Let It Begin

Doing things in order is a thing, the kind of thing I usually do, which is why today, with Thanksgiving behind us, the Christmas season really begins. Yeah, I've had a few red-cupped lattes, and stashed some Christmas fabric destined for gift bags, but otherwise, that's it. Yeah, it'll be a very full December.

A couple of things I always try to fit in are handmade gift bags and tags. They're a whole 'nother thing I really enjoy. The making hasn't started yet, so for now, I thought I'd repost two of my favorites, both my own tutorials.

First, the Trim-Tied Gift Bag, which is handy, with the ribbon attached. My favorite is made with a linen-blend, as show below, but the tutorial tells how to make a lined version using quilter's cotton as well.



As for tags, I make mine with quilted scraps. Born in desperation one Christmas Eve, they're fun to make, and use up those festive Christmasy bits from your other projects.



So what's your favorite Christmas make, or what's on your list to do? And though I have a collection of tried-and-true gift bag tutorials, I'm always happy to learn of more.

Handmade Holidays

All month long, it's been Handmade Holidays at Sew, Mama, Sew. Hopefully you've gotten some ideas for gift sewing, and maybe even a recipe to try or a printable to have fun with. Today the month-long holiday extravaganza wraps up with my round-up of Last-Minute Gift Wrap + Tags. I hope you'll check it out!

You hopefully saw my tutorial the other day for Trim-Tied Gift Bags. I couldn't resist making one more for you, with a couple of tweaks.  

First off, if you've seen this delightful fabric, a canvas called Light a Candle from the Moonlit Collection by Rashida Coleman Hale for Cotton+Steel, you may notice right off that it's directional. And that may cause just a little issue for you when using the original bag tutorial. All you need to do is cut your fabric in 2 pieces, rather than on a fold, adding 1/4" to the length of each piece. Then seam the bottom, making sure the 'top' of your design is facing away from the seam on both pieces of fabric. {Actually this comes in handy even if your fabric isn't directional, but when you don't have enough fabric to accommodate a fold.}

Another tweak I made was to make this bag larger. Though the photo up top looks like it's lunch-bag size, it's actually smaller. Rather than the 8"x21" I cut in my original tutorial, for this version I cut 2 pieces of fabric, each 10" wide x 12 1/4" tall, and seamed the bottom. I cut the trim (the 5/8" Striped Edge Woven Cotton Trim I told you I was going to try out) 40" long, and I kept the depth of the bag the same, cutting out 1 3/4" corners for the gussets, per the tutorial.

So have fun with the gift-wrap and tag tutorials in the round-up! I know I'll be using most of them for my own gift-wrapping this year!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

Trim-Tied Gift Bag

Click for pdf pattern

This little gift bag idea has been on my mind for a while, and with the holidays coming up, I thought now was a perfect time to finally get a tutorial written. So without further ado, here's the Trim-Tied Gift Bag.

Supplies needed: 

• 1 fat-quarter non-directional linen-blend fabric, or a piece measuring 8"x21"
• 1 1/4 yd 3/4" twill tape

This tutorial makes a bag measuring 3 1/2"x4"x8" when fully open.

1. Fold an 8"x21" piece of fabric width-wise,  wrong sides together. Place fold nearest you. Fabric should now measure 8"x10 1/2". Using a removable marking pen, mark parallel lines 2" from each side. Flip fabric over and repeat on the other side.

2. On one side, mark 1 3/4" squares in bottom corners. 

3. Using fabric scissors, carefully cut away bottom corners, leaving center fold intact.

4. Open up fabric and lay wrong-side down on table. Find center of ribbon length and place on fold of fabric. Lay ribbon down center of bag, pinning about 4" from each end. If needed, use fabric glue to hold ribbon in place while you sew, or more pins. Stitching 1/8" from ribbon edges, sew ribbon onto bag fabric, overlapping a few stitches at the end to secure.

5. Take your piece to the ironing board, and double-fold each of the ends towards the back side 1/4", keeping ribbon ends out of the way. Stitching close to each edge, make a narrow hem on each end.

6. Now fold bag right-sides together, and sew side seams using 1/4" seams. Finger-press seams open.

7. Make gussets on each bottom corner by bringing seam to the fold, right sides together. Because of the seams you have already sewn, they won't match up 100%, but very close. Stitch 1/4" seam across each corner.

8. Turn bag right-side out, and here is what you have. Almost done!

9. Folding along 1 marked line on bag front, stitch 1/8" from edge beginning at the top of the bag, and sewing just to the corner where the side and bottom meet. (An alternate suggestion would be to press on these lines prior to stitching them.)

 It can help to place a pin where you should stop, being careful not to sew directly on the pin.

10. Leaving your needle down, remove pin and raise your foot and pivot so you can continue sewing along the bottom of the bag (along the front/back, not a side where the seams are), to the next corner, then again folding on a marked line, back up to the bag top. Be sure and secure your stitching at beginning and end. (Note that when you are sewing along the bottom of the bag, there is no marking line, but the distance is so short, simply folding it is guide enough.) Repeat on the opposite side, and your bag is done!

Thanks to my friend Sharon/SharonBinWA (smbrendle on Ig), who tested my pattern and made the bag above on very short notice!

This unlined bag would also make a fine wine bottle bag when taking a hostess gift. Because heights of bottles differ, I'd suggest cutting your fabric about 6" longer than the height of your bottle or 20-22" if you don't have a particular bottle in mind. Other than your trim needing to be longer, all other dimensions and instructions would remain the same.

All fabric used in sample unlined bags is Moda Linen Mochi Dot by Momo (70% cotton/30% linen). Canvas or home dec would be other options. I source 3/4" chevron twill tape from FreshModernFabric, who has a nice variety of colors and will gladly cut continuous lengths. I've ordered some of the 5/8" Striped Edge Woven Cotton Trim also to have on hand as an option.

And for those of you who may not have access to the linen blends, or would rather use 100% quilting cottons and make a lined bag, I've tested that out for you too.

Here's what you'll need to do differently for the lined bag:

• Cut 2 pieces of fabric, both 8"x21" - 1 for the exterior and 1 for the lining. Mark right side of outer fabric per step #1.
• Follow steps #2 and #3 for both outer fabric and lining.
• Follow step #4 as written, on the exterior only.
• Ignore step #5 entirely.
• Follow step #6 EXCEPT on one lining seam, leave a hole about 4" long, securing your stitches well on either side of it. 
• Follow step #7 for both exterior fabric and lining.
• Turn exterior fabric right-side out and nestle into lining which is wrong-side out. Line up raw edges of tops at side seams and pin. Pin a few more times as needed to keep top edges lined up. Stitched along entire top edge.
• Pull entire bag through the hole you left in the side lining so entire bag is right-side out. Hand or machine-stitch the opening closed.
• Nestle lining into bag, pushing corners into place. Press top edge nice and neat, and top-stitch closely to the edge along the entire perimeter.
• Follow steps #9 and #10 as written. I found with the lining snug and neat in the bag, it was easily caught in this narrow stitching. 

So enjoy - whatever style you choose to make. Please post any finished bags in my Quilting with A Quilter's Table flickr group so we all can see!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.