Sew Very Christmas Drawstring Bags

 Jeni's lined drawstring pattern was ideal for our 'Sew Very Christmas' blocks.  Jeni gives dimensions to make 8 different bag sizes.  All we had to do was make the blocks the same size as the exterior main pieces and follow Jeni's instructions!  The "tiny" gift bag was perfect for two candy trees side by side on the front and back.  I used Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voiles for the jewel like colours and motifs, they reminded me of decorated trees, and Essex linen in 'Bleached White'.

To make the exterior main pieces I made 4 candy tree blocks, finished size 2 "x 3" and added rectangles as below.  Note the directions of the trees. I used a single panel to make the lower sections of the exterior main pieces and put a horizontal fold along the centre as there will be no seam at the bottom to align the side gussets. 

For the 'Noel' bag, I increased the 'Noel' blocks by 150% on the print option to make each letter measure 3" x 3"finished size and joined them together in a square arrangement.

I used the "project bag" pattern and added sashing strips to the 'Noel' block to make the main exterior front (see diagram) and used a plain linen for the back-Robert Kaufman's Essex Linen in 'Steel' and assorted solids form my stash.  The floral accent fabric is a Denyse Schmidt DS print.

For the Christmas dress bag...

I made Jeni's "everything bag".  The only thing I changed was I didn't add the gusset as suggested in the pattern.  I used some spoonflower fabric for the dress and DS quilts for the background as well as some of Tasha's Simple Life for the accent fabric in the drawstring area.  Here's a diagram for how I pieced the front exterior of the bag to get it to the correct dimensions.

And then, my favorite of the bags I made, the 'Retro bulb' bag using the "CD bag" pattern.

I used solids for the bulb and the background is all gingham from Tasha's line "simple life".  The top fabric is shasta daisy by Suzuko Koseki.  

And here's diagram for piecing the front of the bag using the retro bulb pattern. 

We hope you enjoy using our 'Sew Very Christmas pattern' for your gift making.  We would love to see your projects, you can add your pictures to the Sew-Ichigo Flickr group.