Cath Kidston Fabric Party Bags

These simple but cleverly made party bags are so pretty, and everyone will puzzle over how they work. Using gorgeous Cath Kidston fabrics, the frilly flowers with big button centres are removable corsages that are sure to delight guests. Fill with coloured pencils, stickers and sweets to send home with really special friends.

Essentials

Fabric, printed, 20cm x 40cm, two, for single fabric bag; prints, 20cm x 29cm, two, 14cm x 20cm, two, for double fabric bag, scraps for corsage
Ribbon, coordinating colours, 160cm
Button, one
Safety brooch pin
Thread, coordinating

Dimensions List

17.5cm x 18.5cm

Create a single fabric party bag

Cut two 20cm x 40cm rectangles from fabric and round off the corners. With right sides facing, pin and sew around the bag, leaving a small gap along the top edge. Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Neatly turn under the edges, sew closed and press. Push the top seam inside to meet the bottom to form the bag and press again.
Cut two 20cm pieces of ribbon and thread one onto a large eye needle. Pierce through all four layers of fabric, 5cm from the top of the bag and 1cm from the side seam, and draw the ribbon through. Tie the ends together forming a loop. Repeat with the second piece of ribbon on the other side. These will open the bag when pulled.
To close the bag, cut two 60cm lengths of ribbon. Thread a needle with one, and insert 1cm from the side seam, 5mm above the opening ribbon, through the outside and lining layers of the bag. Use large, even running stitches to sew a line all the way around the top of the bag, drawing it out 1cm from the side seam, 5mm above the opening ribbon. Knot the ends together. Repeat on the other side 5mm below the opening ribbon and tie off again.
For the flower corsage, cut a 3cm strip of fabric and sew a running stitch along one long edge. Pull to gather into a circle and stitch to secure. Sew the ends together. Attach a button to the centre and a safety brooch pin to the back. Pin to the centre front of the bag.

Sew a contrasting fabric bag

Cut two 20cm x 29cm rectangles from fabric for the bag top/lining and round off the corners on one short edge. Next, cut two 14cm x 20cm base pieces from a contrasting material and round off the corners on one long edge. With right sides facing, pin one base piece to one lining piece along the straight edge and sew together. Repeat with the remaining two pieces. Press the seams open to lie flat.
With right sides facing, pin these two pieces together and sew, leaving a small gap along the top edge of the lining. Turn right side out. Neatly turn under the edges of the gap, sew closed and press. Push the lining into the bag, matching up the seams and press again. Attach ribbon closures as before and add a corsage.