Holiday Gift Blog Hop: Day 1

Hello! It's Day 1 of the Holiday Gift Blog Hop, and the Benartex blog team is sharing a tutorial for making easy fabric gift bags. You can use these bags instead of gift wrap and use them again and again! (And no tape or ribbons necessary--added bonus!)

We chose to make these bags up using the brand new United We Stand collection from Kanvas. Small swatches don't do these designs justice--take a look at them in larger pieces.

These military-themed prints would also make great gift bags for soldiers (and it's not too late to do something for this holiday season!). Put together a care package and fill a handmade drawstring bag and send it to troops away from home or drop it off at a local veteran's center. You can find a variety of links to opportunities for making/sending care packages here.

Now let's make the bag! 

You'll Need:
2/3 yard outer print
1 yard lining print (includes handles)
Fabric marking pen
Safety pin

Cutting:
From the outer print:
(2) 18-1/2" squares

From the inner print:
(2) 18-1/2" squares
(3) 4-1/2" x 42" strips for handles

On both side edges of an outer print square, measure and mark 1-1/2" down from the top and 4" down from the top. Layer the 2 outer squares right sides together and sew around 3 sides using a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving the 2-1/2" between marks unstitched. Make sure you backstitch at both marks. Do the same with the 2 inner squares, but leave a 4" opening along the bottom edge for turning.

Press seam open around each casing opening.

Turn the outer bag right side out. Insert inside the lining with right sides together, matching seams and raw edges. Pin. Stitch around the top edge with a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Turn the bag right side out, handstitch the opening in the lining, and stuff the lining inside. The casing holes should line up. Use a ruler and fabric marking pen to mark the top and bottom of the casing holes.

Stitch on the 2 marked casing lines, making sure not to stitch through both sides of the bag.

See how the casing holes line up? This means your bag can be reversible. (If you don't care about a reversible bag, you only need to make the casing holes on the outer bag.)

Sew the (3) 4" x 42" strips short ends together to make a long strip. Fold the strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. Open the folds and fold and press long edges in to the center fold. 

Fold the long strip in half again and topstitch. Cut stitched strip in half to create 2 pieces.

Attach a safety pin to 1 end of 1 handle. Starting on the left side of the bag, feed through the casing, past the casing hole on the right, and back through so the end comes out on the left side. Feed the other strap in from the right side, passing the left casing hole, and back out the right side. 

Trim strips to desired length and knot on each side. 

Your bag is done! 

Here's the bag with the original lining on the outside as well. 

When you've got 2 fabrics you love, having a reversible option is the best solution!

We couldn't stop with just one bag, so we used these prints and the drawstring pillowcase tutorial featured on the blog last summer (find it here) to make a larger bag/pillowcase option.

From drawstring bag to pillowcase!

The two bags together:

Would you like to win a fat quarter bundle of Benartex or Kanvas fabric? Sign up to follow our blog (via email or Bloglovin'--both in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you did so (or are already following!). For a second entry, like us on Facebook and leave another comment. In your comment, also tell us the most challenging gift you ever wrapped. The giveaway will be open through Thursday, December 12th at 11:59 EST, at which point we'll use a random number generator to select a winner.

See the other Holiday Gift Blog Hop tutorials here:
Day 2: Toddler Purse and Doll Blanket by Jennie from Clover & Violet
Day 3: Beer Coozies and Coasters from the Benartex blog team
Day 4: Mae's Daisy Quilt by Melissa from My Quilt Relish
Day 5: Honey Bee Quilt by Erin from Why Not Sew? 

Looking for more holiday gift ideas? Check out the projects from our Holiday Headstart blog hop back in October:

Day 1: Take Me to Class Tote by Tessa from The Sewing Chick

Day 2: Window Zip Pouch by Emily from Mommy's Nap Time

Day 3: Squared Stripe Pincushion from the Benartex blog design team

Day 4: Bold Braid Quilt by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation