kLee 2 Strings

‘Tis the Season

Scrap Busting Gift Bag

9” wide, 10” tall, 4” x 5” base

Fabrics and Materials

• For the outside of bag: Either one fat quarter of fabric or two rectangles
9 1/2" x 14"
• For the lining: Either one fat quarter of contrast fabric or two rectangles
9 1/2" x 14"
• Two 28" lengths of ribbon for the drawstrings, 5/8" or 3/4" wide. (With
a satin or other smooth surfaced ribbon in the drawstring carrier the bag
will slide open and closed easily. A textured ribbon like a grosgrain will
tend to make opening and closing the bag a little bit harder.)
• Thread
• Fray Check (A half and half mixture of Elmer's glue and water can be
substituted for Fray Check

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Cutting

• Cut two rectangles, 9 1/2" x 14", from the main fabric and two of the
same size from the lining fabric.
• Cut two strips of contrast fabric, 1 1/2" x 9".
• Cut and remove a 2"x 2" square from each corner of the bottom end of
each rectangle.

Sewing Instructions
Sew all seams with a 1/4" seam allowance.

1. Fold the long edges of the 1 1/2" x 9" contrast fabric strip in 1/4". Press. Fold the
two ends in 1/4". Press and stitch the two ends down.

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2. Align the top edge of a prepared

contrast strip 2 1/4" down from the top of
each piece of the main fabric. Center the
strip 1/2" in from each side. Topstitch the
long sides of the strips down with a
narrow edge seam. Leave the ends open.
These two strips make the carriers for the
drawstrings.

3. With right sides together, sew the

side seams and the seam at the bottom
of the bag.

4. Sew the lining fabric in the same

way, but leave a 2" space open along
one side seam. This opening will be
used to turn the bag when it's finished.

5. Press all seams open. Press the edges

of the opening in the lining back so
they are even with the seam allowance.

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6. Bring the side seams and the bottom seam of the 2" x 2" squares at the bottom of
the bag together. Stitch straight across to make the boxed corners.

7. Turn the lining right side out and fit it inside the main bag. Line the seams up, and
sew the bag and the lining together at the top.

8. Turn the bag right side out by pulling the entire piece through the opening in the
side seam of the lining.

9. Close the opening in the side

seam of the lining with hand
stitching, or sew it together by
machine with a narrow edge
stitch.

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10. Fold the lining to the outside of the bag and

press the top seam flat. I pressed the lining to
lie just barely below the main fabric.

11. From the front of the bag, topstitch right

next to the upper edge of the carrier. Stitch all
the way around the bag in one continuous
seam.

12. Turn the bag right side out.

Inserting the ribbon for the drawstrings

1. Attach a safety pin to an end of one of

the ribbon pieces. Begin on one of the
carrier side openings. Insert the safety pin
and pull the ribbon through. Cross to the
next carrier and continue pulling the ribbon
through that one, bringing the ribbon out on
the same side that it went in.

2. Pull the two ends of the ribbon so the

ends are even. Hold the ribbon ends
together, make a loop and pull the ends
through to tie in a knot.

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3. Insert the second ribbon exactly

like the first, but start on the other
side of the bag.

4. Trim the ends of ribbon close to the knots and dab with a bit of Fray Check to
prevent fraying.

5. Pull on the ends of the ribbons to close the bag.

Please contact me if you come across any questions or snags while using
this pattern. I’ll be happy to help in any way I can.

Email address: klee2strings@gmail.com

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KLee2Strings
Blog, Stitching With 2 Strings: http://klee2strings.blogspot.com