Sew a fun and unique countdown to Christmas calendar with Mary Mulari’s Treasure Pockets project from her Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book! Each pocket features a hanging loop and front pocket – an ideal space for applique numbers. Hang Treasure Pockets on a wall, or mantel, with jute roping or wooden dowel. Mary’s individual Treasure Pockets also make great Christmas tree ornaments, gift card holders, and tooth fairy pockets!
Mary’s Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book includes 15 creative projects to make with pre-cut 5″ fabric squares! And/or, cut your own 5″ fabric squares to make any of Mary’s projects, including her Treasure Pockets. Make 12 or 25 Treasure Pockets to make the Treasure Pocket Advent Calendar below. Find the numbers applique patterns on page 22 of Mary’s Book, Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book.
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Treasure Pocket Advent Calendar Sewing Tutorial by Mary Mulari
This project uses 1/4″ seam allowances. Read all instructions before beginning.
Approximate finished size: 5″ x 5″ ea.
Treasure Pocket Advent Calendar
Supplies Listing
- Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book by Mary Mulari
- 10-inch Fabric Squares Bundle
- 6″ Squares Red and/or Green Cotton Shades Quilting Cotton Fabric, or fabric from your stash, – for number appliqués
- 1 yd. Pellon Sof-Shape Fusible Interfacing
- 1 pkg. Pellon-Wonder Under
- 1 yd. Pellon Easyknit Fusible Iterfacing
- 2-1/2 yd. 1/4″-5/8″ grosgrain ribbon – for hanging loops
- Schmetz Denim Needle Sz. 80
- Black Metrosene Plus Sewing Thread
- Clover’s 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge
- Clover’s Wonder Clips
- Clover’s Straight Awl/Stilletto
- Bordeaux Scissors Set for Applique
- Non-Stick Teflon Pressing Sheet
- EZ-View Pressing Cloth
- Pencil
- Iron
- 45 mm Rotary Cutter and Pinking Blade
- Optional: Open Toe Sewing Machine Presser Foot
Cut Fabrics, Interfacing, & Wonder-Under
Note: Follow directions below for making one Treasure Pocket!
- For each Treasure Pocket, select three assorted 5″ fabric squares from Christmas Fabric, such as NEW! Charm Holiday 5″ Fabric Squares Package:
For each Treasure Pocket, select or cut three 5″ fabric squares; one for Treasure Pocket front, one for Treasure Pocket back, and one for the front pocket.
If cutting 5″ squares from yardadage, cut with a 45 mm Rotary Cutter and Pinking Blade. To extend the live of the mat, cut on the reverse side of the mat.
- Cut two 5″ squares from Pellon Wonder Under.
- Cut two 5″ squares from Pellon Easy-Knit Fusible Interfacing.
- Cut one 3-1/2″ length of ribbon.
- Cut one 6″ square from Red and/or Green Coordinating Fabric.
Create the Number Appliqués
- With pencil, trace reverse appliqué numbers (page 22) on smooth paper-side of one Wonder-Under 6″ square.
- Following manufacturer’s instructions, place rough side of Wonder-Under to wrong side of red cotton fabric square. Press with dry iron. Allow to cool.
- Using 5-1/8″ Scissors, cut out appliqué numbers.
- At ironing board, fold outer pocket square in half diagonally. Press.
While you’re at the ironing board, go ahead and press the Pellon Easy-Knit Fusible Interfacing squares to the wrong side of the Treasure Pocket front and back fabric squares – using manufactures instructions along with June Tailor’s EZ-View Pressing Cloth (above).
- Remove paper backing from number appliqués. Using a 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge, position number appliqué in center of pocket front.
- Using a dry iron, and June Tailor’s Non-Stick Teflon Pressing Sheet, press number appliqués to pocket front.
Optional: Stitch Number Appliqués to Pocket Front
- Attach Open Toe Sewing Machine Presser Foot to sewing machine.
- Set machine for an appliqué stitch, blanket stitch, or medium zigzag stitch (3.5 mm width, 1.4 mm length).
- Stitch around number appliqué edges.
When stitching –or appliquéing– appliqués to pocket front, stop with needle down on the outside of appliqué fabric when turning outside curves or corners; and stop with needle down on the inside of appliqué fabric when turning inside curves and corners! Always test stitches on a sample appliqué number– fused to a fabric scrap.
Create Treasure Pocket
- If you haven’t already, fuse the Pellon Easy-Knit Fusible Interfacing squares to wrong side of Treasure Pocket front and back fabric squares – press using an EZ-View Pressing Cloth.
- Place Treasure Pocket front and back squares wrong sides together.
- Remove paper backing from the remaining 5″ Pellon Wonder-Under square.
- Place Pellon Wonder-Under square between front and back layers.
- Fuse layers together using a Non-Stick Teflon Pressing Sheet.
When fusing Treasure Pocket front and back fabric squares, avoid fusing the top 1″. The ribbon hanger will later be inserted into this opening.
- Place pocket on lower front Treasure Pocket. Wonder Clip.
- Beginning near pocket top edge, topstitch around outer front pocket edges, at 1/4″ from edges.
- Use Clover’s Straight Awl/Stilletto to assist in feeding front pocket edges under presser foot.
- Fold ribbon in half, meeting cut edges.
- Insert ribbon between layers at top edge.
- Continue stitching around entire Treasure Pocket.
- Fill each day’s pocket with a prayer, names of special people to remember, acts of kindness to do for others, or seasonal candies.
- Hang on fireplace mantel, or on a wall, with wooden dowel or with jute roping.
- Treasure Pockets also make great Christmas tree ornaments and/or gift card holders!
Treasure Pocket Advent Calendar
Supplies Listing
- Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book by Mary Mulari
- 10-inch Fabric Squares Bundle
- 6″ Squares Red and/or Green Cotton Shades Quilting Cotton Fabric, or fabric from your stash, – for number appliqués
- 1 yd. Pellon Easy-Knit Fusible Interfacing
- 1 pkg. Pellon-Wonder Under
- 2-1/2 yd. 1/4″-5/8″ grosgrain ribbon – for hanging loops
- Schmetz Denim Needle Sz. 80
- Black Metrosene Plus Sewing Thread
- Clover’s 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge
- Clover’s Wonder Clips
- Clover’s Straight Awl/Stilletto
- Bordeaux Scissors Set for Applique
- Non-Stick Teflon Pressing Sheet
- EZ-View Pressing Cloth
- Pencil
- Iron
- 45 mm Rotary Cutter and Pinking Blade
- Optional: Open Toe Sewing Machine Presser Foot
Mary’s Adventures with 5-inch Fabric Squares book, along with her other popular books, patterns are available at ShopNZP.com.
Happy Sewing!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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