Geta's Quilting Studio

Fresh Ideas for Quilts and Bags

Quilted portfolio tutorial or sewing a gift for a little girl

46 Comments

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 !

Happy sewing,
Geta

Comments

  5. kheli says

    Just for LITTLE girls? Heck, no! I am making one of these for myself!!! Oh, okay, I will make them for my nieces as well.

    Thanks! Love it!

    Reply

  8. Duff says

    How thoughtful of you to make this for a friend's daughter–and even more thoughtful to make a tutorial for the rest of us!
    You rock!!

    Reply

  13. Anonymous says

    What a great idea, thank you! I'm going to make something like this for my granddaughter for when she goes places and has to wait, like restaurants and doctor offices. Maybe I'll make one side stiff enough to draw on. Cool!

    Kelly

    Reply

  16. Marion says

    I appreciate your sharing this project with us. Thanks. I'm with the others, one for me, some for gifts no matter the age.

    Reply

  19. Yvonne says

    I love it Geta, and so does my daughter, she wants one…..today!! Thanks so much for making such clear directions, as one other comment said, you could make one side stiff, maybe with a bit of cardboard inside so you could lean on it. What a great occupier for the kids when waiting with you for an appointment or in the car travelling….

    Reply

  25. Mihaela says

    Ca de obicei explicatiile tale sunt foarte concise si foarte clare!Gentuta este foarte frumoasa si utila! Cu siguranta vei face inca o fetita fericita!

    Reply

  28. Anonymous says

    Just wonderful pockets!! Want order but have not Pay Pal system, only Visa.

    Your blog was amazing!! Aune from Finland

    Reply

  29. Lisa @ Life with 4! says

    wonderful tutorial!

    my 8 year old daughter would absolutely love this. It would be fun to make up a few and have handy for birthday parties.

    Would be great for a boy who likes to draw also. leave off the ruffle and heart. just use boyish fabric.

    thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  31. Karen says

    I think this is adorable, adn started making it for my granddaughter. Just one question – how to start with 14 x 26 and then adjust it down to 15 x 24 1/2?

    I cut my pieces 14 x 26, so I'll have to adjust the measurements to work. It's something I think she will love! thank you.

    Reply

  33. Karen says

    I finished it today 🙂 I also bought some pretty pink pencils, a girlie notebook and some heart shaped paper clips, assorted color pens, to fill it up with. I think she will love it. Thank you for the tutorial!

    Reply

  40. Charo says

    I have just met your blog and I love it you have so many beautiful projects…!

    I love these portfolios, your tutorial is so clear…! I'll try to do one myself.
    Thank you very much.

    Greetings from Spain

    Reply

  42. Annie says

    Hi, I have stumbled across your site heaven knows how – but I find it HEAVENLY!!
    Thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously – you are a wonderful teacher. By your kind actions you are making countless people happy and become confident quilters. Your blog is a joy to wander through. Keep up the good work.

    Reply

  45. Rhonda Morrison says

    I was searching Pinterest to find a tutorial to sew for a swap Secret Santa gift. I thought a nice little bag to be able to put a sewing or quilting magazine, couple little pockets to store the basic notions needed to use as a travel bag. This project was perfect and i am in the process of making it. I am going to make one for myself as well. Thank you for sharing this tutorial.
    Rhonda

    Reply

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