Instructions Link

145

On thursday May 19th, I attended my regular Children's Hospital check-up. During that time, I was able to donate the 145 Pokey Pets that have been sewn by groups and people in Clarkston as a result of the $500 Dosomething.org grant! The ladies in the Child services office were so excited to be recieving them and said that IV covers are always needed and appreciated. This donation means that the total number of Pokey Pets that have been donated has reached 160! A year ago, I wouldn't have even imagined this happening and am so happy that this project has succeeded in bringing comfort to sick children needing something to brighten their spirits.

This is me with the lady who worked with me when I donated the Pokey Pets :)

Pokey Pets is an ongoing project and there is still some unused money from the grant. So, my hope is that it will continue to grow even though I will be starting up college in the fall. Thank you so much for all of your support! Any form of support helps Pokey Pets become bigger and better which means reaching more small lives out there.

Donations

Marie Woodman holding her box of 40 Pokey Pets

Barb Passmore showing off a few of her creative Pokey Pets

Pokey Pets would not be as nearly successful of a project if it weren't for the help from several volunteers. I taught a few women how to make Pokey Pets and several of them "wowed" me by the number they had created and the creative ways that they made them. Barb Passmore and Diane Passmore cleverly figured out a way to sew on cute fabric pieces on top of the pouches to make them more fun; Marie Woodman created her own stuffed bear to place inside of the pouch as the pokey Pet; another woman from Bridgewood sewed a lace white eyelet fabric around the outside edge of the pouch and it looked adorable! Other volunteers simply helped through donations. Catherine Passmore donated a large bag of small stuffed animals she had found on oriental Trader; Meredith Lemen donated several Teenie Beanie Babies; and Gail Lake donated a bag of stuffed animals she had found at the Salvation Army. Thank you, ladies, for helping out with Pokey Pets!

Revised instructions!

If you had trouble understanding the 1st set of instructions, try these! This version does the pocket differently though. For the pocket, you are making a pleat in front instead of just ironing folds on the sides. The same measurements and materials are used for both sets of instructions. Have fun!

1.Select coordinating fabrics that best match the teeny beanie baby.

2.Cut Fabric to sizes indicated above in materials list.

3.Select the pocket fabric rectangle; Fold down 6” raw edge 1/4 inch toward wrong side (WS);Repeat by making another 1/4 inch fold; Press; Hem with straight stitch.

4.Fold over 1/4 inch to WS on each 5 inch raw edge; Press.

5.Find center by folding in half ...matching the 5 inch sides; mark or finger press center line.

6.Open, lay flat, and move 5 “ raw edges to meet the center fold line (WST); Press

7.Create pleats by moving each 5 inch edge outward toward right and left fold edge;Extend past folded edge to allow for sewing onto base fabric; Should measure about 3 inches across. Press.

8.Turn over folded/pleated pocket (right side up). Place pocket onto RS of base top fabric. Center Pocket’s three inch raw edge on the eight inch raw edge. Baste edge (pin or sew)

9.Check position of pocket, pin and stitch both sides to RS of base top fabric. Back stitch top of each pocket side to secure stitch (due to extra stress at this point).

10.Place base back fabric on top of base top fabric (with pocket) WST, match all corners, pin.

11.Stitch 1/2" seam around three sides of rectangle (Top, Bottom, Right Side), Stitch around corner about one inch at top and bottom of 4th side (Right Side).

12.Trim corners (not too close....3 or 4 threads) to reduce bulk.

13.Turn RS outward through the 4th side opening. Gently poke out corners.

14.Press flat making sure to fold in 1/2 in seams on open 4th /left side.

15.With pocket side up, on 4th seam, insert “hook” (scratchy) side of Velcro facing downward;Place Velcro 2 inches from each corner as shown in diagram ; secure and stitch seam closed with raw edges folded inside. Backstitch over Velcro and at beginning and end of seam

16.Position loop(fuzzy) side of Velcro on the top left side of base top; align with velcro on right side. Stitch all 4 sides of Velcro.

17.Insert Teeny Beanie into pocket. Place in ziplock bag with paper insert.

Thank you North Oaks Community Church!

A big thank you to North Oaks Community church for your awesome donations of over 60 Pokey Pets! This charity would not be possible without great helpers like you ladies!

Information

On Thursday I am planning on using a large chunk of my grant money from Dosomething.org! I am going to stock up on material, Velcro, and the Pokey Pets that go inside of the pouch. With these materials, I am going to distribute a pattern and starter kit for anyone who would like to start making Pokey Pets on their own at home. On Saturday, I am attending a church sewing group at my friend Chloe's church and teach the ladies how to make the Pokey Pets. I am so excited that more people in the community are learning how to make these so that children in the Hospitals can enjoy them. If you yourself would like me to send home with you the materials needed to start making Pokey Pets, let me know!

Exciting News!!!

This past summer, I entered a contest on Dosomething.org for Pokey Pets. I learned in October that I won the $500 grant!!! I am looking forward to using this grant money to further Pokey Pets, but I can't do it alone! $500 is a lot of money for a little project. I need everyone to help so that Pokey Pets will grow into something larger. My hope is that I can teach others how to make the craft so that more can be made and donated. I am a high school senior and don't have as much time to invest in the project as I would like, but you may have that valued time that is needed! If you are interested in learning how to make Pokey Pets, let me know and we can try to work something out! I am very thankful for this grant from Dosomething.org because it eliminates money holding Pokey Pets back from continuing. All that we need now is the time spent to make them.