How to Sew a gift bag

Do you remember the bibs that I made some time ago? My mother in law asked me if I could make one but adding the name of the baby. Obviously she only asked me one and I end up doing two bibs. I also decided to make a gift bag where she could put these bibs in, and that gave me the idea to create this tutorial.This was the result.

The finished dimension of the gift bag is 8" wide x 11" tall.

If you want more information on the bibs,I invite you to visit my publication HERE.


Now let's start with the different steps that will lead to the accomplishment of
this gift bag. This is how I did it:

First step, cut the fabric :
for the outer fabric:
   - cut 10" x 8 1/2 " (front)
   - cut 11 1/2 " x 8 1/2"  ( back)

Tip: I cut the fabric for the exterior 2 "longer than the final measure, I did the
buttonholes and the embroidery  and then I cut to the measures that I have just
given you.

for the lining:
   -11 1/2" x 8 1/2" ( cut 2 )
  (I cut these pieces of fabric   with the measures listed )

for the patchwork:
   - cut two strips of fabric 1 1/4 " x 12"(one white and one blue )

You will need also a bias tape or a ribbon  that you will thread through the buttonholes, I used  36" and the wide of the bias tape is up to you.

The second step is preparing the exterior of the bag, the buttonholes and the embroidery design.


I started with the front fabric, I decided to sew a few  buttonholes and use them to thread a rubban. The buttonholes can be made either by hand or by sewing machine, I wanted to do it  using my 4D software and my embroidery machine. The lenght of the buttonhole is determined by the wide of the ribbon, in my case the ribbon mesures 2/8" (0.5 cm) so my buttonholes mesures 5/8" ( 15mm )
Whatever the way you want to do it, the distance between the buttonholes is 2 "(5 cm) and they are located 1 1/4" from the top edge. I did the embroidered design with the baby's name, 2 1/2 "away from the buttonholes.

If you do click  HERE you will find a sheet with the drawing that I did, you can download the pattern to your computer, is not the exact pattern but just gives you an idea of how I have positioned my items (buttonholes, embroidery, patchwork).

If you have a digitizing software read this, if not you can skip this and go to the next step. I know there are readers of my blog that have the 3D, or 4D or 5D software, so I will share with you what I used to program my embroidery ( I have the 4D Pro software).

I opened my 4D software, I started by choosing a hoop of 240 x 150 mm, for the buttoholes, I used the buttonholes that come with the 4D, after choose the one that I liked, I just copy and paste the buttonhole and I place them at a distance of 50mm between each one.

The embroidery design that  I used is from Husqvarna, Labels and Frames ( disk 76) 
and I use the design number 17.
To create the name, first I cilck on the letter tab,

I used the letters Script / ADINA.

My software is in French but I think the names of the fonts is the same or very

similar.

Here is the front of my gift bag with the embroidery

To the back side, I made the buttonholes, always at a distance of 1 1/4" from the

edge.

This is a picture that I want to show you, you can see I cut the piece of fabric larger

than the final measures.

 After I finished my embroidery, I cut the front and back with the measures that  I have

given at first.

Now let's make the patchwork (not sure if you call it so). First cut two strips
 of fabric 1 1/4 " x 12"(one white and one blue )

Place them with the right sides together, aligning the row edges and sew.

                                                     ( I always use a 1/4 seam allowance)

expose the right side and press

Now let's cut bands of 1 1/4 "

When you are ready to sew, flip each band, so that it looks this way .

Place the bands rigth side together and sew.

We will continue joining bands  until we reach more than 11 1/2"

Now, put togther the rigth sides of the front and the patchwork, aligning the row

edges and sew

To finish sewing the outside of the bag, place the front and back fabrics right

sides together and sew all arround the edges leaving the top open.

I align the side seam with the seam of the base and sew (I used also 1/4 seam

allowance),

so the corners are more beautiful.

Turn right side out, now is time to thread the rubban.

 We are going to sew the lining in the same way. Place the front  and the back with

right sides facing, sew the sides and base, but this time we will allow an opening

of 3 "on the base.

 

Next step,  attach the lining to the exterior fabric.

                       To do this we are going to slide the exterior of the gift bag towards the inside of

the lining, so that both right sides are facing each other.

Now we have to sew the top, aligning the row edges of the outside and lining and

sew together.

Pulling the exterior fabric through the opening

Now we are going to sew the opening that we leave earlier in the lining.

When you are ready, push the lining inside of the gift bag...now is time to enjoy

our gift bag.

I hope you liked this tutorial, I wish I would have given you some inspiration. I used my embroidery machine and my 4D software to create this gift bag, but from here you can create a gift bag, adding an applique or doing embroidery by hand. The buttonholes can be done by hand or using the buttonholes that come with the sewing machines.

I love it when you leave me messages, remember that I always hope to have new followers. I wish to take this post to say thanks to the new followers who have joined my blog, for me to have followers is a way to give me motivation to create more and more projects. I am currently working on a quilt that will probably be the topic of my next post.

Have a nice day!

ENJOY!!!!

Marisa.