I am a firm believer that sometimes, the way a gift is wrapped up and presented can be just as special as what is inside. Handmade reusable gift bags are a lovely way to turn even the simplest of gifts into something truly memorable, and today, I am sharing my favorite method for creating easy drawstring felt gift bags that can be reused and passed along year after year. Filled with a handmade piece of jewelry, some edible goodies, or even a gift card, these bags are a wonderful, festive way to show something you care this holiday season. And, once you see how easy they are to make, you’ll want to make a passel of them to use for any number of the recipients on your list: neighbors, teachers, friends and more!
This post is brought to you by Michaels.
For this project, you will need…
- 9×12″ sheets of felt in red, white and green
- Shears
- Coordinating thread
- Hot glue
- Assorted buttons
- Ribbon
- Bodkin or safety pin
- Basic sewing supplies (machine, pins, etc.)
Fold the red felt piece in half widthwise and trim down the center fold to create two 6×9″ pieces for the main body of the bag.
Fold one of the short ends of each of the trimmed pieces down by 1″ and secure with pins. Machine stitch to secure the fold on each piece. (This will create a casing to run the ribbon through for the drawstring later on.)
Cut out various embellishments from the green and white felt. I created white circle patches using a spool of ribbon as a template, as well as some holly leaves and a Christmas tree, which I cut out free hand.
Arrange and pin the pieces to the front of one of the main body pieces as desired before machine stitching each element into place. If desired, further embellish with buttons or other small items by affixing these to the front of the bag with hot glue.
Place the main body front and back pieces together, wrong sides facing, and pin along the sides and lower edge. Stitch around the sides and bottom of the pieces using either a straight or a decorative stitch. (I love to use my machine’s blanket stitch for this step.) Be sure to leave the top open as you go!
Cut an 18-24″ length of ribbon, and use a bodkin or safety pin to pull it through the top casing.
Now all that’s left it to fill the bag with a special gift, and tie the ribbon in a pretty bow to secure. Your drawstring felt gift bag is complete!
Felt is a wonderful material to work with for making bags like this one, as it resists fraying both while sewing and during use. It also has such a cozy, retro vibe that is just perfect for the season!
These bags wind up measuring right at 6×8″, making them perfect for holding anything from handmade jewelry items to small toys, candy, or even gift cards. Also, this same construction process can be used to create smaller or larger gift bags simply by changing the dimensions of the rectangles cut in the first step.
If you’re on the lookout for another method for creating reusable gift bags with woven fabrics, be sure to check out my drawstring fabric gift bag tutorial. The method for making these is slightly different, but equally quick and easy!
And once your festive gift bags are complete, if you are looking for the perfect special gift to fill them, be sure to check out the Michaels gift guide, which is brimming with fantastic ideas for just about anyone on your list!
My fellow Michaels Makers have been hard at work coming up with festive handmade gift and gift wrapping ideas, so be sure to click over to check out some of their projects, too!
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Happy December, everyone! Wishing you and yours a festive season!
This is a sponsored post written in conjunction with the Michaels Makers. All opinions are entirely my own.
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.