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How To Make Cool Denim Applique Heart Pockets

These denim applique heart pockets are fun to use as little gift bags for Valentine’s Day and other occasions, such as Mother’s Day and Birthdays.

The reverse heart applique technique I used here is straightforward to do. Even though this project involved a small amount of hand stitching, making denim pocket gift bags without sewing is possible.

There are many fun ways to upcycle denim pockets. I’ve made a few excellent denim storage items with pockets, including a large denim pocket wall organizer I made years ago for my son.

With this craft, I used one denim pocket for each gift bag. But what makes these cute denim gift storage bags unique is the reverse applique heart.

Besides the back pockets from an old pair of jeans, all you need are some fabric scraps, which makes this a very affordable craft. The heart pockets are also effortless to make.

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What You Need To Make Applique Heart Pockets

Denim pockets and fabric and thread

How To Make The Cute Valentine’s Heart Pockets

Step 1: Cut out the back pockets from old jeans. Cut as close to the seam of the pockets as possible. Cut the whole pocket, front and back, so the pocket is kept intact.

cutting out a back pocket with scissors.

Step 2: Next, turn the pocket inside out. Then, place a heart-shaped cookie cutter in the centre of the pocket and draw around it with a pen. The size of the cookie cutter you use will determine the size of the heart applique. A standard heart cookie-cutter should be fine.

drawing around the heart cookie cutter

Step 3: Denim fabric frays easily. To stop my denim hearts from fraying, I applied a thin layer of Fray Stop glue around the edge of the drawn heart. Other fabric glues should also work if you don’t have Fray Stop glue.

applying fray stop glue.

Step 4: Once the glue has dried (about 20 mins), carefully cut out the heart from the centre of the pocket. This should be easy to do with small, sharp scissors.

Top Tip: Don’t discard the heart cut out; it can be used to make cute denim heart keyrings or these cool hanging denim decorations.

Cutting out the applique heart
cut out denim applique heart pocket

The Reverse Applique Heart

Step 5: Cut a small square of scrap fabric slightly larger than the cutout heart—iron on some fusible interfacing on the back to stiffen the fabric scrap. Follow the instructions that come with the interfacing.

Top tip: Stiffening the scrap fabric is not essential, but it does make the craft more manageable and the applique heart more robust.

cutting fabric scrap for heart shape
ironed on fusible interfacing

Step 6: Next, turn the cutout denim pocket the right way around. Then, place the stiffened fabric inside the pocket covering the heart hole. Pin the fabric in place.

Top Tip: If you don’t want to do any sewing, you can glue the fabric square in place and miss out on the next stage.

Pinned reverse applique heart pocket.

Step 7: Next, stitch the reverse applique heart in place. Use embroidery thread and a needle with a decorative blanket stitch for this. I used the full six strands of the embroidery thread.

It helps to keep one hand in the pocket to keep it open as you blanket stitch. This will ensure you don’t accidentally sew both sides of the pocket together.

how to do blanket stitch
blanket stitch heart applique
blanket stitch applique

Step 9: Turn the denim pocket back inside out when the stitching is finished. Then, cut away any of the excess applique fabric.

cutting away excess fabric

Step 10: Turn the pocket back to the right way and add a small hanging strap. Small strips of leather, denim seams or ribbon can be used for the straps.

If using leather, attach the straps with an eyelet punch, just like I did with my embroidered hanging pocket storage.

adding leather hanging strap

Denim seam and ribbon straps can be handstitched into the top of the applique heart pockets.

Adding a denim seam strap
Heart applique jeans pocket

These denim applique heart pockets are perfect little pouches for giving Valentine’s or Mother’s Day treats. They are so easy and affordable to make that I made a few, each with a slightly different design.

I’ve used the same reverse applique technique on denim when making these cute Christmas denim pot holders and Christmas denim pockets. I used my Christmas cookie cutters for those projects.

denim heart gift pockets

Check out these mushroom painted jeans pockets for another whimsical upcycled denim idea! Or these spooky Halloween embroidered jeans pockets.

If you liked this upcycled denim craft, you should check out the other things you can make, from an upcycled pair of jeans and my comprehensive A to Z of denim crafts. I even have a collection of denim Valentine’s ideas , 50 Valentine’s sewing projects and many more fabric heart crafts.

recyced-applique-heart pockets

More cool adult crafts and Valentine’s Day craft ideas can be found here.

Yield: Repurposed jeans pocket gift bags with an applique heart design

Applique Heart Denim Pocket Treat Bags

Applique Heart Denim Pocket Treat Bags

These cute repurposed denim pockets from old jeans are decorated with a reverse applique heart. They can be used as gift bags for Valentine's or Mother's Day, as well as birthdays. Very easy and affordable to make.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $1

Materials

  • Denim back pockets from an old pair of jeans
  • Scrap fabric with a small pattern print
  • Fray stop glue
  • Embroidery thread and needle
  • Iron on interfacing

Tools

  • Heart shaped cookie cutter
  • Small pair of sharp scissors
  • Pen

Instructions

  1. Cut a back pocket out from a pair of jeans. Cut as close to the seams as possible, keeping the back and front of the pocket intact., So that it can still be used as a pouch.
  2. Turn the pocket inside out, then draw around the heart-shaped cookie cutter on the pocket.
  3. Brush Fray Stop glue around the drawn heart and leave it to dry.
  4. Next, cut out the denim heart. cut out denim heart
  5. Cut a piece of scrap fabric large enough to cover the heart hole. Stiffen the fabric with iron-on interfacing.
  6. Next, turn the pocket right side out and pin the fabric inside the pocket to cover the heart hole.
  7. Stitch the heart to the denim pocket using a blanket stitch around the edge. blanket stitch heart applique
  8. Finish off the denim pockets by adding a strap. Strips of leather or denim seams can be used to make the straps.

Wanda R.

Wednesday 13th of September 2023

I bought a denim pocket a few years ago. I turned it into a sunglasses pocket for my car. Adding soft fabric to the inside keeps my glasses protected.

Claire Armstrong

Thursday 14th of September 2023

Yes they make handy sunglasses cases too. I have a tutorial here if you want to make one yourself.

Lynn Beam

Monday 24th of July 2023

I’m inspired! What a darling idea. I’ll pop over to goodwill for the jeans today!! Presents for the young galls in our family. Thank you!!

Claire Armstrong

Monday 24th of July 2023

Thank you, they are simple and fun to make, I'm sure the girls will love them.

Niki - Life as a LEO Wife

Thursday 27th of January 2022

These are adorable! If you had a lot of unused jeans, they would make the cutest gifts for your child's class for Valentine's Day. Thanks for sharing on Crafty Creators! XOXO, Niki ~ Life as a LEO Wife

Claire Armstrong

Friday 28th of January 2022

Thank you, I have a ton more denim ideas too. There are so many wonderful things you can make from an old pair of jeans.

Julie

Sunday 23rd of January 2022

Another brilliant denim upcycle. I love the idea of these, they could be the cutest gift bags ever. They'll be featured at Handmade Monday this week (just 'cos I love them so much!) :-)

Claire Armstrong

Monday 24th of January 2022

Aww, thank you so much Julie, I look forward to seeing them.

Donna via Funky Junk Interiors

Saturday 22nd of January 2022

SO clever! Goodness I love those hearts finished with the stitching! These Valentine pockets are adorable!

Claire Armstrong

Saturday 22nd of January 2022

Aww, thank you so much, they were fun to make too.

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