Looking for a way to add a handmade touch to any gift? These simple felt gift bags are a perfect fit. Make them in your favorite colors and dress them up with any fun trim you happen to have in the craft room...with these basic instructions, the possibilities are endless!
Felt Gift Bags
- wool felt (1/3 yard will make any of the bags)
- clear nylon thread
- trims (we used ribbon, rickrack, yarn, embroidery floss, 11/2" dia. self-covered button and felt scraps)
Match wrong sides and use a 1/4" seam allowance.
1. For the brown bag, cut a 9"x20" felt piece. Attach red felt circles to the top half of the brown felt piece with yarn Cross Stitches (diagram below). Layer and sew ribbon and rickrack above the circles. Fold the felt in half and sew the sides together. Pinch the bottom corners and sew across each corner 3/4" from the points. Trim the excess felt from the corners.
2. For the tan bag, cut a 7"x23" felt piece. Mark 23/4" from the corners along one short end. Mark 4" from these corners along the long edges. Connect the marks and cut along the drawn lines to form the bag flap. Layer and sew ribbon and rickrack to the felt about 61/2" from the other end. Fold this end up 9" and sew the sides together. Pinch the bottom corners and sew across each corner 3/4" from the points. Trim the excess felt from the corners. Using yarn, sew a 21/2" diameter brown felt circle to the flap with a Straight Stitch (diagram below) six-point snowflake.
3. For the cream bag, cut an 81/2"x30" felt piece. Mark 11/2" in from the left corner along one end; mark 6" down from the right corner of that same end. Connect the marks and cut along the drawn line to form the bag flap. Layer and sew rickrack and ribbon to the flap edge. Fold the opposite short end up 101/2" and sew the sides together. Pinch the bottom corners and sew across each corner 3/4" from the points. Trim the excess felt from the corners. Work a 11/4" diameter Straight Stitch six-point snowflake with floss on a felt scrap; cover the button. Cut a buttonhole in the bag flap; sew the button to the bag under the flap.
Cross Stitch
Bring the needle up at 1 and go down at 2. Come up at 3 and go down at 4.
Straight Stitch Bring the needle up at 1 and go down at 2.
