Sustainable Gift Wrapping: How to Make Your Own Fabric Gift Bags
Since our super popular post about wrapping gifts sustainably, many of you have asked for a How-To guide for making your own fabric gift bags.
So we’re delighted to say… Here it is!
We are all about DIY — sewing, knitting, and furoshiki — but “doing” and “teaching” are two totally different things. So we asked DIY and organizing expert Elvie Look to share with us how she makes hers.
Here she shows us step-by-step how to make your own fabric gift bags. In eco-friendly fashion, you’ll be inspired to use materials and embellishments you already have on hand.
Fabric gift bags are the best place to start if you want to learn to sew, or to teach your children to sew. Not only are you doing something that contributes to our healthy green earth, but you are actually giving two gifts when you choose sustainable gift wrapping.
The receiver can choose to keep or give away your gift bag. Who knows, maybe you will be starting a new family tradition. Why not give it a try?
In the tutorials below, you’ll find three different gift bag options. One involves virtually no sewing, while the other two are a little bit more involved. If you don’t currently have (or can’t borrow) a sewing machine, we recommend buying a refurbished machine from back when the gears were metal. Compared to modern day plastic parts, an old Singer sews like a dream. Or if you’ve found a newer sewing machine with metal parts online, let us know about it in the comments!
How to Make Your Own Fabric Gift Bags
We started with fabric and supplies we already have around the house. The measurements are not written in stone. Make it whatever size you would like and with any embellishments you like.
EASY BLACK FELT BAG – Finished Sized ~ 10 x 8 x 2 inches
You will need:
1. Starting with the felt (we used black above), fold it in half on the long side.
2. Sew down the side and across the bottom. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you could glue it, staple it, or hand sew it.
3. Create a pillow case corner.
4. Fold by matching the side seam to the bottom seam, as shown in the picture.
5. Sew across the point about 1 1/2 inches away from the point.
6. Turn the bag to the right side.
7. With a hole punch, punch 16 holes all around the top edge about 1 inch down and 1 inch apart.
8. Weave the chain through the holes.
9. With your ribbon, make a bow and secure with a twist tie.
10. Cut 2 little slits in the felt bag on one side and secure your bow with the twist tie through the slits.
*****
REVERSIBLE BAG – Finished Sized ~ 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 3 inches
You Will Need:
- 2 pieces of different fabric – 24 x 18 inches each
- 2 ribbons that coordinate with your fabric for securing the bag
- Cording for the handle, whatever length you desire
1. Fold down the longest side of each fabric to the wrong side 1/2 inch and press.
2. Working with one fabric only, fold in half on the longest side.
3. Sew down the side and the bottom, press the seam to one side or press open.
4. Fold in half on the longest side and good sides together.
5. Sew down the side and the bottom edge of the bag and press the seams to one side.
6. Create a pillow case corner.
7. Fold by matching the side seam to the bottom seam, as shown in the picture.
8. Sew across the point about 1 1/2 inches away from the point. You can tack the point to the bottom seam by sewing a couple of stitches.
9. Turn the bag to the right side.
10. Repeat with the second piece of fabric.
11. Sew a ribbon to one side of each fabric in the center about 2 1/2 inches down from the folded edge.
12. Turn 1 bag inside out and place inside the other bag, bad sides together.
13. Pin your cord or ribbon in place in between the top 2 edges to sandwich in between them and top stitch along the edge all around the top opening of the bag.
*****
SIMPLE CORNERS GIFT BAG – Finished Sized ~ 12 x 10 3/4 x 3 inches
You Will Need:
- 2 pieces of fabric – 16 x 16 inches
- 4 grommets
- Cord for handles, whatever length you desire
- Ribbon for decoration
- Cardboard for bottom 12 x 3 inches
1. Place the 2 pieces of fabric sides together.
2. Sew down one side and press the seam open. Finish the top opening of the bag first by folding down the top edge 1/4 inch to the wrong side of the fabric and press. Then fold down again 2 1/2 inches and press.
3. Sew the edge to secure it.
4. Fold in half on the longest side and good sides together.
5. Sew the side edge and bottom edge of the bag. Press the seams open or to one side.
6. Create a pillow case corner.
7. Fold by matching the side seam to the bottom seam, as shown in the picture.
8. Sew across the point about 1 1/2 inches away from the point. Tack the point to the bottom seam by sewing a couple of stitches.
9. Turn the bag to the right side.
10. Make a bottom for the inside of the bag by inserting the cardboard. In the picture, I covered the cardboard with fabric. On a piece of plastic bag, I sprayed the wrong side of the fabric with a spray adhesive. The plastic is to protect your table. Wrap the fabric around the cardboard and insert into the bottom of your gift bag.
11. With your ribbon, sew it to the center front of your bag with a few stitches, then tie into a bow.
12. Make 4 marks for grommets (2 1/2 inches from the center and 1 1/4 inches down from the top? And attach grommets as per the instructions on the package.
13. Feed your cord or ribbon through the grommets, tie a knot on the inside of the bag at each end of the cord so it will not pull through.
14. Optional: fold the ends of each side of the bag into a pleat and secure with a few stitches.
If you have your own directions to share, please link or tell us about them in the comments. And pictures are always welcome!