You put so much thought, love and effort into choosing the perfect present so why not learn how to make fabric gift bags to put it in. My sister can gift wrap presents worthy of photographing and splashing all over Pinterest but my paper wrapping abilities are a bit of an ongoing family joke. So this year I'm making fabric gift bags for all my presents which are sure to impress.
Contents
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags
These fabric gift bags don't take long to make and are great for reducing your ever-growing scrap fabric piles. Don't forget to check out some of my other scrap fabric sewing projects. (Read more about the types of bags)
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags - Sizes
Here are the finished sizes of the gift bags. If these sizes are not big enough for your presents, you can always use the same techniques to make any size.
- Small - Great for jewelry and small items - size 5.25" W x x 6.75" H (13.5x17cm)
- Medium - Fits scarves, small books or notepads - size 7.75" W x 8.75" H (19.5x22cm)
- Large - Fits small clothing items eg a t-shirt - size 11.25" W x 11.75" H (28.5x28.5cm)
- Long - Fits a wine bottle - size 5.25" W x 14.75" H (13.5x37.5cm)
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags - Supplies
- Cotton Fabric - Small, medium and long can be cut from a fat quarter. See the exact cutting dimensions below. Quilting cotton is easy to sew and readily available.
- Ribbon - ⅜ inch (1cm) wide ribbon for the ties.
- Safety pin for threading the ribbon through the casing.
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags - The Video
Check out this YouTube video I made for you on how to make fabric gift bags. All my videos are quick and to the point, as I know you are juggling a million things. Thanks for watching 🙂
Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly craft and sewing videos.
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags - Sewing
Step 1: Cutting
Cut your fabric in the following sizes.
- Small - Cut 11 x 8 inches ( 28 x 20.5cm)
- Medium - Cut 16 x 10 inches (40.5 x 25.5cm)
- Large - Cut 23 x 13 inches (58.5 x 33cm)
- Long - Cut 11 x 16 inches (28 x 40.5cm)
Step 2: Press the Casing
On the wrong side, press over the top edge by ¼ inch (6mm). Press over top again by ¾ inch (2cm). Gently unfold your pressed edge.
- Small - press the 11-inch edge
- Medium - press the 16-inch edge
- Large - press the 23-inch edge
- Long - press the 11-inch edge
Step 3: Fold in Half
Fold your fabric in half with the right sides together so the pressed edge is at the top. Pin in place and mark 1 inch (2.5cm) from the top (in the crease) and 1 ¾ inches (4.5cm) down.
Step 4: Stitch the Sides
With a ¼ inch (6mm) seam allowance, stitch from the top to the 1 inch (2.5cm) mark. Backstitch well.
Leave a ¾" (2cm) gap and continue stitching from the 1 ¾ inch (4.5cm) mark all the way down to the bottom and across as shown.
Step 5: Clipping
Clip the bottom corner.
Further Reading: Sewing Clipping
Step 6: Fold Casing Back
At the top where the gap is, open up the seam with your fingers. Fold the pressed edge back down. Pin all the way around.
Step 7: Stitch Casing
On the wrong side, stitch around the folded edge to form a casing. There is no need to leave a gap since we will be threading the ribbon through the gap in the side seam.
Step 8: Turn
Turn the bag to the right side and give it a good press
Step 9: Add the Ribbon.
The last step of how to make fabric gift bags is to add the ribbon drawstrings. Thread the ribbon through the hole in the casing with a safety pin.
Knot the ends of the ribbon together and cut the ends at an angle to minimize fraying.
Further Reading: how to stop ribbon from fraying
How to Make Fabric Gift Bags - In Conclusion
And that's it - that's how to make fabric gift bags! All you need to do is to add your gift and hide it away until the perfect moment.
Pin This Image for Later 🙂
More Bag Tutorials
If you enjoyed this how to make fabric gift bags tutorial, what about trying a DIY felt gift bag. These felt bags are designed for smaller gifts like chocolates or jewelry. The tutorial has a printable pattern piece to make it easy to get the shape perfect.
How to Make a Fabric Gift Bag
Tools
- Sewing Basics Pins, thread, iron
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
Materials
- Cotton Fabric
- ⅜" (1cm) wide ribbon
Instructions
- Cut a rectangle in the following sizes. Small - Cut 11 x 8 inches ( 28 x 20.5cm) Medium - Cut 16 x 10 inches (40.5 x 25.5cm) Large - Cut 23 x 13 inches (58.5 x 33cm) Long - Cut 11 x 16 inches (28 x 40.5cm)
- On the wrong side, press over the top edge by ¼ inch (6mm). Press over top again by ¾ inch (2cm). Gently unfold your pressed edge.
- Fold your fabric in half with the right sides together so the pressed edge is at the top. Pin in place and mark 1 inch (2.5cm) from the top (in the crease) and 1 ¾ inches (4.5cm) down. With a ¼ inch (6mm) seam allowance, stitch from the top to the 1 inch (2.5cm) mark. Backstitch well. Leave a ¾" (2cm) gap and continue stitching from the 1 ¾ inch (4.5cm) mark all the way down to the bottom and across as shown.
- Clip the bottom corner. At the top where the gap is, open up the seam with your fingers. Fold the pressed edge back down. Pin all the way around. On the wrong side, stitch around the folded edge to form a casing. There is no need to leave a gap since we will be threading the ribbon through the gap in the side seam.
- Turn the bag to the right side and give it a good press. Thread the ribbon through the hole in the casing with a safety pin. Knot the ends of the ribbon together and cut the ends at an angle to minimize fraying.
Rakiya
Thanks for sharing.
Treasurie
Thanks so much for the nice words.
Carol
I love your classes. I sucked at sewing. I kept trying and I just wanted to stab my sewing machine with my new scissors. I've been taking it slower, reading all of your articles, doing beginning projects, and now I don't hate it so much.
Thank you so much. You are my hero!!!!
Carol