Wrapping paper rips, gets binned and needs buying again every year. Fabric gift bags don't. They're quick to sew, they look lovely under the tree, and the person who unwraps one gets a second gift: a bag they can reuse next Christmas. If you can sew a straight line, you can make a stack of these in an afternoon.
Here's our simple method for a drawstring gift bag, plus the festive fabrics we'd reach for.
What you'll need
- Christmas print fabric (one metre makes around four medium bags using the sizes below)
- Matching thread
- Fabric scissors or a rotary cutter, a ruler and pins
- A safety pin (for threading the drawstring)
- An iron
You don't need ribbon: we'll make the drawstrings from the same fabric, which uses up the leftover strip and makes each bag look finished and matching.
Choosing the right fabric
For gift bags you want something crisp, easy to press and simple to sew. Christmas polycotton is ideal: it holds a fold, cuts neatly and is very budget-friendly, so you can make plenty without worrying about cost.
- Christmas Houses Snow Polycotton: a cosy snowy village print in red or green, now £3.99 a metre (was £6.99). 45" wide.
- Snowflakes Christmas Polycotton, Green: a classic white snowflake design on green, £3.99 a metre (was £6.99). Great for bags that suit anyone.
- Candy Cane Christmas Polycotton, Grey: a softer, modern look if you prefer something less traditional, £3.99 a metre (was £6.99).
Want a bag that feels a little more special for a main present? Try Christmas Bells 100% Cotton Poplin by Rose & Hubble, Green, now £6.99 a metre (was £9.99). Cotton poplin is smooth and crisp, and makes a gift bag that looks shop-bought.
Tip: mix two or three prints and you'll have a coordinated set under the tree.
Step 1: Cut your pieces
For a medium bag (finished size roughly 26cm wide by 31cm tall), cut one rectangle 28cm wide by 70cm long. You'll fold this in half at the bottom, so there's no bottom seam to sew.
On 45" (about 112cm) wide fabric, you can fit four of these side by side across one metre, leaving a 30cm strip along the bottom. Cut that strip into 4cm-wide lengths across the full width for your drawstrings.
Want different sizes? Just keep the width a couple of centimetres wider than the finished bag, and the length twice the finished height plus about 8cm.
Step 2: Sew the sides
- Fold your rectangle in half with the right sides (the printed sides) facing each other, so the fold sits at the bottom.
- Pin both side edges together.
- Measure 5cm down from the top on each side and mark it. Sew each side with a 1cm seam, starting at your 5cm mark and stitching down to the fold. Backstitch at both ends.
- Press the seams open, including the unsewn 5cm at the top. Pressing this little gap flat now makes the drawstring channel much neater.
Step 3: Make the drawstring channel
- Fold the top raw edge over by 1cm towards the wrong side and press.
- Fold it over again by 3cm and press, so the raw edge is hidden.
- Stitch close to the lower folded edge all the way around. Don't stitch over the side openings: they need to stay open so you can thread the drawstring through.
Step 4: Make and thread the drawstring
- Take a 4cm strip, fold both long edges into the centre and press, then fold in half again so it's about 1cm wide. Stitch along the open edge.
- Attach a safety pin to one end and feed it through the channel, all the way around and back out of the same side.
- Knot the two ends together, then turn the bag right side out and poke out the corners.
For a bag that pulls closed from both sides, thread a second drawstring starting from the opposite opening.
A few finishing tips
- Pre-wash if you plan to wash the bags later. It helps avoid any shrinkage after you've sewn them.
- Neaten the inside seams with a zigzag stitch or pinking shears if you want the bags to last for years.
- Add a fabric tag. Sew a small rectangle of contrasting print to the front, and you can write names on paper labels tied to the drawstring.
- Make mini versions (around 15cm wide) for stocking fillers, sweets or jewellery.
Start your stack this week
Fabric gift bags are one of the most rewarding Christmas makes: quick, thrifty and reusable year after year. Pick a print or two from our Christmas Houses, Snowflakes or Candy Cane polycottons and get sewing while there's plenty of time before the big day. Happy making!
