Valentine Fabric Paper Pieced Treat Pouches

Valentine treat bags come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but designing one that doesn’t have lace and flowers was on my to-do list.

Valentine Fabric Paper Pieced Treat Pouches

I have six grandsons and some grand nieces who’ve let me know they don’t like lace or flowers on anything of theirs. Making these paper pieced hearts with Stitch n Sew EZ Quilt Block Sheets and adding pockets in the back to hold gift cards or candy were perfect for the “no lace or flowers” kids. It makes an even better win-win situation for all of us because I added beans to the inside to make them bean bags. Add a cute little container to toss them in and it makes for happy kids (or big kids.) Using rice instead of beans would make a great microwave or freezer bag for achy muscles.

Valentine Paper Pieced Bean Bag, by Carol Swift from Just Let Me QuiltSupplies:

HeatnBond Ultrahold Adhesive No-Sew

StitchnSew EZ Quilt Block Sheets

Oliso Iron

Aurifil Thread 50 wt

1/4″ ruler for paper piecing

A small iron or roller (for the seams)

A piece of cardstock or bookmark

Rotary cutter

Fabric

Rice or beans for filling

Valentine Paper Pieced Treat Pouches

Get your paper piecing tools together:

Valentine Fabric Paper Pieced Treat Pouches Instructions:

Cutting Instructions for one bag:

Cut 1 – 6½” x 6½” fabric square, backing

Cut 1 – 6½” x 8½” fabric rectangle, pocket

Step 1: Print pattern onto Stitch n Sew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets using an inkjet printer. The sheets are 100% polyester, transparent, easy to print and tear, and they are washable. Printers vary so make sure your pattern pieces print out at the correct size. The pattern has a 1/4” seam allowance around it; do not cut that off!

Step 2: Use your favorite method of paper piecing to assemble block or follow the directions below.

Each pattern makes one block. The block gets sewn in the order of the numbers on the block. Set your sewing stitch to very small to make tearing off block sheets easier. You’ll be sewing on the lines on the right side of the paper piece pattern and flipping the pattern back and forth to sew on lines, press, and to trim using the 1/4” ruler. Fabrics will be placed on the wrong side of the pattern. Make sure your fabric always overlaps each numbered piece by at least 1/4″ around all edges. If you are new to paper piecing, there are several online tutorials and videos available for paper piecing methods.

Place the fabric for #1 with the wrong side of the fabric to the wrong side of the pattern. Make sure the fabric overlaps line by about 1/4”. Holding pattern up to a light helps to make sure the fabric covers the section completely.

On the wrong side of the pattern, place the fabric for #2 right sides together with fabric #1 making sure it is large enough to cover section #2 and both overlap line between #1 and #2. Pin in place if desired.

With pattern right side up, sew on the line between #1 and #2 beginning and ending just before and beyond the lines.

Flip over to the wrong side of the pattern (fabric right side up) and press fabric along the seam with small iron or roller.

With the right side of pattern facing up, place cardstock or bookmark along the line between #2 and #3. Fold pattern back along the line. Place 1/4” ruler along fold line and bookmark; cut leaving 1/4” of fabric.

Continue adding fabric to each number in order, flipping over to sew, flipping back to press, and trimming.

After adding all the sections, flip to right side and press using a large iron.

Normally at this point, you would remove the EZ Quilt Block Sheet from the back of the paper pieced block being careful not to pull on seams, but for the bean bags, you can leave it on if you want to. Use the pattern’s outside seam line to trim block to 6½” x 6½” including seam allowance.

Optional lettering – You DO NOT need to sew HeatnBond Ultrahold Adhesive…it will gum up your needle. Just iron in place following the directions below and you are done. It’s very strong! Trace applique designs on the smooth side of HeatnBond Ultrahold Adhesive, No-Sew.

Iron adhesive pieces to wrong sides of fabrics with a medium heat iron, no steam. Press for 2 seconds. Repeat until all surfaces have been bonded to the fabric. Let cool. Cut out applique pieces. Peel off paper liner. Place applique shape, adhesive side down, on top of the project. Press and hold iron for 6 seconds on each section until the entire piece is bonded. Let cool.

Step 4: Fold 5½” x 8½” fabric rectangle in half and press on the fold. Line up lower raw edges of pocket with the lower edge of 5½” x 5½” fabric square. Baste raw edges of pocket to fabric square, leaving fold open.