Craft Projects
Christmas Gift Bags
Makin' a List...
We've enjoyed these reusable Christmas bags for years. You'll find
these bags to be economical, earth-friendly, convenient, and easy to make.
Select your fabric accordingly to make these lovely bags work for other
gift-giving occasions, as well. I buy Christmas fabric in late August
to get the best prices.
Since the bags are used over and over for various sizes of gifts, I make a variety of sizes, using an assembly line process. Fabric that is 45" wide makes a good sized bag. For gifts that require a deeper bag, use 60" wide fabric.
You will need:
Length of fabric
matching thread
Decorative trim or ribbon
- Open the fabric and turn under ¼ inch on both selvage edges. Hem both edges. I usually do a simple machine hem, but you can tack down a decorative ribbon for hem tape if you prefer.
- Refold the fabric so that hemmed selvage edges are together. Pin to keep selvages together.
- With a fabric marking pencil, divide the entire length of fabric in desired widths for each gift bag, adding an inch each for seam allowance. The last bag will be either wider or narrower than the rest. You may have to adjust the width of the other bags to ensure the last bag is wide enough to accommodate a gift.
- Cut the fabric along the marks.
- Fold each piece of fabric so that the hemmed selvages are together and the WRONG sides of the fabric are together. Pin raw edges together. (The RIGHT side will be outside.)
- Sew raw edges to make bag, using 1/4 inch seam allowances.
- Turn bag WRONG side out. Pull corners out with a pin.
- Press the bag so that the seams are flat, and the corners are square.
- With the bag still WRONG side out, stitch 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the outside edges, enclosing the raw seam edge. This step makes smooth, finished seams.
- Turn the bag right side out and press.
- Cut a piece of ribbon at least 2 foot long. Mark the center of the ribbon.
- Pin ribbon center to outside of bag at the seam. Stitch ribbon center to the seam.
Thanks to Greg Seaman at www.eartheasy.com for the great giftbag photos.