{ Happy Sewing } End-of-Year Teachers’ Gifts

The end of the school year tends to creep up on me every time, usually without notice, till it whacks me in the head at the last moment. This year I was given a two-week warning. With one week to go, I thought it time to make some thoughtful gifts for those patient soles who take on the task of educating my kiddos (and so much more). I followed this great tutorial by Noodlehead and made a bunch of sweet pouches.

If you are thinking of doing a number of these, be warned… The 1st, you will follow carefully, step by step, the 2nd, you will pay attention to the tutorial a tad, but you’ll start to feel you’ve got it, and just when you feel complete confidence with the 3rd and put the iPad away, yes, that’s when you’ll put the zipper in upside down and not realize until the very last step.

I made the medium size with a semi-soft interfacing (not very technical, I know), but next time will use one with a bit more rigidity, or slightly sturdier fabrics, like a linen-cotton canvas perhaps.

I asked the kids to choose a few fabrics for each teacher, wanting them to have input and to tailor the gifts to their vision of the recipients (they are observant little people: “She always wears small prints” or “She likes darker colours”). I then added complementary or contrasting coloured zippers.

I particularly love the detail of the little fabric tabs on the end of the zips.

Here’s to a fun summer and to all those teachers’ well deserved breaks!