Personalised Santa Sack Tutorial with Free Templates
Do you want to add some extra special touches to your Christmas makes this year? Why not make that wish list a little longer with this Santa sack; pre-filled, it will save Santa a fair bit of his precious time when he visits on Christmas Eve. And to avoid confusion, it’s personalised with the recipient’s name! Read on for our Personalised Santa Sack Tutorial!
This beginner-friendly sewing tutorial has robust French seams, appliqued bunting with free alphabet templates to add personalisation so you’ll learn to use Bondaweb & applique too!
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Personalised Santa Sack Tutorial
The main body of this Santa sack is made from Calico fabric which is economical and a great blank canvas for your Christmas prints. The French seams give an elegant and robust finish and mean you don’t need an overlocker for this project
The personalization comes from appliqued letter on the bunting meaning you can personalise with any name whatsoever!
You can request a copy of the free applique templates & tutorial here
For the Personalised Santa Sack Tutorial You will need:
| Item | Amount | We used |
| A copy of the templates & PDF instructions | Request here | |
| Fabric A Quilting Weight Cotton for Main Sack & tie | 1m | Medium weight Calico |
| Fabric B Quilting Weight Cotton for Contrast Front Panel | 0.5m | Dashwood Studio Festive friends: blocks |
| Fabric(s) C Quilting Weight Cotton for Bunting Flags | Depends on the number of flags – a 13x15cm piece will yield 2 flag triangles | Forest Friends collection |
| Fabric D Scraps Quilting Weight Cotton for Lettering | Depends on the number of letters. We used scraps | Robert Kaufman – Kona solids: White |
| Bondaweb | 1 pack | Bondaweb |
| 16mm Ribbon or trim for the bunting “String” | 1m | Berisfords: Spring green |
| Thread | Gutermann colour 38 |
Important Notes
- 1.5cm seam allowance throughout, unless directed.
- For steps using machine sewing, straight stitch, backstitching at the start & end using stitch length 2.5 unless otherwise stated.
- Prepare your fabrics as per the manufacturer’s care advice.
Disclaimer: Strangulation hazard: This item is intended for decorative purposes only and is not a toy. Children must be supervised at all times.
Personalised Santa Sack Tutorial
- Cut your fabrics for the main sack:
From Fabric A for Main Sack & Tie cut
- 1 x 63×60.5cm Front panel*
- 1 x 63×93.5cm Back panel*
- 2 x 1mx10cm Tie Pieces
*63cm measurement is the width of the sack.
From Fabric B the Contrast Fabric :
- 63x36cm Front panel*
- 19×9.5 cm and 107×9.5cm Channel pieces
*63cm measurement is the width of the sack.
A note on cutting the front contrast panel: We have given exact measurements for this panel. If you are using the same fabric that we did (Dashwood Studio Festive friends: blocks) please ensure you are cutting at the correct place to make sure you don’t cut a “block” in half!
The front panel is applied using a French Seam. The total seam allowance for the top of the panel piece is 1.5cm so ensure you’re cutting 1.5cm above
Assemble the front panel with French seams
You can check out our dedicated tutorial on French Seams for more detailed photos if you need them
2. Sew the 2 front panels together with a French seam: With wrong sides together, pin the top edge of the contrast front panel to the bottom edge of the calico front panel (match the 63cm edges) ensuring the print is the correct way if you are using a directional fabric.
3. Sew together with a 5mm seam allowance
4. Press the seam allowances to one side, trim any loose threads
5. Fold along the seam to bring the 2 fabrics right sides together & press
6. Pin then sew with a 1cm seam allowance. You have sewn a French Seam, yay!
7. Press the seam allowance toward the contrast fabric & top stitch
Make appliqué bunting
If you need more photos for making this bunting please refer to this post – the method is the same
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8. Print off the bunting template & letters supplied. Use the 1” test square to check the sizing. If the sizing is incorrect check print settings. Depending on the device used, select ‘actual size’ or deselect the ‘fit to page’ option.
9. Trace the required lettering and number of flags, onto the smooth side of the Bondaweb using a pencil. The letters are mirror images – this is correct.
