A Last Minute Scrap Fabric Project To Customize Gifts: How To Make Gift Tags

The countdown to Christmas is on and you’re scouring the internet for some last-minute presents to tuck under the tree. With the amount of time we’ve got left, the only realistic presents you can bust out, risk being poorly made or unappreciated come Christmas morning.

But – I’ve got a last-minute sewing project you can make that will use up scraps, and won’t risk anyone giving you the “oh thank you so much…it’s not really my style though…” look.

You can reuse them each year or gift them and give them away – totally up to you. Now grab a piece of paper, a pen, scissors, and your sewing scraps, we’re making gift tags.

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Click the video above for the full tutorial!

Approximate time put into this project: This is a quick and easy, 30-minute or less project.

Disclaimer: I am trying to teach myself the Metric System. I will try to always include both measurements in my tutorials, i.e. centimeters and inches, meters, and yards. I have been using them interchangeably in my everyday sewing life lately, sorry if I switch between the two too often or forget to include them both. Thanks for understanding!

Making Your Pieces & Decorating

Left Picture:

First, I recommend making a template for your gift tags on some cardstock. This can be whatever your desired width and height is, plus seam allowance. My template was about 3″ x 4″ (7.5cm x 10cm) (this includes seam allowance).

Cut your scrap fabric to fit your template. You can cut out full pieces of your scrap fabric if your gift tags are small enough, or, I recommend patchworking some pieces together first, and then cutting your template out. If you cut your template out of your patchworked pieces, please finish your raw edges with a zig-zag stitch or by overlocking so the seams don’t unravel.

Right Picture:

Next, it’s time to decorate your gift tags to your desired design. I recommend embroidered snowflakes, Christmas trees, or a To/From section. If you choose to embroider, I really recommend using embroidery thread, or if you’re using regular sewing thread like me, simply triple up your thread for the best effect. To make this easier to hand stitch, consider using your fabric chalk to doodle your design on the fabric first.

For the speediest project, consider using a simple back stitch. You can see the full technique in the YouTube video above. Make sure you leave seam allowance around your design otherwise, it can get caught in the seam when we sew the two pieces together.

Optionally:

If you don’t want to embroider by hand, you can draw your design onto your gift tag and then use some bias tape or ribbon and top stitch it in place. Example in the video linked here.

Finishing Your Gift Tags

Next, grab some scrap bias tape, a little ribbon, or make your own strip of tape out of fabric scraps. We’ll use this to make a little loop so you can attach the gift tag to a present. If you’re making your own bias tape, you can simply iron it, by folding the edges in on itself, or use something like this bias tape maker from Amazon.

Right Picture:

To finish the gift tags, pin your gift tag string between two pieces of fabric and pin around the edges with good sides facing. Make sure you leave the very bottom open. Next, sew around the edges, then snip any sharp curves or edges, making sure not to snip the seams.

FYI: You don’t have to loop your gift tag string, you can leave it long so it’s easier to tie around your present if you prefer!

Turn your gift tag right sides out, pulling out the corners. Iron it flat, tuck the raw edges to the inside, and pin it. Finally, top stitch around the edges to secure everything in place.

Final Results

Now all you need to do is attach it to a gift and you’re ready to go!

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What do you think? Would you make these?

If you make this project, tag and DM me on Instagram @doorsandfloorsblog so I can see what you make! Remember to use the hashtag #DoorsAndFloorsBlog

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P.S. Looking for a fun activity you can do with a friend while working on tedious crafty tasks, download our free trivia here.

Playing trivia is a great way to keep your mind active and have fun with your crafty friends and family while busting out those seam ripping, crocheting, and other time-consuming, but necessary, crafty tasks.