Elegant Gift Bags

I love to see the gift bags come out this time of year. Beautiful fabrics, lovely trim and they are appropriate for everyone. Hard to wrap gifts are perfect candidates for this simple project.

The secret is to measure your gift from the middle of the base out to one side, and up to the top. Add three inches to the measurement and that is the length of your bag.

Cut two pieces of holiday fabric the measurement you have decided on. Turn top edge down about 2" and press under raw edge. Stitch along pressed edge and again 3/4" above the edge. This forms your casing for the ribbon. Now stitch bottom and side seams. DO NOT stitch thru casing.

Center side seam with bottom seam. Measure 2" from corner and mark a line across corner. Stitch across corner on both sides. This will give you a nice box corner for your bag.

Now, attach a small safety pin to one end of your ribbon and thread thru casing, coming out opening on other side. Do this for both sides of your bag.

Other variations include a casing at the very top of the bag, lining the bag with a co-ordinating fabric or maybe adding a simple motif to the outside of the bag. I cut the white poinsettia out of a scrap fabric I had and sewed it to the outside of the gift bag before sewing up the side seams. Cording is also a very nice touch to thread thru your bags. The possibilities are endless. Let your imagination be your guide. Golf fabric will be good for my son in law and my grandson will have trucks on his bags.
Enjoy.

Mary Wilkins is a Canadian quilter, sewer and editor of SewWhatsNew.com. For lots of great sewing ideas, tips and instructions, click here to visit Mary's site.