Hello Sewing friends! It's no secret that I love making bags and today I'm going to share with you how to make easy reusable gift bags. The Holidays are upon us and sometimes I don't have time to make something special for everyone but I still like to give a gift with a touch of handmade.  Stuff these easy to sew reusable gift bags with a package of baked goods, candy bars, lotion, a cozy scarf, or some fun socks and you'll have the perfect gift for a best friend, neighbor, or teacher. (Mine are holding a package of store bought cookies). Come learn how to make them!

Make These Easy-to-Sew Reusable Gift Bags

These are so handy they even make a great gift by themselves.  You can do your friend or teacher a time saving favor and sew up as stack of them as a gift.

This style of these reusable gift bags has the seam in the back with the tie sewn in to make tying a bow a snap. These reusable gift bags are 12 1/2'' X 6 1/2'' finished but it is easy to resize them to fit your needs. Want to learn how to make them? I bet you do!

How to make Reusable Gift Bags

Supplies

You'll need a square of fabric cut to 14'' x 14'' and a 22'' length of ribbon

Sewing Instructions

1. Hem one side of the square:  Fold one edge toward the wrong side 1/4'' and Press.  Fold it again 3/4'' and press. Then stitch your hem in place about 1/8'' away from the inside folded edge. This will be the top of the bag.

2. Fold the ribbon in half (right sides together if necessary). Pin the folded edge of the ribbon about 2-2 1/2'' down from the hem on one side, make sure the ribbon is facing the right side of the fabric. Fold the opposite side over, sandwiching the ribbon and matching the raw edges. Sew along the raw edges with about a 1/4'' seam allowance

3. Zig-zag or serge over the seam to finish off the edges. TIP: To finish a seam with a zig-zag I always decrease my stitch length and widen my zigzag a little, then sew with one stitch going off the fabric and one stitch on. It rolls in the raw edge as you sew and prevents it from fraying.

4. Press the seam to one side and fold the rectangle so the seam is in the center. Stitch across the bottom edge with a 1/4'' seam allowance and finish the raw edge.

And you're done!! Now turn it inside out and stuff it. I love how the ribbon is already in place. It makes it so easy to tie. These are so quick you could make several in an hour once you are on a roll. 

Creative option: Stamp your own fabric

One more idea to take it to the next level if you are having fun. Instead of using printed fabric you can use plain fabric and hand stamp it in a few places like I did. I used dye based fabric ink and a ruler to keep the stamps looking even.

What to put in a Reusable Gift Bag this size?

The finished dimensions of this bag are 12 1/2'' X 6 1/2''. It's the perfect size for wrapping a bag of Pepperidge farm cookies, a pair of socks, sunglasses, a stack of fancy chocolate bars, a lotion set, etc.

Hope you enjoyed this free tutorial! I'd love to see if you make any! You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram. 

 Happy Sewing!

Find more Christmas Crafting here...

• DIY Felt Candy Cane Ornament and Present topper
• Anthro Inspired Monogrammed Ornaments
• How to tie a Christmas Bow: Video Tutorial