Twice as Nice Embroidered Gift Bag

To begin, let's prepare the fabric for the front of the outer shell (the gift bag side). Draw a 7 1/2 inch wide by 12 1/2 inch high rectangle on the fabric. Be sure to leave about 1 inch excess around the shape.

Next, using an air-erase pen (or other marking tool), measure and mark 2 1/2 inches down from each top corner along the sides. Draw a line to connect these marks. The section of the shape below the line is for the embroidery. The section above the line will be folded down to create a pocket for the drawstring.

Find the exact center of the lower section of the shape to position the first design. Mark the center of each side by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines to connect the marks. Where the lines meet is the exact center of the lower section of the shape. 

If you have embroidery software, print a template of the design to use for placement. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering. Poke a hole in the center of the first template and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the lower section of the shape.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the first design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric and embroider the design. We are embroidering the design using metallic thread. 

For more information about embroidering with metallic thread,  click here .

After the first design has finished, unhoop the fabric and position the other design templates on the fabric. 

We are overlapping the  Sashiko Snowflake  designs to create dimension. This technique works well with very light designs (like the  Sashiko  designs).  Redwork  designs would also work well. 

When the designs are positioned where you want them, poke holes in the center of the templates and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points.

Hoop the next design by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. You will need to hoop over the first design. This is ok as it will not damage the first design but will create a layered effect.

Attach the hoop to the machine and move the hoop over the center point on the fabric. We are embroidering the next two designs with thick thread (optional) - 12 weight Madeira Burmilana. We recommend using a 110/18 size titanium or universal needle when embroidering thick thread.

Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for the third design.

When all the designs have finished, carefully trim away the excess stabilizer on the back side of the embroidery.

Cut out the shape.

Cut a piece of print cotton 7 1/2 inches wide by 12 1/2 inches high. This will be used for the back of the outer shell.

To create the drawstring pockets, fold the top edges of both the front and back fabric pieces 1/2 inch to the wrong side and press.

Then, fold the fabric over 1 more inch to the wrong side and press.

Sew a 1/8 inch seam along the bottom edge of the folds on both pieces of fabric.

Align the front and back pieces together, right sides facing, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the side and bottom edges only starting and stopping at the bottom edge of the top folds. Do not sew over the drawstring pockets!

Align the front and back pieces together, right sides facing, and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the side and bottom edges only starting and stopping at the bottom edge of the top folds. Do not sew over the drawstring pockets!

Turn the bag right side out. At this point, if you wish, you may simply add the drawstring ties  (instructions for this step are shown further down the page)  and you have a gift bag! 

If you would like to make it twice as nice and add the inner bag, continue on!

It's now time to prepare the fabric for the inner bag. Draw a 7 1/2 inch by 11 1/2 inch rectangle on the fabric (we are using lightweight canvas). Leave at least one inch of excess fabric around the shape.

Measure and mark down 1/2 inch from each top corner along the sides. Draw a line to connect the marks. The area above the line will be folded down later on. Mark the center of the lower section as you did for the first bag. Mark the center of each side by measuring and dividing by two. Then, draw lines connecting the marks.

Create a template of the design and make sure it fits well within the shape. Make sure there is at least one inch of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. 

Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

Then, prepare the back of the inner bag by cutting a piece of fabric 7 1/2 inches wide by 11 1/2 inches high. Align the front and back pieces together and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the side and bottom edges but leave the top edge open.

Turn the top edge of the inner bag over to the wrong side 1/2 inch and press.

To create the strap for the inner bag, cut a piece of 1 inch wide cotton or nylon strapping 32 inches long. 

You can also create the strap using lightweight canvas. To do this, cut a piece of lightweight canvas 32 inches wide by 4 inches high. Fold the long edges to meet in the center of the fabric and press. Then, align the long folded edges together and press.

Fold the ends in 1/2 inch and press. Now, sew a 1/8 inch seam around the entire outer edge of the strap.

With the inner bag turned wrong side out, pin the ends of the strap to the side seams of the bag (with the ends of the strap extending inside the bag about one inch). Sew the ends of the straps in place.

Place the inner bag inside the outer shell, wrong sides facing, and align the top edges together. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the entire top edge of the bag.

To add the drawstrings, cut two pieces of 1/4 inch ribbon 22 inches long. Tie one end of the ribbon to a safety pin and insert the pin in between the two front layers of the drawstring pocket. Work the pin through the pocket to the opposite end and remove the pin. Do this on both sides of the bag

Finally, tuck the strap inside the bag, fill it with gifts, cinch it up, and your gift bag is complete!