If you are a list keeper, Spoonflower has a free Hand-Made Holiday To-Do List that can be printed to keep track of projects to make and who you will recieve them. I am finding lists are very helpful for me this time of the year.
So, I'm here to share with you The Pocket Pillow Book Totes I have been making for gifts. These are easy to make. The hardest part is deciding how to coordinate the fabrics!
I'll go through how I make my totes, but I've written an instruction sheet to share with you. Grab it HERE.
FIRST, before I give the instruction rundown, I'll give the list of the other bloggers participating in the Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop right now.
Monday, November 11th
Tuesday, November 12th
Wednesday, November 13th
Thursday, November 14th
Cynthia's Creating Ark
Songbird Designs
Farm Quilter
Kathy's Kwilts and More
Bumbleberry Stitches
Quilt Schmilt
Songbird Designs
Farm Quilter
Kathy's Kwilts and More
Bumbleberry Stitches
Quilt Schmilt
Friday, November 15th
OK! Here we go!
Besides your cutting mat, rotary cutter, pins, and sewing machine, you will need:
1/2 yard main print
1/2 yard coordinating fabric for pocket
14” pillow form
Thread
Follow these steps:
1. From main print, cut one 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” square and two rectangles 10” x 14-1/2”.
2. From coordinating fabric, cut one 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” square and one 6” x 14-1/2” rectangle.
3. Fold and press the 6” x 14-1/2” rectangle in half, open it, fold the edges to the middle, press in half to form a strip that is about 1-1/2” x 14-1/2”. Stitch along both folded edges.
Fold the coordinating 14-1/2" x 14-1/2" fabric in half with wrong sides together. Press and top stitch 1/4" from folded edge.
Now you are ready to put the layers together and sew the pillow!
Place the main 14-1/2” x 14-1/2” piece, right side up on table.
Find the top center of this piece. Mark 3-1/2" to the left and to the right of the center.
Pin the 1-1/2” x 14-1/2” handle in place on the top of the main print, with the outer edge of each handle touching that 3-1/2” mark from the center.
Align the pocket with the bottom of main print, matching raw edges.
Place the 14-1/2" raw edge of one hemmed rectangle along the top edge, over the handles, aligning all raw edges. Re-pin the handle so the pins are now on the outside.
Place the raw edge of the lower hemmed rectangle along the bottom edge, aligning raw edges. The two folded 10" x 14-1/2" pieces will overlap about 3". Pin around all four edges.
Stitch around all edges with a 1/2” seam allowance. Reinforce the handle edges by re-stitching that portion of the seam allowance.
Clip the corners.
Turn right side out through the back opening, push corners out. Insert pillow form. I have an easy way to turn the corners of pillows out and very seldom do I have to use something to poke them out! CLICK HERE for a short instruction.
What a great gift for a child. They can tote their pillow and book to the sitter's, grandma's, on a trip, to bed. These would be great for donating to a children's charity as well with a book in the pocket. Let me know if you make one or more and how you gifted it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
