Homemade Gift #1 Cookie Bag

Greetings all! Welcome to homemade gifts week #1. It's a cookie bag. The pattern I used for stitching is a free pattern from Lizzie Kate called Cozy Christmas Wishes. I'm sure all of you seasoned stitchers out there are familar with this one. For those who aren't , you can find it under the free patterns at http://lizziekate.com/ . You can play around with different fabrics and ties for a different look. Put your thinking cap on. There are lots of possibilities. Now let's get started.

Supply list:
Stitched piece
decorative ribbon
fabric
thread
button or charm (optional)
ziplock bag
homemade cookies of your choice





1. Select the piece that you want to stitch . I chose of course Cozy Christmas Wishes but you can choose whatever pattern suits you that would go good on this type of project. If you embellish your piece with a charm or a button, make sure it is one that will hold up in the washer so it can be washed when necessary. Now trim down the piece to desired size.

2. Cut fabric 14"x 34". Fold in half matching short edges. Center design and pin down being careful not to pin fron and back together. Sew around about 3/8" from the edges. Clip threads and then pull a few threads around the edges to fray. Fold right sides together and sew a 5/8" seam allowance on each side leaving a little space at the top, about 1/4"- 3/8" . This is so that you will be able to fray the edges a lot easier. You can zigzag the seams if you want to but I just left them unzagged! Is that a word? LOL!

3 . Now pull the front and back out until points form at the corners of the bottom of the bag. Measure in 2" in from each point and sew a seam straight across each corner. This will give 4 sides to your bag. Trim excess off leaving a 5/8" seam allowance. Turn right side out. Pull a few threads at the top edge to fray.

4. You are ready to bake your favorite cookies to give. I cheated and used store bought cookies for demo. When it's the real deal I bake them. ;) . You'll want to use a self sealing or Ziplock bag to put the cookies in so the butter, oil , shortening, or whatever doesn't soil the bag. Place cookies in the gift bag and tie closed with a co-ordinating decorative ribbon and you're done!

This is a fun and easy project that goes fast once you have your stitched piece completed. Everyone that has gotten them from me just loves them. If something in the instructions was unclear and you need help with it, just send me an email with 'cookie bag' in the subject line.

'Til next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte