How to make eco friendly gift wrap – fabric gift wrap tutorial

For the large bag, from the main fabric cut two (2) 9in x 11in rectangles.

For the small bag, from the main fabric cut two (2) 6in x 8in rectangles.

For the large bag, from the lining cut two (2) 9in x 11in rectangles.

For the small bag, from the lining cut two (2) 6in x 8in rectangles.

For the large bag, from the casing strip cut two (2) 9in x 1¾in rectangles.

For the small bag, from the casing strip: cut two (2) 6in x 1¾in rectangles.

Place one of your main fabric pieces on top of your batting, right side up. Quilt as desired (Fig A). Leave the top ¾in and bottom 2in unquilted. Repeat for the second main fabric piece. Trim the excess batting and square up to measure 9in x 11in.

Take one of the 9in x 1¾in casing fabric strips. At each short end, press under ¼in, then press under ¼in again. Topstitch approximately ¹⁄₈in from the edge. Fold the strip in half lengthways, WST and press to complete one casing strip (Fig B). Repeat to make a second casing strip.

Place one of the quilted panels right side up. Lay one of the casing strips along the top edge, matching up the raw edges. The casing strip is shorter than your quilted panel, so there will be space at each end. Clip or pin in place (Fig C). Machine baste the casing in place using a ¹⁄₈in seam allowance.

Place a lining rectangle RST on top of the quilted panel. Pin or baste in place. Sew together along the top edge using a ¼in seam allowance. Press the lining away from the quilted panel to complete one bag panel. Repeat steps 6–7 to make two bag panels (Fig D).

Place one bag panel on top of the other, RST, with the quilted panels facing and the linings facing. Make sure that the centre seams where the panels and linings are joined match. Clip in place.

For the large gift bag, mark a 1½in square in the four corners, and trim along the lines (Fig E). For the small gift bag, do the same but mark a 1in square instead.

Sew the bag panels together using a ¼in seam allowance, leaving the cut corners unsewn. Also leave an approx. 3in gap in the bottom of the lining, which will be used for turning later. Press the seams to set the stitches.

At one corner, pull the fabric open and pinch the two edges flat together, matching up the side and bottom seams (Fig F). Clip in place and sew together along the open edge using a ¼in seam allowance. Repeat to box out the remaining three corners.

Turn the pouch right side out through the opening in the lining, carefully pushing out the corners. Close the gap in the lining either by hand or by sewing machine, using a ¹⁄₈in seam allowance. Push the lining inside the bag, then press around the top edge.

Trim the cord into two equal lengths. Starting at one side, insert the cord through both casings. Add a bead over both ends and knot off. Repeat with the second length of cord, starting at the other side to finish (Fig G).

Cut the fat quarter into two 18in x 11in.

Take one piece and press the interfacing on the wrong side (WS). This will be the outer bag.

Fold the outer bag fabric in half widthways with WS together and draw two boxes in the corners along the folded edge, 2in wide and 1¾in deep.

Cut out the boxes along the drawn lines through both layers of the folded fabric.

Repeat this with the other piece of fabric, which will be used for the bag lining.

Fold the elastic in half to make a loop then pin the ends to the right side (RS) of the back of the outer piece of fabric, positioning it centrally across the top edge. The ends of the elastic should match up with the raw edges of the fabric.

Stitch across the ends, through one layer only, within the seam allowance.

Open out the outer and lining pieces of fabric and place them RS facing.

Stitch along both of the top edges.

Open out the fabrics and match the seams together.

Sew together along the side edges, leaving the cut out boxes in the corners unstitched. Leave a 3in opening in the centre of one lining side unstitched for turning your bag RS out later.

Working on one corner of the outer fabric, open out the corner, matching the side seams with the bottom fold and press it flat.

Pin across the corner then stitch.

Repeat this to box the other corner of the outer fabric and the two corners of the lining fabric in the same way.

Turn the bag RS out through the turning gap then slip stitch it closed.

Press the bag well.

Pinch the sides together 1½in from the side seams at the top, then pin and press into place.

At the top of each of the gathers, work a few holding stitches with your machine, stitching through two layers only, at each top corner. This will hold these sides in place to give the bag some shape and rigidity.

Fold the top of the bag over then stitch the button into place to match up with the end of the loop. Now fill with treats!