{Sewing Tutorial} Pretty Fabric Envelopes

For our Christmas gift giving, we have made some Pretty Fabric Envelopes to hold gift cards or money – perfect packaging for those on your list who are hard to buy for! Made from sweet fat quarters of fabric, they feature fabric stamps, address labels, and embroidered details. They are easily constructed in under an hour and a fun way to use some fabric “scraps” .

If you would like to make your own Pretty Fabric Envelopes, you will need:

• two fat quarters of fabric (for envelope)
• assorted fabric scraps (for stamps)
• small piece of white homespun fabric
• double sided fusible web (such as steam a seam or vliesofix)
• small piece of fusible interfacing
• text or script print (optional)
• embroidery thread
• snap fastener
• a small envelope (to use as a template)

1. Firstly, make some fabric stamps to decorate the front of your envelopes. Cut out some cute fabric images from your scraps and then fuse them onto the white cotton using fusible web. Next apply another backing of fusible web to the white homespun and then cut with your fabric scallop shears or pinking shears. These fabric stamps were inspired by the stamps made by Amy Morinaka in her book, Zakka Handmades.

2. Make an address label using your preferred method. Options include: Use text or script print (as we have used). Cut out a rectangle of the print and apply fusible web to the wrong side in preparation for fusing it to the front of the envelope.

Alternatively, hand embroider a name/address onto a rectangle of linen fabric. Another option would be to print the address onto fabric.

3. Carefully open up your envelope so you can use it as a template.(see below). Lay the fabric face down on a flat surface. Pin the template to the fabric. Using a marking tool (such as a pencil) trace around the envelope shape. Carefully cut out an envelope allowing a 1/4 inch seam allowance all the way around. Repeat for the envelope lining. Using the envelope as a guide, press the folds onto the fabric.

4. Position the fabric stamp and the address label on the front of the envelope as shown in the photo below, and fuse in place. Stitch around the stamp and label to secure.

5. Fuse the interfacing in position as shown in the photo below. This is where the snap will be located. Pin the envelope outer to the envelope lining with the right sides facing and all edges aligned. Stitch around the outside on the traced line using a 1/4 inch seam, and leaving a 2 inch gap in one side for turning. Turn the envelope out the right way through the gap in the lining. Press. Hand stitch the gap closed.

6. Fold the envelope along the fold lines so that it resembles an envelope (as shown in the photo below). Press.

8. Using two strands of embroidery thread, stitch around the outside of the top flap and secure the bottom flap as shown. Attach the snap using a snap press or snap tool. If you don’t want to use a snap, you could use a velcro closure, button or press stud.

The Pretty Fabric Envelope is a fun project and will give the handmade touch to a gift card. You can easily personalise the envelope to suit the recipient by adding their name/address, and other details.

Check out some of our other projects/tutorials that also make perfect gift card holders:

• Business Card Wallet
• Men’s Business Card Wallet
• Business Card Holder
• Loyalty Card Wallet
• How to Wrap a Gift Card