Fabric Gift Wrap Challenge

The mountainous pile of gift wrap after Christmas morning was in inspiration for me to make my first fabric gift bag a few years ago. Since then, I’ve made more and more bags and have wrapped about 90% of this year’s gifts in reusable fabric rather than printed plastic. I could go on and on about saving the planet and reuse, but honestly, after the bags are made, wrapping is ridiculously simple- put the gift in the bag and tie a knot. Done. I’m all about making Christmas (and birthdays) easier and simpler.

Here’s my challenge to you:

Make and use 5 fabric gift bags this year. You can use them within your house so you don’t have to make them again next year, or gift them far and wide, hoping to spread the practice of reusable bags. Below is a tutorial on how to make bags along with dimensions for bags that will fit DVDs and DS games, but you can make bags in any size you’d like.

The tutorial:

Materials needed-

• 2/3 yard of fabric to make 5 bags, 2 DVD sized and 3 DS game sized. I use cotton or cotton/polyester blend fabric, usually in dark colors because it’s harder to see though.
• Matching thread
• Sewing machine. We’re only using a straight stitch on a lightweight fabric, so almost any machine will do.
• Cording or ribbon, about 3-4 yards

For the DVD sized bag, cut or tear the material to 12 inches tall by 16 1/2 inches wide (you’ll get 2 from 45 inch wide fabric with a little left over). For the DS game size bag, make the material 9 ½ by 15 inches (you’ll get 3 from a width of fabric).

Fold the fabric right sides together so that the short ends meet. Sew a seam starting about 1 inch from the top to the bottom of the fabric. Finger press the fold at the bottom of the bag. Open up the bag so that the seam meets the finger pressed fold. Press the seam open with an iron. Sew across the bottom of the bag.

At the top of the bag, there’s a part of the seam that you left open. Stitch a “U” down one side, across the seam, and back up the other side. The will help reinforce the fabric for the drawstring and keep the raw edges of the fabric inside the casing.

Fold down the top edge of the fabric about ¼ inch. Fold it down again about ¾ inch. NOTE: If your ribbon is wider than about ½ inch, you may need a larger casing to make it fit. Pin and sew all the way around the top of your bag.

Cut your ribbon or cording to fit through your casing plus a few inches for the knot. That’ll be about 19 inches for the DVD sized bag and 17 inches for the DS game sized bag. Use a bodkin or safety pin to pull the ribbon or cord through the casing. Tie an overhand knot to keep the cord or ribbon from falling out. Turn the bag right side out and you’re done!

Leave me a comment if you have any questions and I'll try to get back to you.