How To Make A Pocket Hug
It’s easy (and fun!) to make a pocket hug.
Plus, they are beginner friendly and you can crank out a whole bunch in the course of an hour.
What Is A Pocket Hug?
If you’re unfamiliar with pocket hugs, it’s a simple concept that makes a huge impact.
Pocket hugs are small hearts (or circles or squares) of stuffed fabric.
The concept is similar to a pocket prayer quilt because they are gifted to people as a reminder that someone is thinking of them as a show of support.
They are also used by teachers as a tool to help students throughout their day.
In a classroom setting, a pocket hug can be used by students to calm themselves or provide sensory input to help them concentrate.
Crayons to classrooms
Pocket Hugs Are A Perfect Scrap Buster
Since sensory input is a key component of a pocket hug, they are the perfect scrap buster project!
You can make them out of felt, fleece, corduroy, or cotton – any durable fabric will work.
Pocket hugs are also a portable project that you can use to pass the time in a waiting room, on long car trips, or a child’s sports event.
It’s Easy To Make A Pocket Hug
Regardless of whether or not you consider yourself crafty, it’s easy to make a pocket hug.
This project, start to finish, takes around 15 -20 minutes (including prep time) if you’re not yet a master at the blanket stitch.
Stitching experts can batch cut the shapes and crank these out in just over 10 minutes.
So let’s get started!
Free Pattern: Pocket Hug PDF Download
Free Pattern: Pocket Hug Canva Link
If you are a Canva user, you can click here for the free Pocket Hug Pattern link.
How To Make A Pocket Hug
A pocket hug is a small stuffed heart (or other shapes) intended as a sensory object used to regulate emotion or concentrate.
Materials
- Craft felt
- Embroidery thread
- Handful of Polyfil
- Create To Donate's Pocket Hug Template
Tools
- Scissors
- Crafting needle for embroidery thread
- Pins
Instructions
- Download Create To Donate's Pocket Hug Template.
- Gather your materials.
- Cut out a heart template.
- Cut a 4" W x 6" L piece of felt.
- Fold the felt in half so the short edges touch.
- Pin the template to the top of the felt with the point of the heart on the fold.
- Cut out the heart shape.
- Cut about 30" of embroidery thread and thread your needle.
- Use a blanket stitch to stitch the felt pieces together so that it can be stuffed.
- Stitch until you have around 1" left and stuff the heart.
- Finish stitching the heart.
Notes
- Pinning the template so that the point of the heart is on the fold makes it easier to stitch together and gives it a more finished look.
- You can use different color felt scraps to stitch together if you don't have bigger pieces of felt available.
- If you're new to the blanket stitch, make sure your long edge covers the outside. It shouldn't frame the shape on the inside..
Recommended Products
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How Many Pocket Hugs Will You Make?
If you’re wondering how you might use pocket hugs, here are some ideas to consider:
- Include a pocket hug as part of a milestone gift (birthday, graduation, etc) with a short note of support.
- Gift a pocket hug to a friend who is grieving.
- Hide a pocket hug in your child’s lunchbox to brighten his or her day.
Of course, pocket hugs are the the perfect projects to make and donate to:
- hospice facilities,
- nursing homes,
- foster care charities,
- preemie and NICU charities,
- local schools.
So, how many pocket hugs are you going to make?
