DOWNLOAD TUTORIAL HERE

Another day, another really important tutorial. I am writing this after another catastrophic fire day for South Australia. It has been hot and many of us are glued to CFS websites for updates. The beautiful Kangaroo Island is still burning with many new fires and evacuations happening today and our air is thick with smoke. We are not currently in danger here so remain among the extremely lucky but the grief and sadness is real. Hannah’s heart condition means we have spent most of Summer inside unable to go out either due to heat or smoke. I think of all the other chronically ill kids in the direct line of this and shudder for their parents who have an extra and very real layer of stress added on.

From all of this sadness comes an overwhelming gratitude for the sense of love and community we are feeling from all over the world. So many people are madly sewing and knitting pieces for the Rescue Collective and it is a beautiful thing to watch. They always say that in a crisis you should look for the helpers and they are everywhere, it is lovely, it is noticed and I personally thank every single one of you. I love that craft is uniting us in purpose right now, as old fashioned as that seems.

So with that in mind I would love to share my next tutorial with you – the 3D Joey Hanging Pouch. This may look like a daunting sew but I promise it isn’t. Just follow the steps through and it makes sense as you go along. My sew is far from perfect and for a while I was going to redo it and then I realised that perfection is just not the agenda here. And maybe seeing my less than perfect sew will encourage those who feel they aren’t good enough. I promise that beautiful joeys are the least judgey of anyone you will ever sew for, they will just be grateful for a place to hang with their mates for the afternoon. So if you are feeling a bit worried that a section is a bit twisted or not exact, keep sewing anyway.

According to the Animal Rescue Craft Collective these pouches are in extremely high demand just like the Hanging Joey Pouch and Wildlife Pouch Tutorial I have already shared. So please dont feel like you can make too many of these, at this point they are desperate and the need will be ongoing for months. In fact the reality is that Australian wildlife carers aren’t just busy in fire season, they work year round for our precious creatures and deserve more attention and support than they have been given. I really hope that long after the threat has passed people still remember to reach out and check in.

Right lets get stuck into this tutorial. I have included an address at the end too of where they can be sent once sewn up as well as a PDF version  you can download and print.

3D Hanging Joey Pouch

DOWNLOAD TUTORIAL HERE

2 sizes available – Wallaby and Kangaroo

This tutorial has been written for the Animal Rescue Craft Guild. You will be able to find further guidance and support as well as other patterns in their Facebook group.

A HUGE thank you to the Long Grass Nature Refuge for designing the original pouch on which this tutorial is based and providing such wonderful pictures.

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric Notes:

Liners should be 100% natural fibres – no polyester, synthetics or fabrics that have plastic or glitter. Breathability and softness are the priority. Flannelette, light cotton or jersey is recommended. Flannel is recommended for animals in cooler areas or through winter

Outer pouches need to be made from fabric that is strong and durable to support the hanging joey. Heavy Cotton drill or similar is recommended.

PLEASE PRE-WASH ALL FABRIC BEFORE STARTING THIS PROJECT

 

Instructions:

Cut your fabrics according to the chart and information above.

Starting with your OUTER fabric, fold it half RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER (RST). Using a ruler and fabric pen mark a 1.5cm (3/4”) seam down the FOLDED length of the fabric and across the bottom. Using a plate, or other rounded stencil, draw a curved edge.

Using a short stitch length (2.0mm) stitch down your drawn line, locking your stitches at the beginning and end.

Cut the corner off (optional).

Turn RIGHT SIDE OUT. Set aside.

Repeat the steps with your LINER fabric. DO NOT TURN RIGHT SIDE OUT.

Place your outer INSIDE your liner. Line up your seams and pin to hold them in place.

Sew all the way around your edges leaving a 5” gap at the top for turning. Use a 1 ½ cm (3/4”) seam. Lock your stitches at the beginning and end.

Turn your pouch out through the gap in the lining. Push out all your corners and settle the liner inside the outer neatly, lining up your seams. Press if you choose. Sew the opening closed.

Fold your pouch back in half lining up the edges neatly. Mark a line 4cm (1 ½”) from the top edge of the pouch that is 8cm (3”) long.

Stitch down that line using a shorter stitch (2.0mm). Stitch twice, reinforcing at both ends each time.

The opening of the pouch will now look like this.

Fold the outer edge of the pouch back 4cm (1 ½”) and pin into place, making sure the bottom seams are properly lined up.

Stitch the folded section down being careful to not catch any other parts of the pouch. Reinforce stitches at the beginning and end.

Line the pouch up so that the front opening lines up with the back-middle seam. Pin to secure. (Don’t judge me for those terrible puckers – the joeys wouldn’t!)Mark 9cm (3 ½”) in from each edge at the top of the pouch. Stitch a line between your two markings as close to the top as you can. Stitch twice, reinforcing your stitches each time.

Mark a second line approximately 9cm (3 ½”) down from the top of the pouch that starts and finishes 10cm (4”) from each edge. Stitch twice, reinforcing your stitches each time.

Celebrate because you are finished and AMAZING!

See it wasn’t that hard was it! I encourage you to all attempt one and show me how you sew way better than I do hahaha.

I am getting lots of questions about where to post pouches once they are completed. The best address is below:

Nicole Blums
c/- The Rescue Collective
4/55 Tenby Street
MOUNT GRAVATT QLD 4122
AUSTRALIA

They will be stockpiled there safely until they are used.

If you would like to download a PDF of this tutorial you can do so here. Please do not photograph this tutorial and share it that way. I am fielding hundreds of emails a day from people who are only getting one part of my tutorials. It is frustrating for all of us and I am spending valuable time answering questions when I could be writing more patterns for our beautiful animals.

DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THIS TUTORIAL HERE

And that is a wrap from me for now. Thank you so much to every single one of you for all you are doing to help. We are so grateful.

Sarah xx

Fine print:

This tutorial has been created by Sarah Scott of Piccolo Studio and is intended for personal use only. You may only donate items from this tutorial, no selling allowed.  The pattern must not be reproduced, distributed or sold in part or whole in any form.   Piccolo Studio reserves the right to change or end this policy at any time.