How to Sew a Halloween Trick-or-Treat Bag

Every trick-or-treater needs a special bag to carry his loot as he walks from door to door collecting candy on Halloween night. While you could give your little ghoul an old pillowcase or a store-bought bag, why not put those sewing skills to good use and make him a one-of-a-kind Halloween trick-or-treat bag that he can use year after year?

Things You'll Need

2/3 yard Halloween-print fabric
2/3 yard coordinating solid or print fabric
Thread
Pins
Scissors
Rotary cutter
Self-healing cutting mat
Sewing machine
Iron
Ironing board

Instructions

Step 1: Prewash your fabric in warm or hot water to shrink it. After drying, trim off any loose threads and press it with a hot iron to remove any wrinkles.

Step 2: Measure and cut two 16-by-14 inch rectangles from each piece of fabric. Pin each pair together with the right sides together, then sew along each short edge (the 14-inch long edge) using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, leaving both ends open.

Step 3: Measure and cut one 11-by-4 inch rectangle from each piece of fabric. Pin each tube of fabric to the corresponding small rectangle to create the bottom of the bag. Make sure that the tube seams line up at the center of each short end of the rectangle. In other words, make sure that your seams line up at the 2-inch mark on each 4-inch long seam. Sew along the entire seam using a 1/2-inch seam allowance to finish the bottom of the bag, then repeat with the other piece of fabric. You should now have two bags: one for the outer shell and the other for the lining.

Step 4: Make sure your outer shell fabric is turned right-side out, then use your iron to press the raw edge of the opening down (wrong sides together) 1/2 inch all the way around to create a clean edge. Make sure your lining fabric is turned wrong-side out, so that the print is on the inside of the bag. Use your iron to press the raw edge of the opening down (wrong sides together) 1/2 inch all the way around, to create a clean edge. Set both pieces aside for later.

Step 5: Cut two 12-by-3 inch strips of fabric from the main fabric. Fold in half lengthwise with the right sides together, then pin. Sew along the long raw edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the tubes right-side out, then press with a hot iron. You now have two handles for your bag.

Step 6: Pin your pieces together so that the handles are sandwiched between the outer shell and lining pieces. Top-stitch all the way around to secure the handles in place and to give your bag a finished look.

Tips & Warnings
Add trims and embellishments that coordinate with your little one's costume to give the bag a more personal touch.