10. Rough cut around each shape on the Bondaweb, leaving a small border
11. Spread a smooth surfaced tea towel/ spare length of cotton over an ironing board
12. Lay the lettering fabric wrong side up on the ironing board
13. Place the Bondaweb shapes on top of the fabric rough side down, following the fabric grain
14. Lay a smooth-surfaced tea towel/ spare length of cotton over the top and press each letter for roughly 5 seconds, heat setting 2, no steam.
15. Wait around 30 minutes for the Bondaweb to cool and the glue to set
16. Cut out each bonded letter shape accurately. Cutting small details is often easier with fine scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat.
17. Position the flag triangles onto the front panel, spanning the calico front panel as preferred. Leave 22cm clearance at the top for the tie channel etc. and take into account the 1.5cm seam allowance each side when positioning the flags. For longer names you may need to “snake” your flags.
If you would prefer smaller flags/ letter please print off the templates at a reduced size. This will make cutting out the letters a bit trickier though.
If you have a digital cutting machine you can use this file to cut out the flags & letters.
18. One at a time, peel the backing paper off each triangle and return to its position on the front panel
19. Place the panel right side up on the covered ironing board. Lay a smooth surfaced tea towel/ spare length of cotton over the top of the flags
20. Dampen the cover fabric using the iron’s spray setting and press over each flag for roughly 10 seconds, heat setting 3
21. Allow around 30 minutes for the Bondaweb to cool and the glue to cure
22. Position the letters on their corresponding triangles
23. Follow steps 18. to 21. to apply the letters
24. To secure the letter on to the flags sew around the edge of each flag and letter, including any cut out elements (for example; the centre of an A), 2mm from the edge. Use a contrasting thread to ensure the letters stand out, if required.
Hand-sewn blanket stitch or machine zig-zag stitch overlapping the edge of the letter and the surrounding fabric can also be used (length 0.5 to 1, width 3 to 4 depending on the finish required)
25. Position and pin the grosgrain ribbon, connecting the top of the triangles
26. Sew along the top and the bottom of the ribbon, tight to the edge, to secure. To allow the ribbon to curve, sew along the outermost edge first then sew small pleats to remove any excess from the inner edge
Press the top hem
27. Turn over and press the top 2cm of fabric on both the front and back panel pieces
28. Turn the raw edge under to reach the crease and press again to create a double-folded hem
Assemble the sack with French seams
29. Align the front and back panels wrong sides together and pin the bottom edge
30. Sew with a 5mm seam allowance
31. Press the seam open with the seam allowance to one side, trim any loose threads
32. Fold along the seam to bring the 2 fabrics right sides together and press
33. Pin then sew with a 1cm seam allowance
34. Press the seam open with the seam allowance to one side
35. Repeat steps 29. to 34. for the side seams, turning the 2 corners of the 1st seam allowance and sewing over the ends with the 1cm seam
36. Turn the sack out the right way
37. Pin the hem then sew along the innermost crease, 2mm from the edge
Sew the tie
38. Align and pin the two short ends of the tie pieces
39. Sew with a 1cm seam allowance
40. Fold the tie in half lengthways, ensuring the join seam allowance is on the outside
41. At each end of the tie fold the corner up to form a 45 degree angle then cut along the crease
42. Sew along the edge of the tie leaving a 10cm turning gap toward the centre. Sew with a 1 cm seam allowance and continue along the trimmed edges.
43. Clip the corners, turn the tie out the right way and press
44. Top stitch around the edges of the tie 2mm from the edge
Sew the drawstring channel
45. Pin the 2 channel pieces right sides together along the short edge and sew with a 1cm seam allowance
46. Press the seam allowances open
47. With the fabric right side down, turn over and press 1cm of fabric along the 2 long edges
48. At each end of the channel turn over and press 2cm of fabric
49. Turn the raw edge under to reach the crease and press again to create a hem
50. Sew along the inner crease edge of each pressed hem to secure
51. Position the channel with the top edge 10cm from the top of the sack and the hems either side of the right side seam
52. Pin and sew along the top edge of the channel only, 2mm from the edge
53. Lift the lower edge of the channel and tuck the tie underneath. Ensure the tie is close to the sewn edge and the tie ends extend from the hemmed opening in the channel
54. Pin and sew along the bottom of the channel, 2mm from the edge
55. Thread the tie through the channel
And you’re all done!
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