Easy Felt Crafts: Keepsake Gift Bag

Here's an easy felt crafts project that shows how to make a keepsake gift bag.

The bag holds the gift and becomes the storage bag as well.

Or, you can use the bag as a sachet bag for your closet or storage chest.

The bag can also hold a child's treasures too.

This example shows the bag with an Easy Christmas Crafts Beaded Christmas Wreath being placed inside.

The bag holds several of the beaded Christmas wreaths.

In addition to holding the gift, the bag can be their storage container.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag holds treasure

Easy Felt Crafts: Keepsake Gift Bag Materials and Tools:

Craft felt, 9 in x 12 in, in the color of your choice 
Yarn (size 3 or size 10 crochet yarn both work great) 
Yarn darner needle (a pack of size 14 to 18 gives you alternatives) 
Pins (straight or safety) (optional) 
Chalk pencil or small piece of bar soap for marking 
Scissors 
Ruler

The Steps for How to Make the Easy Felt Crafts: Keepsake Gift Bag:

Cut the craft felt in half lengthwise.

The result should be 4.5 inches by 12 inches.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag cut felt
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag fold felt
Start sewing the blanket stitch at one of the folded corners.

Make sure you hide any knots or end threads inside your stitching.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag begin blanket stitch
Sew the side to the open end.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag stitch to top of bag
After making the last blanket stitch, sew several stitches around the blanket stitch.

This adds strength to the stress point.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag several stitches at top
Hide the end thread within the blanket stitches and cut the thread.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag first side finished
Follow the same steps for the opposite side.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag both sides finished
Next, make the braid for holding the bag closed.

Cut strands of yarn 24 inches long in multiples of three.

If you use one of the larger yarns, three strands should be enough.

Smaller yarns require six or nine strands to make a strong braid.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag yarn for braid
Tie a knot in one end of the strands of yarn to hold them together.

Separate the yarn in three equal sections.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag knot for braid
Begin braiding by taking the right section over the middle section.

Pull the middle to the right.

Next, move the left section over the new middle (which used to be the right section) and move the middle the left.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag start braid
Pull the yarn firmly after each overlap to keep the braid consistent.

Continue the alternate lapping until you get within one inch of the end.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag braid started
At the end, tie a knot in the braided yarn.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag knot at end of braid
Pull the knot firmly to tighten.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag end of braid
Trim the ends of the braided yarn evenly.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag trim ends of braid
Mark six points one inch from the top of the bag and equidistant from each other. 
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag mark for cutting casing
Cut small slits in the felt at the marks on both sides of the bag.

These slits form the casing for the braided yarn.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag cut for casing
Thread the braid alternating in and out through the slits.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag push braid through casing
The bag is finished and ready for treasures.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag finished bag
After placing the gift items inside, pull the braid forming gathers in the top of the bag.

Wrap the braid around the gathered top and tie with a simple bow.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag full bag
Here, Easy Christmas Crafts Beaded Christmas Wreath ornaments spill out of the bag.
Easy felt crafts keepsake gift bag full with contents
The easy felt crafts project provides a simple and inexpensive solution for a keepsake gift bag.

The treasures placed inside can also be handmade or purchased.

Either way, this is easy and fun!

Enjoy!
funEZ Bazaar
funEZcrafts
Welcome
Come on in and stay awhile...
funEZcrafts
Welcome
Come on in and stay awhile...
Fold the felt in half to make a 4.5 by 6 inch rectangle.