It’s likely happened to everybody… you have an odd-shaped gift that you’re just not sure how to wrap. It’s okay, don’t have a holiday meltdown! Just make one of these simple cinch pouch gift bags out of a scrap of fabric and some twine. And here’s the best part – it’s reusable so you can do your part to be a bit more green this December. Click through to check out my simple tutorial.
Materials
- 1×1′ festive fabric
- Circular object (to trace around)
- Embroidery needle
- Bakers twine
- Small wooden bead
- Pencil
- Scissors
Step
Begin by tracing around your plate (or other circular object) with a pencil on the wrong side of the fabric.
Step
Next, cut around the perimeter of the circle you just traced onto the fabric.
Step
Thread the embroidery needle with the bakers twine and sew around the edge of the circle, starting the first stitch from the outside (patterned side) of the fabric. Make sure each stitch is about 3/4″ long and keep the stitches about 3/4″ away from the edges. Make sure both tails of the twine end up on the patterned side of the fabric (i.e. the outside of the pouch).
Step
Thread both tails through the wooden bead using the needle.
Step
Cinch the bag a bit as shown above, and then tie the two pieces of twine in a knot. Trim the ends.
And your cinch pouch gift bag is complete! Put your gift inside with some shredded paper and cinch the bag tight. The friction of the twine on the bead should keep it fairly secure. If not, try a bead with a smaller hole.
A note about the twine: once you cinch the bag, there will be a fairly long piece of twine leftover. You can trim it a bit, but don’t cut too much off or it will no longer be reusable because the tails will be too short to open the bag again. You could just tuck the tails underneath the bag as I’ve done, or you could even tie the ends in a bow instead of a knot.
This is such a great way to wrap those awkwardly shaped small gifts – and it will surely elicit oohs and ahhhs from its recipient.
And with all the waste that happens during the holidays, it’s comforting to know that there are ways to be a bit more green. Happy crafting!
