Felt Lined Fabric Bags |Keeping it Real

Monday, November 23, 2015

Felt Lined Fabric Bags

Even though I have a series of other projects lined up for completion, this weekend I decided to sew some bags. My goal is to use them as gift bags, much the same as I did last year with the burlap bags, for those family members to which I usually give a series of small items I know they need/will use throughout the year (gourmet food, bath accessories, etc). 
 
felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Last year I had thought of felt lined with fabric and then ended up with burlap lined with fabric. This year I made fabric lined with felt instead. 

And while I'm using them as gift bags, they can be re-used by the recipients throughout the year for a variety of other purposes. 

Want to make one too? Here´s the tutorial.

Step one - Make the Bag

You'll need two pieces of fabric. Mine were almost squares, at 44 x 46 centimeters, plus two strips of fabric for the handles (about 44 x 6 centimeters), but you can easily adjust the size and make the bags bigger or smaller. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Place the two pieces right sides together and sew the sides and the bottom of the bag. Fold the bottom corners and sew a triangle as shown below. 
  
felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Cut off excess fabric and fold inside out.

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Now onto the lining: cut two pieces of felt about the same width as the exterior fabric, but with about two centimeters less in height. While you're at it, also cut two strips for the handles (the same size as the fabric). 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Sew the lining in exactly the same way as the exterior fabric (sides + bottom and the triangles off the corners). Place the felt lining inside the exterior bad, wrong sides together and put it aside for a moment. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Step 2 - Sew the handles

For some reason, sewing the handles is always the hardest part when I'm making a bag. So this time, taking advantage of using the (non-fraying) felt, I came up with a new method. 

Place the two strips (fabric + felt) as shown below. Wrong side of the fabric on top and about 1 centimeter overlapped over the edge of the felt. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Sew in place. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial
Fold over the fabric and top stitch.

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

 Fold in the other edge of the fabric, pin in place and top stitch too.

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Cut off the excess fabric on either side and sew the other handle in the same way. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Step 3 -Assemble the bag

Fold the exterior fabric inward and pin it to the felt all around the bag (this is why I told you to cut the fabric a couple of centimeters short than the fabric). 

Place the handles in place (between the fabric and the felt) and pin them too. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

Top stitch all around the bag and you're done!

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

felt lined fabric bags tutorial


Now make as many as you want. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

After making this one I sewed a flowery one: 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

But this one, with the cute owl fabric, is now my favorite. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

I'm probably going to make some smaller bags too, but for now I have advanced a lot in my Christmas sewing. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

This is a great way to reduce the amount of gift bags you need to buy. If you manage to use fabrics you already have in stash, it will also be pretty inexpensive. And the bag is another gift all by itself, which the recipient will be able to re-use, instead of throwing away gift wrap or paper gift bags. 

felt lined fabric bags tutorial

You may also want to check out: 

http://keepingitrreal.blogspot.com.es/2014/12/the-handmade-christmas-lined-burlap.html

Have a wonderful week!

keeping it real, craft blog












18 comments:

  1. These turned out really cute! :)

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  2. Those are super cute! My favorite is the plaid patterned one. :)

    Thanks for linking up at Manic Monday! Happy Thanksgiving!

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    Replies
    1. That one is for my mother! While I love it, I'm still leaning towards the owls one. Too bad I used all the fabric...

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  3. such a great idea - the addition of felt to the inside will give the tote a bit of stiffness. I always hate when they flop around when you are trying to stuff the bags!! thanks for this fab idea and the tute/patter for a felt lined tote bag!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yes, that's why I added the felt. Last year I made the burlap bags lined with fabric and realised they were too "soft"...

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  4. Nice gift idea - thank you for sharing on Pin worthy Wednesday :)

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  5. These fabric bags are great. What a wonderful way to give gifts and the bag is a gift, too. Pinned. Thanks for partying with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday.

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  6. Great tutorial and these will make wonderful gifts!

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    Replies
    1. I'll be using them to put gifts inside, so it's like a gift within a gift! Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. What a wonderful gift idea these would be! Thank you so much for sharing them with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday!
    ~Laurie

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  8. These are so cute and I love the patterns that you chose! Thanks for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
    xoxo
    Lisa

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  9. Super cute bags and a great tutorial. I will be featuring this tonight at my Fall into Fall party that opens at 8pm EST. Please stop by and pick up an I've Been Featured button. Thanks. http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I left a comment on your blog yesterday, but thank you for reminding me about the button. Added it now too!

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