Drawstring Fabric Gift Bag Tutorial

When it comes to holiday gift-giving, I really strive to make the presentation of the gift as special as the contents inside. Today’s idea for quick-and-easy drawstring gift bags will enable you to add extra panache to your holiday gift-wrapping, and because they are made of fabric, they can be passed along from recipient to recipient for many holidays to come. These fabric gift bags come together with just a few minutes’ time and a small scrap of fabric and other basic supplies. Let me show you how!

For this project, you will need…

• Fabric scraps (refer below for the dimensions needed for each size)
• Coordinating thread
• Ribbon
• Disappearing ink marker
• Basic sewing supplies: sewing machine, shears, etc.
• Decorative brooch or pendant, for embellishing your bag (I used a pendant from Styled by Tori Spelling)
• Optional, but recommended: rotary cutter and mat

To begin, cut your fabric and ribbon to the following dimensions:

• For a small (approximately 7-inch) bag: one fabric piece cut to 6×20″; one ribbon piece cut to 22″
• For a medium (approximately 9-inch) bag: one fabric piece cut to 8×24″; one ribbon piece cut to 24″
• For a large (approximately 11-inch) bag: one fabric piece cut to 10×30″ ; one ribbon piece cut to 26″

Fold your fabric piece in half width-wise, aligning each of the short ends. Pin. Measure 5 inches from the unfolded short edge down one of the long sides, and mark with a disappearing ink marker.

Using a 1/4″ seam allowance, stitch from the mark you made in the previous step down to the folded edge of the piece. Stitch the entire length of the opposite long side. Finish the seams with a serger or a zig-zag stitch. Make a 1/4″ snip just above the point where your short line of stitching ends. (This should be right at the mark you made earlier.)

Fold down the fabric above the snip 1/4″; press. Flip the bag over and repeat on the opposite side.

Fold the top edge of the bag down 1/4″; press.

Fold the top edge of the bag (the edge you just pressed) down 2.25″ toward the inside of the bag; pin into place.

Note: The resulting cuff will measure 2.25″, and it should be precisely aligned with the snip you made in the previous step.

Stitch 1/8″ from the lower folded edge to secure.

Using your disappearing ink marker, mark 3/4″ from the line of stitching you just made.

Stitch along these marks to form the casing through which you’ll feed the ribbon drawstring for your bag.

Now, feed your ribbon piece through the casing with a bodkin (or a safety pin).

You are finished!

Fill your bags with any gift item that strikes your fancy: jewelry items, edible treats, and more!

To really make the polka-dotted bag shine, I slid a pretty pendant from Styled by Tori Spelling onto the ribbon before tying the bow. I plan to tuck a necklace bottom, connecting pieces, and some other coordinating pieces from the line into the bag for a marvelous, unique gift for any of of the ladies on my list!

Thanks so much for making PS a part of your day!

This is a compensated post written by me on behalf of Styled by Tori Spelling and Darice. Rest assured that all opinions expressed here are entirely my own, and I am dedicated to sharing products I feel my readers will benefit from and enjoy.