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You are here: Home / Family life / Holidays & Celebrations / DIY Reusable Fabric Gift Bags

DIY Reusable Fabric Gift Bags

Tuesday, December 2, 2014 by Lolli 20 Comments

 

Several years ago, I got some reusable fabric gift bags, and every holiday and birthday since then I’ve wished that I had more of them. I spend so much time – hours – every Christmas wrapping dozens (hundreds?) of presents for family and friends. I waste so much wrapping paper that ends up being ripped up and thrown out on Christmas morning. It’s a waste and an unnecessary cost.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

This holiday season, I decided to bite the bullet and make myself a set of fabric gift bags. I’m not an accomplished seamstress (truthfully, sewing machines stress me out a little) but these gift bags are simple enough for even the novice sewer. Believe me – if I can handle them, anyone can. I would recommend this project to those who have at least a basic familiarity with a sewing machine.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

How to make Fabric Gift Bags

I started out by buying 4 yards of fabric (1 yard each of 4 Christmasy fabrics) and lots and lots of coordinating ribbon (one 9-yard spool of ribbon makes 4-5 ribbon-ties). Then I whipped out my sewing machine and spent a Saturday hard at work.

1. CUT – Cut fabric for your bags. I tried a variety of sizes from each yard of material. I always started off with one large bag and then cut a set of smaller bags with the remaining fabric. TIP: use a rotary cutter and a fabric cutting mat to make this process easiest.

Sample sizes (in inches) using one yard of fabric –
15×20, 10×20 (2), 9×20 (2), 6 1/2 x22 (2)
15×30, 14×15, 9×14 (3), 12 1/2×22
16×22 (2), 12×22, 11×12 (2), 8 1/4×28, 8 1/4×16
15×22 (2), 10×21 (2), 12×18, 12/12×24

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

Note: the longer side is the side that will be folded and sewn together to make the bag, so a 15×20 inch piece of fabric will make a 15×10 inch bag (minus some space for the seams).

2. IRON – Decide which side of the fabric will be the top/open part of your bag. Fold over about 1/2 an inch and iron the seam down so that it’s easier to sew.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

3. SEW – Sew the top seam down, then, with wrong side of fabric facing out, sew the remaining two sides together to form a bag. Turn right side out.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

4. RIBBON – Cut length of ribbon (between 22 and 28 inches, depending on how long you like your bows), and tack one ribbon on to each bag. This can be done with a quick back and forth on the sewing machine or by hand with a few quick stitches.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

That’s it! Each yard of fabric (which was under $5) yielded 6-7 gift bags. Not only are the a great “green” alternative to wrapping paper, but they are perfect for those awkwardly-shaped gifts that are hard to figure out how to wrap. Plus, the fabric makes for a very cute stand-out present under the tree.

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

Another tip: make reusable gift tags to attach to the ribbons to let people know who gifts are for and from. I’ll be adding a fun gift tag tutorial soon!

DIY reusable fabric gift bags for Christmas

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

About Lolli

Lolli has written 3740 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

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Filed Under: Holidays & Celebrations, Projects and crafts Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas crafts, crafts, DIY, holidays, Holidays & Celebrations

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Comments

  1. Lolli says

    Monday, December 5, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    Yes, I leave the majority of the ribbon hanging and just attach it right in the middle so it stays in place.

  2. Emily says

    Monday, December 5, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    I want some of these! For attaching the ribbon, do you busy sew it on the bag for a few inches and leave the rest hanging?

  3. Halsted says

    Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 12:40 am

    What a great idea to make these in bulk to give away. The concept could be used for other holidays and occasions, too.

  4. Marilyn says

    Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    We featured you at The Project Stash! LOVE this! Be sure to stop by, grab your featured button and link up more creations for everyone to admire! :)

  5. Joanne T Ferguson says

    Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 3:33 am

    G’day Thx for stopping by and sharing this at our #SayGdayParty Pinned
    Please make sure to return if you haven’t already to G’day to the hosts and someone at the party! Cheers!
    Joanne @ What’s On The List

  6. crystal says

    Friday, December 12, 2014 at 9:23 am

    These are so cute and handy to have on hand. I’d like to invite you to join the Saturday crafty showcase at Bowdbrablog.com. :-)

  7. Fee Roberts says

    Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    These are adorable. I’d have to sew them by hand, I don’t have a sewing machine. I so wish I did!

  8. Sarah L says

    Friday, December 5, 2014 at 10:38 pm

    I’m lucky to have a friend who loves to sew and I think she’d be willing to make me some of these. Thanks.

  9. Alison says

    Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 5:43 am

    Love this idea! I also like to use pieces of fabric to wrap a gift up with a knot.

  10. Heather says

    Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    What a great idea! I do save my paper bags but I like this idea even more!

  11. Janet W. says

    Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 9:29 am

    Those are the cutest gift bags! These would be great to re-use every year when giving my grandsons a smaller type gift instead of using wrapping paper!

  12. Jennifer Sikora says

    Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    Those are absolutely adorable! I love how creative you are.

  13. Karen Glatt says

    Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    This is amazing! I love it! Using reusable Fabric bags to wrap gifts for the Holiday season is such a good idea. I would love to make these. Thanks for sharing how to make these pretty gift bags!

  14. Laura B. says

    Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    Oh my gosh, it seems so simple! WHy the heck didn’t I think of this sooner? This will save a ton of money on wrapping paper!

  15. Heidi says

    Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    Hello Lolli,
    What a cute idea! (you are filled with them) :)
    We featured you on our FB page today https://www.facebook.com/MormonMomsWhoBlog and…would love to have you do a guest post on our blog sometime. Here’s the info. for that. https://mormonmomswhoblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/now-accepting-guest-authors.html

    Thanks for all the good you are doing and sharing! It’s wonderful to connect with such good women who are raising precious children and sharing messages that help others!

    Blessings,
    Heidi

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