Hexagon Pocket Gifts

Hexagon Pocket Gifts

Materials Needed: 

5 cardstock hexagons - all the same size

  5 fabric scraps at least 1/4 inch larger       than your cardstock hexagons

  1 piece of felt at least 1/4 inch larger than your cardstock hexagons

  6 inches of bias tape or ribbon

  D-Ring or Swivel Hook (optional)

    INSTRUCTIONS:

Lay out your 5 cardstock hexagons. 

Two of the hexagons will be folded and become pockets.

Another two hexagons will become the back and the inside of your project.

That leaves you one hexagon! This is the one that you will work on first. 

  

This hexagon will be the front of your project.  That means it needs to be cute!  

Examples could be a favorite fabric, a piece of vintage embroidery,  a quilt piece or a fussy cut fabric in your stash.   

The three examples above are:                 

1)  A bunny from my favorite quilter, Susan Smith.    Her website is here.  Then I
added some applique fabrics to make the flowers that the hare is standing on.

2) Two embroidered birds.  Pinterest has hundreds of embroidery patterns.   I happened to think this one was cute.   I appliqued the birdie's clothing, including pockets on the little female  and a pink cape.  The boy's coveralls  needed to be blue It was a vintage pattern from the 1940's or 50's.

3)  If you Google search "Heather Ross fabrics" you will find my favorite fabrics to fussy cut.  This Volkswagon Bus is a vintage fabric that is hard to find.   I saw it on this wonderful blog here .  I had a small piece of it in my sewing fabric closet that I had tucked away.  It was waiting for a cute project.  

   Heather Ross has many adorable fabrics.  I am excited for her new collection that comes out in November.  It features donkeys.  Her last fabric collection had a cute deer.   Etsy has many of her fabrics to choose from. 

Okay, so if you have decided on what you want to feature on your front hexagon, the hardest part of the project is over!

Wrap  your selection  around your cardstock.  Make sure you have at least 1/4 inch excess on all sides. This will be the front cover of your needlebook.   I liked the crisp look with the cardstock in, so I just left it there.

Trace your shape and cut out the one felt piece the same size as your hexagon.  Pin the wrong side of your front hexagon to the wool felt.     Machine stitch very closely  from the edges, sandwiching in  one end of your bias tape at the top, in between the two hexagons. 

All that is left is the bottom.  This requires  the rest of your 4 cardstock hexagons.

 First put 2 of the fabric wrapped hexagons wrong side together.  Then fold the other two to make the pockets and place them .  on top.  Carefully stitch the whole "sandwich" together.                   

Leave the top open to insert the other side of the bias tape.  This can be a little fiddly and is easiest if hand sewn.

(I folded one of the pockets in half to hold some embroidery thread.  I folded the other pocket with just one fourth of the hexagon.  This holds a small pair of scissors.)

 If you slip some needles in the felt on the top, this completes a cute little mending kit  that holds the  basics:  thread, scissors and needles. 

What if you need a gift for a friend that has no interest in sewing?  Just replace the pocket that holds the thread with Post-It Notes and the scissor pocket with a half pencil!  

Voila! - it becomes a handy note holder.   For the note holder, make sure the size of your hexagon is at least 3 inches. 

Hexagon Sewing Book

  

Hexagon Sewing Book

 Some  fabric prints are just so cute that it seems a shame if they aren't highlighted in a small project.   What a pity to put them in a big quilt, where they might be overlooked!   

I first saw this needlebook on the               My Three Sons blog and hoped I            could find my little hoarded stash of this Heather Ross Fabric,  It is almost impossible to find now.  Lucky me, I spied it in my fabric closet.

 I made my own version (with pockets).  It turned it from a needle book to a sewing book and holds embroidery floss and a small pair of scissors.

Materials Needed: 

1.5 inch cardstock hexagons (5 if you want pockets and only 3 if you prefer no pockets)

wool felt

fussy cut fabrics

bias tape - 6 inches

D-Ring or Swivel Hook

Start out with one fussy cut scrap of fabric that can wrap around your cardstock.  Make sure you have at least 1/4 inch excess on all sides. This will be the front cover of your needlebook.   I liked the crisp look with the cardstock in, so I just left it there.

Trace your shape and cut out one wool felt piece the same size as your hexagon.   Pin the wrong side of your front hexagon to the wool felt.     Machine stitch very closely  from the edges, sandwiching in  one end of your bias tape at the top, in between the two hexagons. 

This will become your hanging loop. 

One pocket can hold a small pair of scissors.

  Next you need your 2 other hexies  

(pockets are optional but so easy to add!  Simply fold one hexie in half and attach only on the bottom sides and bottom.)

Place your 2 hexies wrong side together and sew all around except for the top side.                       

Leave the top open to insert the other side of the bias tape.  This can be a little fiddly and is easiest if hand sewn.

 With this small sewing book, a fussy cut fabric  can be appreciated at any time you take out your sewing tools. The pockets can be used to store your thread or a needle threader.  Or both!

 Your needle book can be attached to your sewing bag handle in a conspicuous place. 

Easiest Shortie Apron with a Big Divided Pocket

Hi Friends, 

I am hoping to make an apron pocket that keeps a girl's phone handy and safe.    Here is what I propose:

What you will need:

• 12 x 28 inch contrast fabric to tie your apron
• 16 x 21 inch fabric for your pocket
• 23 x 21 inch fabric for your apron
• A piece of felt to hold your phone snug
• Velcro to hold your phone pocket shut.
• Optional: your favorite interfacing and/or batting 

 Here are the easy instructions - all seams are 3/8" wide

1. Cut the contrast fabric for the waistband into three strips, each measuring 4x28in.   Pin the 3 waistband strips together to make a long tie. (Pin right sides together at right angles and sew diagonally across.)  Set aside.

2. Fold pocket fabric in half with the right sides facing.   Stitch around but leave 4 inches unsewn.  Turn right side out.  Add interfacing and ric-rac, if desired.   

3. Do the same thing in step 2 for your apron.

4.  Stitch the waistband onto the top edge of your apron.  Stitch down the sides and along the length, encasing the top of your apron as you go.

5.  Sew your  pocket onto the apron, matching your short sides.  My pocket is 2 inches from the bottom and 2 inches from the top.  Add  interfacing if your apron seems too flimsy.  

6. Divide your pockets.  Add  felt to keep phone snug.  Add Velcro to keep pocket shut! 

Inspiration Amid Fragility

In searching for examples of collage quilts on Pinterest, I stumbled upon the inspirational Australian artist named Louise Saxton.   Louise Saxton Website  

She creates works of art using only scraps of sewing material, such as colored lines,cuffs and ruffles. She fixes each piece of fabric on an almost transparent tulle using tiny pins.

According to the artist, the fragility of the pieces are designed to point out the vulnerability of the traditional techniques of embroidery and the exotic animals they portray. Both threaten to disappear with time. For this artist, the feeling of loss of this legacy is imminent.

        

The pieces are truly amazing and here is the link to see a closer look

To learn more about this beautiful artist you can go to her about page.

Better When We're Together