Sewing a gift for a little girl

Here is the January quilting tutorial.

You can see here two improved versions !

I made a notebook and pencil case for the little girl of my friends. I added to it even handles. She is six years old and loves to read and write. I think she will enjoy this little "bag" because anywhere she goes, she carries with her some books, notebooks and pencils...

Size -15" x 12.5" (when it is folded )

This case has been made to comfortably fit A4-sized notebooks, an A5 notebook and a few pencils.

Size: 15" X 25" (unfolded) .

Let's sew it !

Cut two rectangles (16"x26") from two different fabrics and one piece (the same size) of batting.

I used cotton quilting fabrics and I fused a piece of fusible interfacing (medium weight) onto the back of one of the fabrics.

Make a sandwich from all the layers and quilt it.

Adjust the quilted piece to 15"x24.5".
Find the center of the piece and stitch 0.25" to the right and left of the center line (see the yellow lines).

If you want you can add a monogram.

I used Wonder Under to fuse the monogram to the quilted piece.

Applique the monogram.

The pockets
Cut two pieces (9.5"x15") from two fabrics; fuse medium weight interfacing to one of the piece.

Make the ruffle
Cut a strip 3"x30" from an accent fabric.

Fold and press the strip in half lengthwise with the wrong side inside.
Set your machine to the longest available straight stitch (mine is 6).
Run a stitch 1/8” away from the raw edges. Do not backstitch and leave the thread ends long.
To gather the ruffle, you'll need to pull on the bobbin thread. Do not tug the thread too hard, or it might break.

Pin the ruffle to the longest edge of the fabric you want as front of the pocket and stitch using 1/8" seam allowance. Do not catch in the seam 0.25" of the ends of the ruffle.

Here is a detail

Lay the back piece of the pocket on top of the front piece+ruffle and pin into place. Make sure that the right sides are facing each other.
Stitch the long edges using 0.25"seam allowances.

Turn the piece right side out.

Topstitch over the ruffled edge.

Lay the pocket over the quilted piece. Align the bottom edge of the pocket with the left center seam. Topstitch close to the edges.

After the stitching is done, remove the excess of the ruffle.

Your piece should look in this way:

For the second pocket cut :
- two pieces 8"X9" (interface one of them);
Stitch the two pieces together, leaving a long side unstiched.

Clip the corners,turn it right side out

press it well.

For the third pocket cut two piece 7.25"x5.25" (interface one of them). Repeat the above steps but leave unstitched one of the short sides.

Prepare the heart shape
Download the template

Fold a piece a fabric with right sides together. Trace the template. Stitch and cut out the shape leaving small seam allowances. Cut a slit into one of the piece of fabric and turn the piece right side out. Press well.



Place the pockets onto the quilted piece.

Stitch the pockets close to the edges (see the black lines in the photo below).

Make slots for pencils
Draw lines about 1.25" apart (see the yellow lines below). Topstitch over these lines. Backstitch each stitching line to reinforce it.
Applique the heart shape.


Prepare the handles
Cut two strips (3"X 12") of fabric.
Fold and press the strips in half lengthwise with the wrong side inside.
Open and press long edges to center. Fold again in half and press.
Topstitch along the edges.

Stitch the handles in place.

Bind the piece using a 2.5" wide strip of fabric.


I love yo-yos and buttons... I use them whenever I can...

My gifts for a special little girl are ready to be shipped ! I hope she will enjoy these "Pockets with Love" too !

You too can make your own pockets !

I would be happy if this tutorial inspires you to make a cute little gift for someone you love !

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Would you like to try something new ?  

 Retro Fun bags

Pockets with Love - fabric origami

Building Fun quilt

 Nina's Garden quilt