Wrap It In A Bag!
by Serena Smith
www.embtreasures.com
Create a simple but unique gift bag that can be reused over and
over! For that hard-to-wrap gift, whip up a bag in just the size you need. The
following instructions will make a 10" x 12" gift bag.
Supplies
21" X 24" solid or marbled fabric (2/3 yd. will make 2 bags)
buttons, trims, ribbons
sewing thread
embroidery threads
embroidery designs
tearaway or cutaway stabilizer
505 spray adhesive
Embroidery
On the right side of the fabric, measure 5" from one of the shorter ends and
mark with a water soluble pen. This will be the center of the embroidery design.
Limit your design to 4" x 4" for this size of bag.
Hoop 2 layers of tear away or cutaway stabilizer and spray with 505 adhesive.
Stick down the fabric in the hoop so the bottom of the design is to the shorter
end of the fabric.
Retrieve the design from a card or your computer and stitch out design. After
stitching is complete, tear off or cut off extra stabilizer. Carefully press the
fabric.
Sewing It Together
With right sides together, fold the fabric in half and seam the length of the
fabric in ½" seam.
Refold the fabric, bringing the seam to the center back. Press the seam to one
side and stitch across the bottom.
Turn the fabric right side out and fold under the lining edge to form a hem.
Press and then stitched closed. Tuck lining into bag and press.
To add ties to your bag, cut one or several lengths of ribbon. Place the ribbon
at the center back seam 3" down from the top of the bag. Stitch across the
ribbon. Bring the ribbon around to the front of the bag and tie into a bow. Now
you are ready to fill your gift bag with goodies!!
If
desired, you can square the bottom of your bag. After stitching the bottom seam,
fold each corner to form a point, aligning the middle side point with the bottom
seam. Stitch across each end, forming a “squared” bottom for bag. Although you
can “square” the bottom of the lining, it’s not necessary because the gift will
be placed on top of it!
Creating a border using the lining: Use two fabrics, one for the
bag, one for the lining and border. Cut both pieces the same width, but the
lining fabric should be cut taller than the bag fabric. Stitch the widths
together. Continue with instructions for embroidery and sewing to complete it!
Other ideas
Use coordinating fabrics for the outside, lining and border.
Scatter embroidery designs all over the fabric or create a embroidered border.
Use different phrases with fun lettering fonts.
Add rows of decorative stitches.
Decorate with many widths of ribbons, trims, beads and paper ribbon.
Embellish with decorative threads and buttons.
Create just the right sized bag for that hard-to-wrap gift!
You can view a western gift bag idea in my gallery here.
Click here to open an Acrobat Reader pdf file for printing. PDF file currently unavailable due to technical problems - check back to download this file.
Copyright © 2006 Serena Smith
These instructions are not to be sold or distributed in any way without my
permission.
Direct others to www.embtreasures.com
for downloading. Thank You!
