Scrappy Drawstring Tote Bags for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

I have been having a ball Purging my unwanted fabric and changing it into useful things for my Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  I am so glad Stitched In Color choose to challenge us to purge our unloved and scrap fabrics.  My latest stitching is a drawstring bag large enough to carry the shoebox full of gifts.

I love to include tote bags in my shoeboxes so the child can carry their new goodies easily.  I decided a few weeks ago that I'd make drawstring bags just large enough to tuck the shoe box inside -- that way they can carry all their goodies with or
without the shoe box.  As you can see, I started with my scraps.

EDITING:  I've written up instructions on how to make the drawstring bags.  Find them here:

• Basic Drawstring Bag
• Variation #1 Drawstring Bag
• Variation #2 Drawstring Bag

Scraps from Pillow Case Style Dresses

Aqua, lime green, orange and pink fabrics.

This matches a patchwork apron I made for a shoe box.

Scraps from My Daughter's Projects

My daughter recovered some patio furniture for a friend and had this heavy duty fabric left.  I pieced together all the pieces and it was the perfect size.  I added the bright pink bias tape scraps in honor of my mother-in-law. She loved green and pink together.

This heavy linen was leftover from a dress my daughter made.  I had enough to patch two sideways pieces on either side of the center panel.  I added the ribbon over the seems to separate the directional differences in the design using the same ribbon as the drawstring.

Unloved Fabric -- Donation that wasn't quite suitable for a pillow case dress.

This fabric was a just a little too "see thru" to make a dress for a little girl.  It was perfect for a drawstring bag and I love I had this ribbon for the drawstring with the pink/yellow/rose combination to match it so perfectly.

To take up less room in the shoe box, I tuck them inside a sandwich zipper bag and squeeze out all the air.

My next project is toy sacks! Dozens & Dozens!

Looking for more items to craft for your Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes?  Check out our Simply Shoeboxes Crafting Tutorial Index Page.  We offer dozens of tutorials for sewing, no-sew, crocheting, paper and up-cycling crafts.