Hi friends!
It’s Lisa Ruble from Quilty Zest. I’m here today to solve your gift wrapping problems for the holiday season. I’ve created these 20-Minute Gift Bags – quick and easy to make out of fabric you have on hand, with a little extra sparkle. No wrapping paper shopping, no paper waste, and bonus – you can reuse these every year!
I have two versions to share – a wine bottle bag – perfect for holiday hostess gifts – and a larger fabric gift bag for any other presents you’ll be giving. I loved using the Deco Foil to add a little something special to these easy fabric bags.
Here’s what you’ll need:
– 1 Fat Quarter (for the wine bag)
– 5/8 yard of fabric (for the gift bag)
– Deco Foil Hot Melt Adhesive
– Deco Foil Transfer Foil (I used Icy and Silver)
Download the Snowflake templates here: Fabric Gift Bags Snowflakes Template
Cutting:
For the wine bag:
Cut (1) 12″ x 16″ rectangle
Cut (1) 2″ x 20″ strip for tie
For the gift bag:
Cut (1) 15″ x 40″ rectangle
Cut (1) 2″ x 40″ strip for tie
Making the Wine Bag:
Note: I made the wine bag by fusing the snowflake first and then assembling the bag. I made the gift bag by assembling it first and then fusing the snowflake. Both ways work – choose whichever you prefer.
Step 1 Trace your desired snowflake shape to the paper side of the Hot Melt Adhesive. Cut out the snowflake on the traced lines.
Step 2 Position your snowflake on the 12″ x 16″ fabric rectangle. I positioned mine about 3″ from the bottom and about 1-1/2″ from the right side of the rectangle.
Step 3 Following manufacturer’s directions and using the enclosed pressing sheet, fuse the snowflake onto the fabric. Follow the instructions for fusing time and iron temperature exactly.
Step 4 After the snowflake cools, peel off the paper and position the foil on top (I used Icy here). Cover with the pressing paper and follow instructions to adhere foil in place. Patience is key, as is waiting until it cools to remove the excess foil.
Step 5 Here you see my extra foil peeling off the snowflake. Peel slowly.
Step 6 Fold the top short edge of the rectangle (opposite the snowflake) over 1/4″ to the wrong side and press. Fold a second 1/4″ and press again. Topstitch along this folded edge to create a nice finish.
Step 7 Fold the rectangle in half, lengthwise as shown, matching edges. Stitch along the short and long raw edges. Backstitch at the top of the finished edge.
Step 8 Cut 1-1/4″ squares out from both bottom corners.
Step 9 Fold one cut corner so the side and bottom seams align, boxing the corner. Stitch across the pinned edge. Repeat on the second bottom corner. Turn bag right side out.
Step 10 Fold the 2” x 20” strip in half, wrong sides together, and press. Fold each long edge in to the center fold line and press. Refold on the center line and stitch the length of the strip to create a tie. Tip: Fold in the short ends of the tie approximately 1/4” before stitching to create finished ends. 
Step 11 Find the center of the tie and stitch along the side seam of the wine bag, approximately 2-1/2” from the top. Stitch back and forth to secure the tie. Make sure not to sew both sides of the bag together – just sew through one layer!
Tip: If you’re concerned about the raw edges of the fabric fraying inside the bag, you can finish the seam allowances with a serger or zig zag stitch or just trim with a pinking shears.
Making the Gift Bag:
Step 1 Fold, press and stitch the short edges of the 15” x 40” gift bag just like for the wine bag. 
Step 2 Fold the bag in half, right sides together, and stitch along both edges, backstitching at the top to secure. Box the corners in the same way, cutting out 2-1/2” squares in the bottom corners.
Step 3 Make a tie in the same manner using the 2” x 40” strip.
Step 4 Find the center of the tie and center it on one side of the bag, approximately 2” down from the top. Stitch in place back and forth to secure in place, making sure not to sew through the front of the bag too!
Step 5 In the same manner as for the wine bag, fuse the snowflake shape to the fabric – I fused mine in the lower right corner. Lay bag as flat as possible to make pressing easier. Remove paper.
Step 6 In the same way, layer the foil (I used Silver) and fuse in place following instructions. Be patient for it to cool before peeling off excess foil.
That’s it! Your bag is done! You can experiment with different size bags to hold different types of gifts.
These bags are easy to make – it probably took me longer to trace and cut out the snowflakes than to assemble them. They’re great to reuse year after year! Find your favorite fabrics, choose coordinating foil colors, and have fun! 
My name is Lisa and I'm a quilter. I was bitten by the craft bug early on in life, and have dabbled in drawing, beading, photography, and fabric. I learned to sew as a young girl, making clothes for my Cabbage Patch Kid, and then got into quilting about 22 years ago and never looked back. Modern quilting is my style of choice, and I particularly love improv piecing. I currently freelance in the quilting industry, designing, writing and editing patterns, and I also design and sell my own quilt patterns. Outside of work, I spend time hanging with my husband and three boys, ideally outside or playing sports, and yes, the boys all quilt too!