DIY Mini Gift Bag Tutorial

I made little bag ornaments out of felt, machine stitched the flowers at the top/attached handles. Machine stitched the words, all the other stitching is by hand (letters/hearts/squares). . .

Materials:
sewing machine (or by hand)
cutting mat
ruler
scissors
rotary cutter (optional)
pins (large and applique)
cardboard scraps
pattern (pattern from www.greenbaglady.org here)
wool felt
fabric pieces (I recommend small prints)
embroidery oss
disappearing ink pen (found in notions section of fabric store)
letter templates (printed out from Microsoft Word, Cambria font, 170pt, BOLD)

Step 1--cut 2 squares of felt 3.5” x 3.5”

Step 2--mark 5/8” for bottom notches

Step 3--cut out notches, save your scraps!

Step 4--cut 2 strips of felt 1/4 -1/2” x 4” for handles

Step 5--cut out desired letter from template and trace on wool with disappearing ink pen

Step 6--Cut out letter, I like to use tiny scissors for detail work

Save your scraps for future projects! :)

Step 7--center your letter on one side of the bag

Step 8--pin down your letter, applique pins work great as they are smaller

Step 9--use 3 strands of embroidery thread to attach the letter, then stitch around the letter with a different color

Step 10--mark handle location with a disappearing ink pen

Step 11--put right sides together, stitch up one side of the bag on your machine or by hand

Step 11--pin handles on at marks make sure to twist them!

Step 12--pick a fun stitch on your sewing machine

Step 13--sew along the top with the decorative stitch, making sure to catch the handles 

If you would like to put text, a heart, buttons, etc. on the back side of the bag, I suggest adding it at this time, example at left.

Step 14--sew other side and bottom of bag

Step 15--pinch corners, pin and sew

Step 16--turn bag right side out

Step 17--cut 4 pieces of cardboard 1” x 3”

Step 18--cut or rip 4 pieces of fabric 3.5” x 6” press top edge and sides 1/2”

Step 19--start on one side and roll fabric around cardboard

Step 20--secure with a pin

Step 21--tuck “bolts of fabric” in the bag and enjoy! Makes a great gift for any sewist, birthday, Mother’s Day, etc!

source: greenbaglady.blogspot.com