Sewing tutorial for easy eco friendly reusable gift bags. These are a perfect beginner project. Super quick and easy little gift bag, these sweet little bags are a gift in themselves. Giving gifts is not about the grandeur but more about thoughtfulness or a shared moment. A few seashells for a beach lover, sweetly bath salts for someone who needs a little self love chill time, or a box of matches with ‘you light my fire’ note, in one of these bags – unforgettable gifts.
Cutting the fabric and making takes as little as 15 minutes. And the embroidered Hawthorn wreath takes about an hour. Really it is that quick, and easy to relax into this project.
Links
Sewing Tutorial: Mini Eco Gift Bag
Hawthorn Wreath Embroidery Pattern
Embroidery Tutorial: How to transfer a design onto fabric
Embroidery Tutorials
Fly stitch
French Knots
Materials needed
Fabric Selection
Organic lightweight cotton or natural fabric. Not too thick or stiff. Similar to a light quilting cotton, or a Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton.
Bag
- Fabric: 30 cm (12″ approx)
- Handles: Natural cotton tape or ribbon, 1cm to 2.5cm wide (1/2″ to 1″ approx)
For embroidery
- Embroidery hoop
- Embroidery thread (DMC 6 strand floss)
- Crewel embroidery needle (Size 5)
Tools
- Sewing machine (straight stitch only)
- Sewing thread to match fabric
- Scissors
Cut the Bag Fabric to Fit the Embroidery Pattern
The embroidery design comes in 4 sizes. If you are embroidering your bag, cut the piece of fabric to the measurements suggested below, and sew the design on the centre of the front outer piece. Embroider before sewing the bag together.
Diddy Bag – with 10cm (4″) embroidery front
- Bag outer: 2x outer fabric measuring 20cm x 20cm (8″x8″)
- Bag lining: 2x lining fabric measuring 20cm x 20cm (8″x8″)
- Handles: 2x cotton tape/ribbon measureing 1cm wide (1/2″) x 22cm long
Mini Bag – with 12.5cm (5″) embroidery front
- Bag outer: 2x outer fabric measuring 22.5cm x 22.5cm (9″x9″)
- Bag lining: 2x lining fabric measuring 22.5cm x 22.5cm (9″x9″)
- Handles: 2x cotton tape/ribbon measureing 1cm wide (1/2″) x 22cm long
Midi Bag – with 15cm (6″) embroidery front
- Bag outer: 2x outer fabric measuring 25cm x 25cm (10″x10″)
- Bag lining: 2x lining fabric measuring 25cm x 25cm (10″x10″)
- Handles: 2x cotton tape/ribbon measuring 2.5cm wide (1″) x 24cm long
Maxi Bag – with 17.5cm (7″) embroidery front
- Bag outer: 2x outer fabric measuring 27.5cm x 27.5cm (11″x11″)
- Bag lining: 2x lining fabric measuring 27.5cm x 27.5cm (11″x11″)
- Handles: 2x cotton tape/ribbon measuring 2.5cm wide (1″) x 24cm long
Bag Making Tutorial
Embroidery Colours
Hawthorn Wreath pattern is made with two simple embroidery stitches. Fly stitch and the French knot.
Two colour threads are used in creating the design. In the photos you will see a dark green DMC thread which is a grey bluey green, bold yet muted. And paired with a tan brown for the berries.
DMC 3787 – Grey green
DMC 632 – Tan brown
DMC 3787 – Pinkish sand
DMC 632 – Tan brown
Fly stitch in particular is very rhythmic once you get going and so making this a really relaxing project.
