Pages

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

I love putting together themed gift bags and care packages for friends and family whenever I get the chance, and this tiny patchwork bag is perfect for that sort of thing. Pick a theme -- stationery supplies, beauty items, sewing notions, sweet treats -- and fill this mini tote to the top with small treasures. I find that aside from the winter holidays, late spring is usually the time when I most need gifts for Easter, birthdays, Mother's Day, and the inevitable celebrations as we head into summer. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

It's always fun to make the bag itself part of the present, and you can customize the fabric you use for your patchwork squares to fit the recipient. If you need a whole lot of bags in a hurry, try replacing the patchwork panel on each side with a single fabric rectangle for faster sewing. I hope this hardworking little pattern will be incredibly useful to you in the months ahead!

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial

Finished Size: 6 1/2" x 7" x 3" (including handle)

All seam allowances are 1/4".

Materials

From assorted scraps, cut...

- (12) red squares, 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (A)

- (12) low volume squares with red accents, 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" (B)

*Note: for a faster project, replace all the 1 1/2" squares with 2 rectangles, 4 1/2" x 3 1/2", cut from the same feature print.

From 10" square of vintage floral red print, cut...

- (2) squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" (C)

From fat eighth of low volume music print, cut...

- (2) rectangles, 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" (D)

- (2) rectangles, 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" (E)

- (1) rectangle, 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" (F)

From long scrap of red scallop stripe print, cut...

- (1) rectangle, 12 1/2" x 2" (G)

From fat quarter of batting, cut...

- (2) rectangles, 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" (H)

- (2) rectangles, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" (I)

- (1) rectangle, 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" (J)

From low volume floral print, cut...

- (2) rectangles, 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" (K)

- (2) rectangles, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" (L)

- (1) rectangle, 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" (M)

Additional supplies: button, 5 1/2" piece of thin white elastic cord, matching thread, adhesive basting spray, binding clips.

Directions

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

1. Split the A and B squares in half into 2 groups of 12, 4 squares across and 3 squares down, alternating the A and B squares as shown. Sew each group of 12 together. Note: If you are using 2 rectangles, 4 1/2" x 3 1/2" instead, you may skip this step.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

2. Spray the back of each patchwork piece with adhesive basting spray and attach to the lower edge of an H batting rectangle. Quilt as desired. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

3. Line the lower long edge of a D rectangle up with the top of the patchwork piece from step 2 with right sides together (the D rectangle should be upside down) and stitch them together along the edge (see photo). Flip the D rectangle up and away from the patchwork so that the wrong side of the piece is against the upper half of the batting. Press. Topstitch 1/8" from either side of the seam. Repeat with the other patchwork piece and D rectangle to give you 2 finished main panels.

4. Spray the back of each C square with adhesive basting spray and attach to the lower edge of an I batting rectangle. Repeat step 3 directions, using E rectangles to finish the 2 side panels.

5. Spray the back of the F rectangle and attach it to the J batting rectangle to finish the bottom panel. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

6. Fold the elastic piece in half to make a loop, placing the raw edges centered on the top edge of the back main panel. Stitch back and forth over this 1/8" from the edge to hold it in place.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

7. Make the handle by folding the G strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press. Unfold and then fold each long edge in to meet in the center and press again. Without unfolding, refold along the first line so that the raw edges are trapped in the middle. (You are actually making double fold quilt binding.) Topstitch along each long edge to hold the sides together and create a strap. Cut the strap in half so that each piece is 6 1/4" long.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

8. Use binding clips to hold the raw edges of a strap in place along the top edge of a main panel piece so that the outer edge of the strap is 3/4" from the side edge of the panel. Stitch in place 1/8" from the edge. Repeat with the other strap on the other main panel.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

9. Line up the lower edge of a main panel with a long edge of the bottom panel, right sides together, and sew together. Press the seam towards the main panel. Repeat with the other main panel on the other long edge of the bottom panel.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

10. Line up the lower edge of a side panel with a short edge of the bottom panel, right sides together. Sew along the lower edge of the side panel first, stopping 1/4" from each corner and backstitching. Do the same on the other side with the other side panel.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

11. Line up the side edges of a side panel with the side edges of the main panels and hold them together with binding clips as well (see photo), carefully matching up the seam that goes down the middle of each panel first. Sew along the side edges, starting at the top of the panel and going just past the 1/4" mark before the lower edge before backstitching. Repeat with the other side panel. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

You should now have a finished bag exterior. Turn the exterior right side out.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

12. Now repeat steps 9-11 with the K, L, and M rectangles to create the bag lining with ONE EXCEPTION: when repeating step 9, leave a 3" gap in the middle on one side as you stitch the main panel to the bottom panel so that you'll be able to turn the bag right side out. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Do NOT turn the bag lining right side out when you finish this step.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

14. Place the bag exterior inside the bag lining so that the right sides are together. Carefully line up the side seams and top edges, making sure that the straps and elastic loop are sandwiched between the exterior and lining.

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

15. Stitch all the way around the top edge of the bag. Gently pull the bag right side out through the gap in the lining. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

16. Tuck the raw edges inside the gap in the lining and stitch it closed, backstitching at both ends.

17. Push the lining inside the bag, press carefully as needed, and then topstitch 1/8" from the top edge of the bag. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

18. Center a button on the D rectangle of the front main panel (adjusting the position depending on how tightly you want the bag to close when fastened) and stitch in place by hand. 

The Darling Gift Bag Tutorial by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt

Now just fill the bag with goodies and share it with someone you love. Enjoy, friends!

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing this! I'm bookmarking it, so I have it at the ready!

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks so much for all the work you put into doing this tutorial for us: I can see a cute halloween goodie bag for a little one!! Or a handy cosmetic carrying bag: so many possible uses!! Thanks again!! Hugs, H

    ReplyDelete
  3. This bag is so sweet - thank you for sharing the tutorial, Heidi! Love how quickly it goes together.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the tutorial, Heidi! It really is darling!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Magnifique et bien expliqué!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just discovered your blog through Bloglovin, I saw your bag and fell in love with it, thank you for the tutorial, I will make it. You have a new follower!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this bag. So cute. I plan on making one for my DIL in a painting theme. I hope she loves it! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this cute bag! Thank you for the tutorial, too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. great tutorial - adorable pattern; love your book, too; popped by here via 'A Quilting Life' site...i love how quilters are constantly helping each other out. so cool. thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wish I were on your Friends and Family gift list.❣ I hope this little beauty is in a future book! So sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for sharing this wonderful gift bag tutorial. It's always a pleasure to come across creative ideas for crafting and gift-giving. Your instructions and the final result look amazing.

    On a related note, I recently discovered a website called "promocodehq" that has been a fantastic resource for me.

    ReplyDelete

Aren't you the sweetest for leaving a comment! Due to all the ads that bombard this section, I have to moderate everything first, but look for your comment to post in a day or two. Thanks so much for writing!