Cinch sack tutorial – learn how to make a simple cinch sack with a fun rag fabric tree on the front. The pictures will guide you from start to finish.

The front of the bag features a cute Christmas tree made with strips of green fabric. It’s so quick to do and adds a bit of texture to the bag.

The bag is fully lined, with ribbons to hold the straps at the bottom.  For the straps, you can use a rope or ribbon or make them with fabric. Any and all ways are cute and work great!

Materials Needed:

18″ X WOF for lining (2 fat quarters in same or coordinating print)
18″ X WOF for outside (2 fat quarters in same or coordinating print)
8″ X WOF for strap channel  {can be a coordinating fabric}
Ribbon:  8 X 1/2
Rope 2 43 or longer {you can adjust this length to fit child}
Pre-cut scrap strips in green for tree and brown for trunk

Finished size:
17 wide x 20 long

Cutting:
Cut 2 18″ X  18  outside fabric
Cut 2 18″  X  18  lining fabric
Cut 2 4 X 18 strap channel
Cut 2 4 X width of ribbon
Cut 1/2″ X various lengths green fabric for tree (optional – you could do this for a flower or another item on the front of the bag. Or do a quick and cute applique)

Rag Christmas Tree: (optional)
1)  Cut 3 strips 1/2″ X 9″ out of green scraps
2)  Fold the front outside piece in half and iron, using this creased iron line to center the tree tip,  pin the 3 strips in the shape of the tree
3)  Cut a brown 2″ X 2″ square for the trunk of the tree.  Pin in place.
4)  Sew down the center of these strips, and outline stitch the tree trunk
5)  Using the rest of the 1/2″ green scrap strips, place on tree and sew down the center one strip at a time
6)  Overlap additional strips, change their angle, direction to make it interesting
7)  Take a rough toothbrush and dampen the strips and scrub, this will rag the edges just a bit- or scrub with your fingernails. You can snip the edges if you’d like too

Cinch Sack Tutorial

Strap Channel:

1)  Cut 2 strips 4″ X 17″
2)  Hem both sides (4″) of each strip

3)  Fold in half so they will measure 2″- wrong sides together.  These will be your channels for the ties

Lining:
1)  Pin right sides together both the front and back linings
2)  Sew all the way around the sides and bottom of the bag, leaving a 2 1/2″ opening on one side for turning later
Outside:
1)  Fold ribbon in half and stay stitch at bottom of each side of the front outside piece { 1 1/2″ from bottom}

2)  Pin right sides together and stitch all the way around the sides and bottom of the bag.
3)  Turn Right sides out and iron
4)  Pin the channels to the top of the bag and stay stitch in place {sew on using 1/8th inch seam allowance so the stitching won’t show} One channel will be sewn to each side

5)  Stuff the outside into the lining, right sides together
6)  Pin along the top edge, matching the side seams
7)  Sew all the way around the top edge
8)  Turn right sides out through opening
9)  Sew opening closed and iron

Rope Strapping

8)  Tie rope to ribbon loop at the bottom of the bag.
9)  Thread through the tube directly above the ribbon loop, going around the whole bag.  The tie will be coming out the same side as it entered

11)  Pull the rope to cinch the bag at the top

1 super cute cinch sack to Stuff with goodies, games and Christmas jammies!

Check out more bag tutorials here.