Flex Frame Pouch Tutorial

In 2012 I made these little flex frame pouches for my 3 sisters and a few weeks ago I saw that one my sisters is still using it! I told myself that they need new ones as soon as possible…

…
and the opportunity arrived…

With my new SPREAD HOPE pattern you can make small heart blocks and you can use them in a few different ways. I turned some of the heart blocks into pouches.
Sewing the heart block is quick, fun and easy and putting together the flex frame pouch is also quick and easy so this is a great project for beginners.

Let’s see how to sew a flex frame pouch.

Materials needed:

• Flex frame (two pieces): 3 1/2” long x  5/8” wide.

  

• 2 quilted panels 5” (wide) x 5 1/2” (tall). You can vary the height of the panels as needed and make shorter or taller pouches, but  do not change the 5” width.
  You can quilt only on batting and skip the backing.
  If you don’t want to use quilted pieces, replace them with fabric+interfacing
• 2 pieces of lining 5” x 5 1/2”
• 2 pieces of fabric 4 1/4” x 4” for the casing

Sew with 1/4” seam allowances unless otherwise stated.

Fold the casing fabric in half on the 4 1/4” edge- pay attention to the numbers below! Sew the vertical edges together.

Trim the seam allowances close to the seams and turn the piece right side out. Finger press the seams and the fold.

Fold the piece again in half…

…
and pin it centered on the top edge of the quilted panel.

Repeat these steps with the other casing piece and quilted panel.
Sew at 1/8” from the top edges.

Place the lining over the quilted panel and sew along the top edges.

Open the piece and insert the frame into the casing – just to be sure that they fit together.

Press the seam allowances  in different direction.

Place the pieces right sides together and pin, nesting the vertical seams. Sew along the edges, leaving a gap in the lining.

Clip the corners and also trim into the seam allowances where the outer pouch and lining meet (see the black arrow) to reduce bulk.

Turn the pouch right side out, press all the seams and close the gap in the lining.

Tuck the lining into the pouch and press very well the top edges, paying attention to the side seams!
Normally you sew around the top edges (see the black marking) but the small size of the piece makes this step a little difficult but if you press the edges well, you can skip this step.

Insert the frame.

The pieces fit together this way.

Insert the pin with the help of a heavy object, I used some big scissors!
DONE!

Cute pouches, don’t you think??
This size  (or even a little shorter) is great for makeup stuff.  For glasses, it should be taller.

I hope you will give it a try!

The pattern for the hearts is here.

Happy sewing!