Some of you may have noticed the rustic Halloween bags adorning your fancy catalogs as well as being sold at your high-end retailers lately. For upwards of $30 for a simple bag, you can be transported to a holiday scene reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting. But, as you may have learned by now, I would rather save about 25 of those dollars and make my own instead. This really simple project will only set you back a few dollars in materials and is great one to decorate with the family!

Here is what you’re going to need:

Burlap – 1 to 2 yards

Sewing machine or a needle and thread

Twine or rope for a tie

Grommet kit – ¼”

Grommets – ¼”

Painters’ tape

Acrylic craft paint

Paint sponge

One of the great things about creating your own bag is that you can make it any size or shape that you want. For this project, I’m looking to make two different sizes. The larger size will be for trick-or-treating, and the smaller version is for party favors.

Step One – Cutting out the Pieces

Using your burlap fabric, cut out the front and back sides of your bag. Make sure that your front and back sides are equal in size, but the measurements are really up to you. It’s all going to depend on the size of your little trick-or-treater or what items you’re looking to put inside. One of the great things about working with burlap is that there is no real front or back side to worry about. No matter which way the pieces are facing, you’re safe!

Step Two – Sewing up the Bag

Take your pieces of fabric and sew up three sides, leaving the top open for candy or treats. This can be done using either a sewing machine or a simple needle and thread. After you finish sewing, make sure you keep your bag inside out for the next steps to come.

Step Three – Adding Some Grommet Details

A cool and kitschy Halloween bag needs a fun closure. For a little added detail, this is where you’re going to add grommets for a tie. Measuring about 2”-3” down from the top of your bag, mark where your grommet holes are going to go. Once you have the first mark placed, add another mark about an inch to the right or left. Ultimately the grommets are going to be centered on the front side of your bag about 2”-3” inches from the top. Next, following the directions on your grommet kit, add two grommets to your bag.

Step Four – Creating the Pocket

Now that your grommets are in place, fold down the top of your bag down until you clear the grommets. Make sure you leave enough fabric at the bottom of the flap to sew and not hit your grommet holes. This will ultimately create the pocket that your tie will be threaded into. When the flap is folded down, your grommet holes will be hidden from view and only visible on the other side of your bag (or what will ultimately be the side that faces out). Using your sewing machine or a needle and thread, sew the flap down all the way around.

Step Five – Add the Tie

Once your flap is sewn down, it’s time to turn your bag right side out so you’re hiding all of your seams. Next, take your rope or twine and tie a knot at the end of it to give it some bulk. Feed the knotted end of your tie into one of your grommets and continue to thread it through the pocket until it reaches the other side and comes out the remaining grommet. Finish pulling the tie through and give yourself about 6” of slack. Cut off the tie coming from your other grommet, giving that about 6” of slack as well. Knot the other end of your tie. From now on, whenever you want to close your bags, all you have to do is cinch it up and tie off the ends!

Step Six – Create a Fun Design

The bag is complete! Technically, you could stop here, but why would you? This is a great opportunity to personalize your bag by adding a name, a cute phrase, or even a monster face! To do this, use painters’ tape to mark out the design you’re looking to create. You can also use a stencil from your local craft store to achieve a fun image. Once your design is in place, use some inexpensive craft store paint to finish it off. Using black will give you a high contrast and classic look, but adding a bit of color will look great as well. All that’s left to do is let your bags dry and fill them up with your treats!