Tool Time Tuesday...Handmade Fabric Gift Bags

Happy Tool Time Tuesday! This is it...the last Tuesday before Christmas, so I thought I would show you how to make a super quick fabric gift bag. I know...sewing, but even if you don't sew very often, you can make these. All they have are 2 straight seams. Easy!

What's the "Tool" of the day? These cuties...they are called Fat Quarters in the quilt world, but some fabric stores have their own name for them. A Fat Quarter is a yard of fabric that is opened up to it's full width, so it would be 36 inches by usually 44 inches. Then that piece of fabric is cut into quarters. Each piece is then 18 inches by 22 inches. Click here for the explanation I did a while back. If you by a quarter of a yard right off the bolt, that measurement would be 9 inches by 44 inches. Buying a Fat Quarter, it's still a quarter of a yard, but Fatter!
You can find Fat Quarters at most larger fabric chain store and your local quilt shop. The big advantages to buying the pre cut Fat Quarters are

• it's quick...no waiting in the cutting line
• they're a great size for crafting
• you can buy a variety of different fabrics and not spend a lot of money
• they usually cost about $2.00 -$2.50 each, sometimes less if they are on sale. My sister bought these for me...and I think they were only $1.00!!

Some measurements are dependent how wide the fabric was to begin with. This fat quarter is 18" by 21".



Here's a quick tutorial to make 2 gift bags from one fat quarter. Open up the fabric...this piece has the 18 inches on the bottom of the picture.

Cut it in half, so each piece is now roughly 18 inches wide by 11 inches tall.

Take one of those pieces and fold over the top edge about 1/2 inch...

and iron flat.

Fold over again to have a nice clean edge...hiding the raw edge.

Sew a straight seam across the top.

Here is the finished edge on the right side of the fabric.

Now take a matching ribbon about 24 inches long or so.

Fold it in half.

Now take the folded end...

and place it about 2 1/2 - 3 inches down from the top of the seam you just sewed.

Pin in place.

Now take the left edge and fold it over to the right edge. Right sides together.

Pin the sides and the bottom together. I sewed with a 1/4 inch seam.

Now, starting at the top right edge, sew down the side...

leave your needle down at the bottom corner and pivot or turn the fabric...

and then sew across the bottom left edge. Back stitch at the beginning and the end to secure the seams.

This is a close up of the pivot at the corner. If you pivot and turn the fabric, it's only one quick seam with one motion!

Turn right side out, iron the seams and you're done! A fast, and re-usable fabric gift bag with a tie already attached.

Just fill with goodies and you're good to go!

Don't forget...you get 2 of these bags from one fat quarter.

Here's another idea for a wine bottle gift bag. You'll get one bag from one fat quarter.

This measurement may vary depending on how fat your wine bottle is. ( wow, I've said the word Fat a lot in this post...not a good time of year to use that word as I'm eating a cookie as I type!) My measurement was about 13 inches by 15 inches. You can always use the strips that you cut away to make a matching tie for the bag too!!

The steps are all the same. Finish the top edge, add your folded ribbon or tie...

Fold over the left side to the right and sew your 1/4" seam.

Quick, easy and "sew" pretty for a bottle of wine.

Don't forget to make a set of matching coasters. Click here for the tutorial. You can use them as a regular coaster under the glass...

or as a snuggie coaster that stays on the bottom of the glass.

Always stays on to protect your table.

Great last minute gift set idea! A bottle of wine in your gift bag, glasses and a set of matching coasters.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Now get out there and buy some fat quarters and have fun making these bags!

space

~Karen~