How to Color Block the Pretty Present Reusable Gift Bags!
Hi, this is Kath from @thingskathmade writing for Ellie & Mac.
Today I want to show you how to make a patchwork gift bag, using the new Pretty Present Reusable Gift Bag Pattern.
Once you have your pattern ready to go, you can start laying out your fabrics or scraps to see how you want to combine them.
In my example I'm using these cute teddy bears that were gifted to me (they were probably left over from a quilt).
My teddy bears don't have the right size or format to make a gift bag on their own, so I'm adding a strip of matching cotton fabric on each side.
You will measure how much you are missing on each side (plus seam allowance – I added 2cm (~ 3/4") per fabric strip, because the seam allowance should be 1cm or 3/8“ on each side of each seam) and cut your fabric strips to that width and the same length as your first fabric piece / panel.
You want to end up with a patchworked fabric piece that is a little bigger than the pattern piece. And of course you need two of these per bag (front and back), so you will follow the same steps for the second piece. (Or in my case it was one long piece that I cut out both sides of the bag from.)
Now you can clip or pin your pieces together and then sew at 3/8“ (1cm) seam allowance.
Next you will press the seam allowances open.
And topstitch 1/8“ from each seam on both sides of the seam at a 3mm stitch length.
Press again and now you can treat your patchworḱed fabric as one piece of fabric and follow the pattern instructions from here on out.
My bear bags ended up with colorblocked sides because of the way I patchworked the fabrics and I think it looks pretty neat.
More patchwork examples:
Multiple strips of fabric sewn together
Two fabrics sewn together lengthwise
Little rectangles sewn together (for this you will sew together rows of rectangles, press open seam allowances and then sew the rows together until your patchwork fabric has the desired size and topstitch once all your rows are sewn together and pressed).
This example is made with the Stephany Toiletry & Cosmetic Bag Pattern, but the method is the same.
There really are endless possiblities to patchwork your fabrics. I'm sure you will come up with something amazing. :)
- Written by Katharina Reiser
