Busy Monday: Gift Pouch Tutorial

Today is my first tutorial!!! I'm so excited. I have a million ideas to share - which is why I started this blog, but was afraid to share the tutorials and have them "stolen". So please, what ever you do - please don't take my designs, patterns and ideas....run away with them and sell them off as your own. That would really be a bummer. And then I won't post them anymore - and I really have a lot to share!

I will post them about once a month. And here's the first one. Just in time to prep for Valentine's Day and gift giving. I'm showing you a very small size - maybe for a gift card or jewelry, but you can go as large as you want, for whatever size gift you have. If you are interested in purchasing some of these pouches from me - please convo me through my Kid Giddy etsy shop (thanks!).

Materials Needed:
Felt, or Wool Felt
Ribbon
Thread to match or a different color for contrast
Ric Rac Scissors

Instructions:
Step 1: Begin by cutting out your pouch piece. If you are not going to need this small size - please measure your item or gift and account for the sides if it is a box and not flat. This size is 5" x 71/2".

Step 2: Then cut out your "icing". Cut one edge straight and the other edge with a pair of ric rac scissors. Size: I cut a 71/2" x 1 1/4" so I can cut with the ric rac down the center and have 2 strips.

Step 3: Sew your icing to the top of the felt piece - lengthwise at about 1/4 of an inch for your seam allowance.*

Step 4: Place your ribbon a couple of inches down on the right side of the felt rectangle. This doesn't have to be exact - if you need more room - place it higher towards the icing. If you need less room, place it lower towards the center, but never past the center mark. Pin it in place so it stays straight as you sew the seam.

Step 5: Fold the felt over onto itself covering the ribbon. Be sure the ribbon is hanging out of the top of the pouch so you know it won't get caught up in the stitching.

Step 6: Now flatten out your pouch so the seam is in the center on the top. The ribbon should still be hanging out of the top of the bag.

Step 7: Stitch the bottom of the bag closed.

Step 8: Turn inside out. Place in gift, and tie the ribbon around to the front of the pouch.

*For a little extra umph - You can cut out various shapes depending on the purpose of the gift and the time of year: A Heart, Birthday Cake (or Wedding Cake), Christmas Tree, Gingerbread Boy or Girl, a Star, Dreidel, Monogram Letter, anything you wish. You can even cut out 2 of the same shape - different color - slightly smaller size and overlap them (as I did). Whichever way you choose, you will want to sew this in place right after stitching the icing on and before sewing the ribbon into place. Make sure it is centered on the front, and low enough so not to be crammed by the ribbon (as I did here)...it's been a while since I made these... Also, be sure that you use a smaller ribbon for a smaller bag. As you can see - this ribbon was too thick for this size bag. As you go up in size - adjust your width and shape placement accordingly!

And there you go. Once it's all cut out, it will take you about 5 minutes per bag or less to complete. This is a great bag for beginners and for kids to help with. If you enjoyed this tutorial or tried it out, I'd love to know. If you see something missing in my steps, that you think would've been most helpful, I'd love to know that too. Have a great and busy Monday! - kg