Tiny Tote Bag DIY Gift Card Holder – Sewing Tutorial

This tiny tote bag looks just like a traditional canvas tote– except it’s sized just right to hold a gift card! Follow this easy tutorial to stitch up a sweet little tote that works beautifully as a gift card holder or a small gift bag.

As much as I love picking out the perfect Christmas gift for someone, sometimes the most thoughtful gift isn’t a “thing” at all, but a gift card. And as much as someone will love getting the gift card, figuring out a fun, creative way to wrap it can be a challenge.

I kind of love coming up with fun ways to package up a gift card. Something unusual, a little unexpected. A couple of years ago I made hot cocoa Christmas ornaments that doubled as pockets to hold a gift card. (Get the free pattern here.)

This year I sewed up these tiny tote bag gift card holders, inspired by the miniature tote bags popping up in stores recently. They look just like the classic canvas tote, just miniature and the perfect size for a gift card or other small treat.

I’ve got a sewing tutorial for you below.

The little pocket between the handles is the perfect spot to tuck a little gift tag or cute Christmas embellishment. Or, if you have a Cricut, how cute would it be to add a custom monogram on that pocket?

The little bag is fully lined and has boxed corners, just like a full sized bag. The lining and body are cut and sewn in one piece to simplify construction.

This tiny tote bag would be so cute just on its own, even with no gift card. Pull a loop of cord through the handles and you’ve got an adorable Christmas ornament! (Especially with a little bit of Christmas greenery tucked into the bag.)

Or, if your child has an Amercian Girl or other 18” doll, the tiny tote bag is just about spot on perfect for a doll. You’ll just need make the handles a little longer so the doll can carry it.

You don’t need any special supplies or notions. Just ¼ yard (or large scraps) of canvas in two colors. I used natural canvas for my main color and green or red for my contrast colors. No special notions required.

Finished dimensions are approximately 4 ¼” wide x 3” tall (excluding handles).

Supplies

Natural canvas – ¼ yard or large scraps

Contrast canvas – ¼ yard or large scraps

Fabric Cuts

Body/Lining – 2 pieces natural canvas, 4 ¾” wide x 6” tall

Pocket – 2 pieces natural canvas, 1 ¾” wide x 3” tall

Bottom – 2 pieces contrast canvas, 4 ¾” wide x 2” tall

Straps – 2 pieces contrast canvas, 1 ½” wide x 7 ½” tall

(If you want to make a bag for an 18” doll, make the straps 1 ½” wide x 8 ½” tall.)

RST = Right Sides Together

Sew the Pockets

Fold the Pocket pieces in half the short way, so they’re 1 1/2” wide x 1 ½” tall. Press.

Place a Body/Lining piece right side up, then place a Pocket piece along one of the short (4 ¾”) sides, centered horizontally and with raw edges aligned.

The easiest way to center the Pocket is to find and mark the center of both the Pocket and the Body/Lining pieces. Then just line up your center markings and your Pocket piece is perfectly centered.

Baste the Pocket pieces in place along the sides with 1/8” seam allowance.

Repeat with the remaining Body/Lining pieces.

Sew the Straps

Press the Strap pieces in half lengthwise and wrong sides together.

Open up and fold long edges to the center, then press to create a double-fold strap.

Top stitch close to the edge down both sides of each Strap.

Place one of the Straps along the left edge of the Pocket on one of the Body/Lining pieces, with the Strap centered across the edge of the Pocket.

Sew in place with a long box seam, starting at the bottom and continuing up one side of the Strap until ¼” PAST the top of the pocket, then across the Strap, and then back down to the bottom.

If you’re sewing with contrast thread, try to sew these seams as much along the existing stitch lines as possible.

Now, take the other end of the Strap and place it over the other side of the Pocket, being careful not to twist the Strip. Sew a long box seam, just as you did before.

Now repeat all of this with the remaining Strap and Body/Lining piece.

Assemble the Tiny Tote Bag

Place a Bottom piece along the bottom of a Body/Lining piece, RST. Sew with ¼” seam allowance.

Press the seam open (seam allowances facing the Bottom), and top stitch close to the edge.

Repeat with remaining Bottom and Body/Lining pieces.

Place the Body/Lining pieces RST. Sew around all sides with a ¼” seam allowance, starting and stopping 1” from the sides along the top edge.

Box all four corners to give them a 1” bottom. If you haven’t boxed corners before, here’s a good tutorial showing how.

Trim the corners off to reduce bulk.

Turn right side out through the turning hole. It’ll be tight but you can get it through.

Sew the turning hole closed using your favorite method.

A ladder stitch makes a nice invisible close, but you can also just sew it closed on the machine if you’re okay with a little seam allowance showing on the inside. I’ve also been known to just use some fusible hem tape to close a turning hole.

Push lining down inside the bag. Work the lining corners down into the corners of the bag and make sure the lining bottom is resting in the bottom of the bag.