How to Sew a Japanese Knot Favor Bag

Favor bags, treat bags and gift bags have always been great sale items for me. I have made them for local craft sales and for consignment sales. I'm always looking for a new idea and new and unusual is important. Customers want to purchase things they can't find just anywhere.

Recently, I have been on a pattern hunt for a Japanese knot bag. This little bag has one long handle and one short one. The top of the bag is closed by inserting the long handle through the shorter handle. The long handle is then hung on the wrist. Nothing I found had all the elements I was looking for. I wanted a pattern with only one piece. I did not want to attach a bottom and it had to be quick to make or it wouldn't be profitable for me. Finally, I decided to create my own.

This Japanese knot bag was crafted from a suitcase of vintage wool felt I had purchased at an auction. If you do not have access to vintage felt, you can still construct this bag using newly purchased felt or your choice of fabric.

Make the Pattern:

I have included a picture of the pattern to clarify my instructions. The pattern fits on a standard sheet of computer paper or card stock.

Step 1:
Measure 5 1/2-inches up from the bottom edge of the paper and mark. Draw a line across the width of the paper, at the marks. This is the body of the bag.

Step 2:
Fold the paper in half with the long edges together. Crease the fold. Open the paper. The crease will serve as a guide for making the rest of the pattern.

Step 3:
Measure and mark from each side of the center crease, 1 1/2-inches. The marks are 3-inches apart. Draw two lines from the top edge of the paper to the top edge of the bag body, using the 1 1/2-inch marks as your guide. The space between these lines will be the space between the handles.

Step 4:
Measure 2-inches to the left of the left hand line. Draw a line from the top of the paper to the top of the bag body. This will create your long 2-inch wide handle.

Step 5:
Measure 2-inches to the right of the right hand line. Draw a line from the top of the paper to the top of the bag body. Measure up from the bag body 3 1/2-inches, inside the right hand handle. Draw a line across the width of the handle. Erase the handle marks above the 3 1/2-inch mark. You have created your short 2-inch wide handle.

Step 6:
Using the pattern photo for reference, round the inner corners at the base of the handles. Cut out the pattern.

Materials for Making the Japanese Knot Bag:

1/4-yard felt
Marking pen
Straight pins
Scissors
Sewing machine
Rickrack or other trim (I have found the coolest vintage trims in auction boxes.)
Decoration for handle

Steps for Making the Japanese Knot Bag:

Step 1:
Place the pattern on two layers of felt and trace around it. Pin the felt pieces together and cut out.

Step 2:
Sew the sides and bottom of the bag body using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Sew the top of the long handles together and sew the top of the short handles together, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seams open.

Step 3:
Match one side seam of the bag with the bottom seam. The corner will form a point. Measure down from the point 1 1/2-inches and pin, forming a triangle. Sew across the pinned bottom of the triangle. Repeat on the other bottom corner. Cut off the triangle, a 1/4-inch from the seam. Turn the bag right side out.

Step 4:
Sew trim around the top edge of the bag and on both edges of the handles. Attach a flower, pin, button or any decoration you would like over the top seam of the short handle.

Step 5:
Tuck the long handle through the short handle. Place the long handle over your wrist with the decoration facing outward.