Insulated Gift Bag or Sandwich Bag Tutorial

 Do you need a cute little gift idea for a friend? How about a sweet way to present a sweet gift like cookies or candy? This little bag can be reused as a sandwich bag when the gift is long gone. AND....it's a good way to use up scraps!

1. You need some type of insulation for your bag. You can buy an insulated batting, but I chose to use a mylar chip bag. If they can keep chips fresh, they should work for other foods!

2. Here you see the shiny side. This will be your RIGHT side. Clean off your bag well with a damp paper towel to clean off any residual oil or chips!

3. Cut 2 rectangles for the outside of your bag (mine are 7 1/2" x 8"), 2 rectangles of the Mylar and the batting (also 7 1/2" x 8" ), and 2 flaps (7 1/2" x 4").

4. Put the flap pieces right sides together and sew across one long end. (You can see where I had to "unsew" the two side pieces. Oops!)

5. Turn right sides out and press.

6. Place the flap at the top of one of the outer bag rectangles, on the right side, and place the other rectangle right side down on top of it. Sew the sides and the bottom, leaving a 2" opening in the bottom that you will later turn the piece through. Do not turn right side out.

7. Put the batting pieces on top of the Mylar pieces and leave the shiny side as your right side. I used a little spray basting to hold the batting on while I sewed. You might also try a glue stick to help it stay in place. Place the shiny sides together and sew the sides and bottom. Do not leave an opening in the bottom. Do not turn.

8. Place the outer bag inside the lining, putting the right side against the shiny side. Pin in place around the top.

9. Sew around the top edge, all the way around.

10. Put the outer bag out and turn over the lining through the opening in the bottom.

11. Sew the opening in the bottom closed by hand.

12. To close the bag, simply pull the flap from one side of the open bag over the top. It will close just like an old style plastic sandwich bag. 

 You can make these any size you want, actually. They don't have to be a sandwich size. How about large enough to hold a loaf of homemade bread? Or maybe just cupcake size? Maybe just the right size for a gingerbread cookie! You can use holiday fabrics for the holidays if you want. You don't have to insulate them, by the way, you can just use two fabrics and make little lined gift bags that can hold little gifts. Have fun! By the way, I added the flower and leaf in the first photo as a gift tag. You know how I love adding flowers and ribbons!


Update on my shingles:  Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who left such sweet comments and sent such uplifting emails! It's so nice to have friends out there! My rash is better, although the burning pain is still there. I still have a little recovering to do, but hopefully, I will be over this soon! My heart goes out to those of you who have painful diseases that you live with every day of your lives! I don't know how you do it! I know of several of you out there who do just that! My prayers are with you!