Twirly Mama Itsy Bitsy Gift Bags

Make these fun and easy little bags up in batches and stuff them with anything from candy to candles, hand sanitizer to nail polish. Finished bags measure 5 ½ inches long, and about 4 and ¼ inches wide.

You will need:

2 6”x 8” pieces of fabric (bag front and back)
1 yard of ribbon, ¼ inch wide or thinner
Scissors
Seam ripper
Small safety pin


1) Working on the top of each piece of fabric, iron a ¼ inch fold (see top part of photo), then, turn over a 1 ½ inch fold toward the wrong side of fabric (see bottom part of photo.) This is the top of your bag.

2) Open the 1 ½ inch fold on the front and back pieces, now match the front and back pieces to each other, right sides together. Using a ½ inch seam allowance, baste front and back of bag together sewing side seams and the bottom of the bag; leaving the top open.

3) Working with the bag inside out, press side seams open as far down as you can. It is not necessary to press the bottom seam. *Option: at this point you may want to baste the seams down to make it easier to insert your ribbon later.

4) Fold the top of your bag down to the 1 ½ inch line you pressed earlier; folding toward the wrong side of fabric. Press into place.

 5) Now turn your bag right side out. Open the bag and place the bottom of the folded edge under the presser foot of your machine. Baste all the way around the bag staying close to the folded edge.

6) Sew around the bag a second time approximately ½ inch above the first seam (about an inch from the top of the bag.) This will form a casing for the ribbon ties.

  7) Open the casing just slightly by pulling out 2 to 3 stitches on the sides of the bag between the seams you sewed around the bag.

8) There are two options for the ribbon ties on this bag A) Ribbon that comes out of and ties on one side or B) Ribbon that comes out of both sides and ties in the front of the bag. (See pictures on the top of page one, Christmas bags are done with Option A, the brown bag is finished with Option B.)

9) Option A: You will only need to open the casing on one side of your bag. Attach at least 20” of ribbon to a safety pin and glide it through the casing until the safety pin and ribbon come out of the opening in the casing. Tie your ribbon in a knot and cinch up your adorable little gift bag. Tie a bow and you’re done!

10) Option B: Make 2 openings in your casing, one on each side of the bag. Attach at least 16” of ribbon to a safety pin and feed it through the opening on the right side until it comes back out of the right side. Tie the two ends of the ribbon together. Now repeat this step looping your ribbon through the left side of the bag, then tie the ribbon ends together. This will form two loops, one on each side of the bag. Pull the loops tightly to close the bag then tie in a knot or bow. Great job- you did it!

Send a comment if you have questions or email gotwirlymama@gmail.com.