Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Drawstring Gift Bags

Earlier this month I had time to sew, but was in the mood for a quick and easy project that required next to no thinking, and so I whipped up a few reusable fabric gift bags. 



Last year I paced myself, sewing Christmas gifts throughout the year - took all the pressure off. And I intend on doing the same this year. My aim is at least one Christmas project per month. Missed January, but I've made four gift bags this month.

Reusable drawstring gift bags - easy to make and a great way to save on wrapping paper ~ Threading My Way

The bags directly above and below are made with my small, lined drawstring bag tutorial, and ended up at 5.75" x 6.5". I've made many of these bags now and find they are the perfect size for gifting a special bar of soap. Of course, they could be used for lots of other gifts as well.


The bags only require small pieces of fabric (6.25" x 7"), so a good project for fabric scraps. 


The other two bags follow the same small, lined drawstring bag tutorial, but with the dimensions changed to suit the fabric I had left over. Make the bags whatever size you need to fit the gift that will be enclosed.


As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, my aim is to pace myself throughout the year, so there's no mad rush come Christmas time. To help with motivation, I'm aiming to join in with Ho, Ho, Ho and On We Sew throughout the year. Each month there will be...
  • a link party where everyone can add their Christmas makes
  • guest hosts with a tutorial for a Christmas / holiday-themed gift or home decoration item
  • a prize from one of the generous sponsors
Reusable drawstring gift bags - easy to make and a great way to save on wrapping paper ~ Threading My Way

Last year I was lucky enough to win some Christmas Themed Skinny Dips from Plush Addict, perfect for my drawstring gift bags. The fabric is Christmas themed, but not too Christmassy, so the recipient will be able to use them at any time of the year.


If you want to be the lucky winner of a lovely Christmas Decoration Pack, all you need to do is link up your Christmas / holiday make over at Charlie and Ben's Crafty Corner. Ruth has a free pattern for a lovely drawstring bag made with a patchwork block, over with the link up.

This month's giveaway prize is a
Christmas Decoration Pack
from Angie Attward Textiles  -->>

I'm not sure yet what I'll put in my gift bags, but it sure feels good to have started my Christmas sewing. If you sew for Christmas, when do you start to plan and sew?

... Pam

12 comments:

  1. That is such a great idea to sew a project for Christmas every month. Last year I felt such pressure to get it all done in 2 months.

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  2. Great to get this stuff done ahead of time. I shall have to check out the link party. I am trying to work on a few things for gifting, but I find there are so many thing that I want for me that the gifts get left behind! I should have called my blog "The Selfish Sewer."

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  3. LOL @ Baye's comment --- girlfriend make some drawstring bags and get yo'self to Califor-nigh-ayyyyyyyyyyyy! ;)

    I haven't gotten much sewing done this month but I did finish a gift yesterday (a Retreat bag) to post to Ho Ho Ho ... and in honour of your post today, I shall go downstairs and make a pretty Christmas gift bag - because you can NEVER have too many gift bags!

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  4. These are lovely, just the thing for little presents.

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    1. Thanks, Chris. I need to make some more so I don't snaffle these for myself.

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  5. Those drawstring bags are super cute, Pam. The way you turned the stripe patterned fabric turned both vertically and horizontally is very smart and gives a different look to each of them!

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  6. Great use of those skinny dips Pam!

    Thanks for giving Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew a shout out too :)

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  7. These are lovely Pam, great gift bags :)

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  8. Pam, I'm an Aussie blogger too. Lovely to meet you. These are so cute, and simple as well. Please come and share at my Five Star Frou-Frou linkup at A Tray of Bliss? Love, Mimi x

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  9. Lovely to see you back in the 'Ho, ho, ho' swing of things! And it's reminded me I'd better start thinking a bit about March...

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  10. These are fabulous & perfect for all sorts of gifts :o) x

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Tracey. I have yet to decide what to put in them.

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