Make a Valentine Pocket

By Helen Williams

Here’s what you’ll need.

• Red or Pink Fleece (plain or patterned)
• Embroidery Floss (white and black)
• Fabric glue, buttons or letters (optional)
• Scissors (pinking shears if you have them)

Here’s what you do.

1. Create a heart pattern on paper.
   The hearts can be cut into whatever size you prefer, our hearts are approximately 12 inches across at the widest part. To make a heart pattern fold a piece of paper in half and draw half of a heart so the outside of the heart is away from the fold. Cut along the line and open the paper and you will have your heart. If the shape is not what you want, trim. Click here for a pattern to print.
2. Cut the fabric.
   Fold your fabric so good side is facing out. Using your pattern cut your heart shape. Straight scissors or pinking shears can be used here.
3. Sew the sides
   Keeping good sides out sew around the edges using a slipstitch or any stitch that will hold the fabric together- you do not need to be a seamstress to do this project, any stitch will work! You will want to leave a large opening in the top of your heart so it is easy to fill and is not pulled when the kids are getting their goodies out.
4. Add the names
   You can do an easy stitch to get the kids names on their hearts. Keep it simple! If you don’t want to stitch their names use fabric glue, buttons, or iron on letters. The options are endless. Here is a large photo of the finished hearts.
5. Now fill the pockets!
   Valentine Pockets don’t have to be filled to the top. A tasty treat and a stuffed animal, book, coloring book or craft kit is more than enough. Tuck in a little card that lets you tell each of your children how much they mean to you. And on Valentine’s morning surprise the kids with these pockets filled with love from you. ** These pockets are very portable - no matter where you are on Valentine's Day, even Disneyworld, you can celebrate with these pockets!