving an edge open for turning. Cut out the heart leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn, fold seam allowance, press lightly and stuff with fibrefill. Embellish your completed heart.

You can add a hanging thread