Never mind Christmas stockings – learn how to make a Santa sack big enough for all of your presents!
Did you have a small stocking or a huge Santa sack for Christmas when you were a child? You can do better than a plain pillowcase, so Rebecca Reid is here with a fabulous free Santa sack sewing pattern for you to try!
- Make our free Christmas bunting sewing pattern
- 21 DIY Christmas stocking ideas
- Christmas embroidery motifs
Our Santa sack sewing pattern features a fun appliqué star that looks fabulous when used with festive fabrics, but if you've got multiple Christmas sacks to make you could always appliqué your kids initials onto it instead for a more personalised make. Alternatively, you could try use our free Christmas appliqué templates if you'd like to mix things up!
You will need...
- Main fabric: 68x106cm (27x42in)
- Top fabric: 13x106cm (5¼x42in)
- Appliqué fabric: 15x15cm (6x6in)
- Lining fabric: 78x106cm (31x42in)
- Thick piping cord: 150cm (60in)
- Matching sewing thread
- Download our Christmas star template here
Measurements
The finished present sack measures 75x50cm (30x20in)
Notes
Use a 1.5cm (5/8in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated and press all seams open as you go.
Step by step: how to make a gift sack
Step 1
Cutting the fabric
Cut the main fabric into two pieces, for the front and back of the present sack, 68 x 53cm (26 ¾ x 21in) each.
Step 2
Cut the top frill fabric into two pieces, 13x53cm (5 ¼ x 21in) each.
Step 3
Cut the lining fabric into two pieces, 78x53cm (30 ¾ x 21in) each.
Step 4
Appliquéing the star
Trace the star template from the pattern sheet and cut it out.
Step 5
Place the cut out star on the back of the appliqué fabric and draw round it in pencil. Cut it out 1cm (3/8in) outside the drawn line all the way around the star.
Step 6
Turn the edges of the appliqué fabric over to the wrong side up to the drawn line and press. Fold the corners over and snip off a little of the excess if the fabric is too bulky. Tack these folded over edges into place.
Step 7
Measure to place the star in the centre of one of the main pieces of fabric and tack it into place.
Step 8
You can appliqué the star to your fabric by machine or work a blanket stitch round the edge using red stranded cotton as we have.
Step 9
Assembling the sack
Place one top frill piece right sides (RS) together along the top of the appliquéd main piece matching raw edges and stitch.
Step 10
Repeat with the other top frill piece and the back main piece.
Step 11
Place the joined front and back RS together matching frill seams and stitch together down the sides and across the bottom.
Step 12
Place the two lining pieces RS together and stitch down the sides and along the bottom but leaving a gap in the centre of the bottom seam for turning.
Step 13
Place the joined sack outer inside the lining so that RS are touching and sew together all the way around the top edge.
Step 14
Turn the sack RS out through the gap in the lining. Turn the gap edges under. Slip stitch closed. Push the lining inside the sack outer.
Step 15
Making the casing
Work a line of machine stitching along the seam between the main fabric and top frill fabric though the lining. Work another line of machine stitching 3cm (1¼in) below this.
Step 16
Snip the stitching between these two casing lines through the outer fabric only and oversew the top and bottom of this to make sure the stitches don’t come undone.
Step 17
Thread the piping cord through the casing and tie the ends in a knot to complete.
Show off your sewing skills this season
Make this Christmas a crafty one with our list of the 20 of the best Christmas decorations to sew!
