Do you have great sewing skills? Looking to create something personalized?
Make your own gift bags.
You’ll add your own personality through the fabric you choose and you’ll have a gift bag with the exact measurements you need.
All you really need are some of your favorite fabrics, a bag liner, sewing materials, a sewing machine, and your patient sewing skills.
Let’s get started.
It’s best to start by using your favorite paper bags as your guide for the gift bags you’re going to make.
Once you’ve decided which one to use, cut down the center of the sides of the bag.
Remove the handles.
Lay them out flat on top of the firm Thermo adhesive liner used for bags. Using a marker, trace the outline of the bag onto the liner.
Make sure to trace the exact measurements of the bag and include the holes for the handles!
Cut it out
Then, lay it on top of the fabric you’re using for the bag.
You will need fabric for the outside and inside parts of the bag.
You can use either the same design or different designs. Just be sure to lay out both fabrics to save time by cutting them at the same time.
Iron the liner on the fabric.
This will make it stay put. Using a cutter and ruler, cut out the fabric, leaving 1.5cm on all sides. This will make sure you have enough fabric to sew all sides together.
Lay the original paper bag on top of the liner and fold down the sides. Trace the sides to help guide you once you start sewing.
Fold down the body as well and trace along the sides, too.
This method has many steps.
Be patient. You’ll eventually get used to the process and it’ll become a habit after a number of bags.
Use your sewing machine to sew along the lines. This goes without saying but, just to be sure, please use the same color for the thread as your fabric.
For the bag handles, you can use the same handles as the original bag or you can use something different altogether.
Measure it so they’re the same length. Sew the handle around 0.5 cm so it’s secure and tight.
Secure the sides with bobby pins and mark it 1cm from the edge before you sew them together.
Do the same for the sides.
Once that’s done, it’s time to add the second fabric.
Measure 1cm from the edge and secure with bobby pins. To make the bag reversible, make sure to leave 15 cm open on one side so it’s easy to flip the bag around.
Once you’ve sewn on the sides and the bottom, insert the other fabric and secure the top with bobby pins 1cm from the top.
Remember that one side that’s unsewn?
Flip the inside bag using that open part.
Sew closed the open part with a blind stitch by hand. Arrange the side that’ll become the liner inside the other part of the bag.
Use bobby pins to secure them again and sew 1cm from the top. Iron down the creases on the sides and bottom to make a firm and rigid bag.
Now you’ve got yourself your own customized gift bag.
Ready to make your own?
Watch the video below for more detailed instructions!
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