Christmas stockings might look lovely hanging from the mantle, but if you’ve got younger children you’re going to need a Santa Sack. There’s just no way a giant Lego box or play set is going to fit in a stocking. We’ve rounded up some of the cutest Santa Sacks we can find in Australia.
This is a simple tutorial that will show you how to make your own DIY Santa Sack. A simple way to make cute, personalised stockings that your children will love!
It’s amazing to see things through the eyes and experience them again as a child. It is truly magical, especially since Sadie has grown up enough to be just as excited and understand Christmas as I do.
Sadie’s first stockings were named and I purchased them. They worked well for the first two years, but we struggled last year to get anything in them. Our kids aren’t overly spoilt for Christmas, but larger items like balls and books didn’t fit. This year I made pillowcase-sized Santa sacks to make it easier for me.
This was a very simple project, so I decided to share my DIY Santa Sacks method. This general pattern can be made smaller to use as gift bags at any time!
Materials required to make one bag:
- The standard width for most Christmas fabrics in NZ is 108cm by 75cm. It can be smaller, but this is what you will find on the majority of Spotlight rolls.
- Ribbon for drawstring: 2 x 1.5m (2×60″) pieces of ribbon
- Sewing machine
- Pins
- Thread (same colour as the material).
- Safety pin
- Scissors
Instructions:
The fabric should be cut in half to get two pieces of 75cm x 54cm (30″ x 21″) width. Fold the 54cm edge (top of bag) of both fabric pieces over 1cm, press or pin and sew all the way around.
Measure from the stitching line and mark the fabric (on both sides) at 7.5cm, and 10cm. Repeat the process on the second fabric piece. This will be the casing of the ribbon.
Line up the two pieces of fabric with the right side together and pin them together on three sides (leaving the top open). You won’t be sewing between the marks you made on the fabric so mark this area using pins as a reminder to stop. Sew around the fabric using a 1.5cm allowance (the space between the material edge and the stitching). Leave gaps where you marked. Backstitch the opening and closing of the gap, as well as both sides.
Fold the top of your bag until the gap you left is covered with fabric. Line up the seam that you sew from the top so it sits just below the gap you left. (Align it with the mark on the fabric). Sew the same stitched line to close the casing, where the ribbon will be placed. You don’t have to sew a perfect line, except for at the ends. Make sure to leave enough space to thread the ribbon through.
Stitch along the seam around the bag’s top.
Mark 2.5cm up from the stitching you did (returning to the top of your bag) and sew the entire bag. The casing will be closed off for the ribbon, so make sure that you do not stitch over the gap.
Attach a safety pin at one end of the ribbon. Use the safety pin as a guide to thread the ribbon through the casing. Bring it out from the same end. Knot the two ends of the ribbon. Repeat the process with the second ribbon, starting on the opposite side of the bag. To prevent fraying, burn the ends of the ribbon with a lighter or a candle.
Creating DIY Santa sacks is a fun and festive project that adds a personal touch to your holiday celebrations. Here’s a simple guide to making your own Santa sacks:
DIY Santa Sacks
Materials Needed:
- Fabric: Choose a sturdy and durable fabric such as burlap, canvas, or cotton in a festive colour like red, green, or cream.
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Ribbon or twine
- Fabric paint or markers (optional)
- Stencils or iron-on transfer paper (optional)
- Embellishments such as pom-poms, jingle bells, or fabric patches (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut Fabric: Start by cutting your fabric to the desired size for your Santa sack. A common size is around 24 inches wide by 36 inches long, but you can adjust the dimensions based on your preference and the amount of gifts you plan to put inside.
- Hem Edges: Fold over and hem the top edge of the fabric to create a neat and finished opening for the sack. You can use a sewing machine for a quick and secure hem, or hand-stitch it if you prefer.
- Decorate: This is where you can get creative! Use fabric paint, markers, stencils, or iron-on transfers to personalize the Santa sack with festive designs, patterns, or even a name. Allow any paint or ink to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Add Ribbon or Twine: Cut a length of ribbon or twine long enough to gather the top of the sack and tie it closed. Thread the ribbon through the hemmed opening of the sack and tie a bow or knot at the top.
- Embellish (Optional): Add extra embellishments like pom-poms, jingle bells, or fabric patches to enhance the festive look of the Santa sack. You can sew or glue these embellishments onto the fabric as desired.
- Fill with Gifts: Once your Santa sack is decorated and embellished to your liking, it’s ready to be filled with gifts! Place presents inside the sack and cinch the ribbon or twine tightly to keep them secure.
- Deliver the Magic: On Christmas Eve, use your DIY Santa sacks to deliver gifts from Santa to your loved ones. Place the filled sacks under the Christmas tree or by the fireplace for a magical surprise on Christmas morning!
With these simple steps, you can create charming DIY Santa sacks that add an extra dose of holiday cheer to your gift-giving traditions. Feel free to customize the sacks with your own creative touches to make them truly unique!
