I can’t believe it’s the final day of our 12 Days of Christmas Freebies here at Made for Mermaids! It’s been a great 12 days filled with some amazing sewing projects, and we have had so much fun giving back to our amazing fans and supporters! We hope you have enjoyed all of the freebies and that they will bring joy to you this holiday season. Today’s freebie is a pattern and tutorial for a Santa Sack! We are also including 4 cut files to personalize your bags with HTV. (2 designs for large bag and 2 designs for small bag) The bag comes in two sizes – a large bag to fill up with presents (or to wrap a large one) and a smaller bag that is perfect for smaller presents, neighbors, teachers, etc. They sew up pretty quickly and add a fun touch to your gift-giving!
The large bag finishes at 19.5″W x 28″L. Keep in mind that the drawstring is about 5″ down from the top of the large bag. The small bag finishes at 8″W x 11″L. The drawstring is 2.5″ down from the top of the small bag.
Let’s get started! 🙂
You can download the FREE pattern pieces and PNG/SVG design files HERE. Print your pattern pieces at 100% or no scaling. Your pattern pieces will go together like a bingo card- 1A, 1B, 1C, next row 2A, 2B, 2C. After you put your pieces together, cut your pieces out. This pattern features LAYERS, allowing you to print only the size(s) you need! In Adobe reader, open the file, then click on the layers icon on the left. Click on the eyeball to turn size layers on or off. Be sure to leave the bottom layer that says Leave checked, on. If you need help putting the pattern together, pop over to the faqs and troubleshooting page or ask in the facebook group .
For Small Bag, print pages 1-8. For Large Bag, print pages 1-12.
If you prefer to use your rotary cutter & ruler, you can cut all pieces from the chart below.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Large Bag
- Main Fabric – 7/8 yard. I recommend using 100% cotton, like a quilting cotton, especially if you plan to use Heat Transfer Vinyl. Synthetic fabrics may melt with the heat of applying the HTV.
- Drawstring Casing – strip of fabric 1.5″ long by 38″ wide. Alternatively, you could use a 7/8″ or 1″ wide ribbon or extra wide single fold bias tape.
- Accent fabric – strip of fabric 5″ long by 39″ wide. I like to use fleece or a fluffy minky, but you could also use another quilting cotton for the accent fabric.
- Drawstring – 2 yards of 1/2″ or 7/8″ wide ribbon.
Small Bag
- Main Fabric – 1/2 yard. I recommend using 100% cotton, like a quilting cotton, especially if you plan to use Heat Transfer Vinyl. Synthetic fabrics may melt with the heat of applying the HTV.
- Drawstring Casing – strip of fabric 1.25″ long by 16″ wide. Alternatively, you could use a 7/8″ or 1″ wide ribbon or extra wide single fold bias tape.
- Accent fabric – strip of fabric 3″ long by 17″ wide. I like to use fleece or a fluffy minky, but you could also use another quilting cotton for the accent fabric.
- Drawstring – 1 yard of 1/2″ or 5/8″ wide ribbon.
Basic sewing supplies: scissors, rotary cutter/ruler/cutting mat, pins or wonder clips, coordinating thread, fabric marking pen, iron, safety pin or bodkin for threading drawstring through casing.
All seam allowances are 1/2″ unless otherwise stated. I recommend reading through the instructions entirely at least once before beginning your project.
Cut out all pieces – 1 Accent Fabric, 1 Casing, 1 Main Bag.
Lay your Main Bag in front of you, right side up.
Place Accent Fabric Right Sides Together with the Main bag, aligning the top raw edges. Pin or Clip and sew along top edge only with 1/2″ SA.
Turn over so the wrong side is facing up, and pull the accent fabric up and away from the main bag piece. Press SA open if you used your sewing machine.
Turn the long raw edge of the Accent Fabric over 1/2″ towards wrong side and press. Fold the Accent Fabric down into the wrong side of the bag, and pin the pressed edge down. OPTION A: I like to pull the accent fabric all the way down so it is completely inside the bag. OPTION B: If you want to have a little cuff at the top, instead of folding the accent fabric all the way in – you could fold the accent fabric down just enough to cover the seam.
Edgestitch along the folded and pinned long edge of the accent fabric. I used white thread in my needle and green in the bobbin, since the bobbin thread will show on the outside of the bag. Set aside your main bag for now.
Take your drawstring casing and press both long edges towards the wrong side 1/4″
Then turn under both short edges 1/4″ and then another 1/4″. Topstitch SHORT sides only.
Measure from the top of the bag to mark casing placement. (2.5″ down for the small bag, 5″ down for the large bag.)
Place the casing on the RIGHT side of the bag. Align horizontal centers, and line the top edge of the casing with the marking you made in the last step. Your casing will be 1″ shorter on each side of the bag.
Pin the casing in place.
Edgestitch close to the fold on the top and bottom of the casing. DO NOT stitch the short sides, these will be left open to thread the drawstring through.
If you plan to add HTV or embroidery, I recommend doing so now while the bag is still flat. Be sure to take into account the 1/2″ SA on the bottom and side seam, and remember that only half of the width will be the front of the bag. For the small bag, I would recommend sizing the HTV design at about 6″ tall, be sure to keep the proportions the same when resizing the design. For the Large bag, I recommend sizing the HTV design at 16″ tall. For the Small Bag, place HTV 2-3″ down from the drawstring casing. For the Large Bag, place HTV 4-5″ down from the drawstring casing. Remember to mirror the design before cutting your HTV!!
Fold bag in half widthwise, Right Sides Together.
Pin or clip around the side and bottom raw edges of the bag.
Sew the bottom and side of the bag with a 1/2″ SA and finish your seam. I found it easier to start at the bottom, then pivot at the corner and sew up the side seam, ending at the top of the bag. Open your bag up and tack the seam down to one side at the very top of the bag.
Turn your bag right side out and poke the corners out with a chopstick or turning tool.
Heat seal both ends of your ribbon. (Optional: Angle both ends before heat sealing) Then attach a safety pin at one end of the ribbon and thread it through your casing.
Thread all the way through to the other side and make sure the tails are even.
Fill your bag with goodies and tie the ribbon into a nice bow!
All finished and ready for gift-giving! Check out these awesome Santa Sacks our team & testers made. You can change the look so easily with your fabric choices, and one of our testers made them to match her family’s Christmas stockings! Such a fun idea 🙂
Disclaimer: adorable puppy not included!
As always, we would love for you to share in our Made for Mermaids Facebook Group and tag us on Instagram #madeformermaids #madeformermaidspatterns 🙂 Thank you so much for joining us during our 12 Days of Christmas Freebies – 2016!
12 Days of Christmas Freebies
Day 1 ~ Handwarmer Muff
Day 2 ~ Hippie Headband
Day 3 ~ Ribbon Bookmarks
Day 4 ~ Layered Bow Tie
Day 5 ~ Lace Boot Cuffs
Day 6 ~ Fleece Earmuffs
Day 7 ~ Ornaments
Day 8~ Shark Tail
Day 9 ~ Top & Dress Extenders
Day 10 ~ Dolly Chloe
Day 11 ~ Annie Apron
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