Quick Gifts
in 25 minutes or less

9. Lingerie Bag 10 minutes
Make these bags from any rectangular table linen or dresser scarf. Place the item right side down on a flat surface. Fold up one end a little more than one-third the total length. Pin the sides and topstitch the layers together. Fold down the remaining length to form the flap. Close with a snap or add a small button that fits through the lace trim.

10. Cosmetic Bag 20 minutes
Purchase a 7" zipper and 1/4 yard each of cotton fabric and iron-on vinyl.

Cut one 8" x 12" rectangle from cotton fabric and a slightly smaller rectangle from the vinyl. Fuse the vinyl to the fabric wrong side following the manufacturer's instructions.

Close the zipper. With right sides facing and edges aligned, stitch the zipper to one 8" edge. Finger-press the seam toward the fabric and topstitch in place. Repeat to sew the remaining zipper edge to the opposite side of the rectangle.

Open the zipper halfway. With the fabric right sides facing, stitch the side edges with a 3/8" seam. Box the lower corners, stitching 1" from the point. Trim the corners to a 1/4" seam allowance. Turn the bag right side out.

11. Lycra Shoe Bag 15 minutes
Put your shoes in these reusable stretchy bags when packing. Each bag holds one shoe.

From two-way stretch Lycra fabric, cut two 14" squares. Pull each square from opposite edges to find the direction with the most stretch. Bring those edges together with right sides facing; pin. Using a 2.5 mm-wide, 2 mm-long zigzag, stitch the long edge and across one short edge, stretching as you sew; turn right side out.

Turn under the opening edge 3/8" and stitch with a 4 mm-long, 4 mm-wide zigzag, stretching the fabric as far as possible as you sew. Repeat for the second bag.

From the December 2005 issue of Sew News magazine.