Crafting A Money Bag For Your Wedding: A Step-By-Step Guide

A bridal money bag is used by wedding guests to offer token monetary gifts to the bride in exchange for a dance. You can make a customised money bag at home for your wedding or as a gift for a bride-to-be. To make a money bag, you will need satin fabric, lace trim, satin ribbon, and optional embellishments like imitation pearls or gemstones. Cut the satin fabric into a rectangle measuring 15 inches by 25 inches, then place two pieces of 25-inch lace trim along the longer sides of the rectangle. Pin the lace in place, fold the rectangle in half, and sew along the side seams, leaving a 1-inch opening at the top. Turn the bag right side out, fold the top edge inward, and sew to create a tube for the ribbon. Embellish the bag with glue-on pearls or gemstones, thread the ribbon through the tube, and tie the ends together to form a drawstring.

Cut and prepare the fabric

To make a money bag for a wedding, you'll need to cut and prepare the fabric. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Purchase 1/2 yard of fabric in the colour and material of your choice. Common choices for weddings include ivory satin or silk, but you can also opt for other soft materials like velvet or lace. If you want to incorporate the wedding colours or theme, consider using fabric or ribbons in those shades.
• Cut a rectangle from your chosen fabric. The size can vary depending on your preference, but a common measurement is 15 inches tall by 25 inches wide. This will give you a decent-sized bag, but feel free to adjust the dimensions to make it bigger or smaller as needed.
• Prepare the lace trim (if using). Cut two pieces of lace trim, each measuring the length of the rectangle's longer side (in this case, 25 inches). You can place the lace trim along the longer sides of the fabric rectangle, with the lace facing inward, and pin it in place. This will eventually be sewn into the side seams and appear on the outside of the bag.
• Fold the rectangle in half. Fold it side to side with the lace facing in, or if you're not using lace, simply fold it in half. This will give you a smaller rectangle, in this case, 15 inches by 12.5 inches.

At this point, you've cut and prepared the fabric for your wedding money bag. The next steps will involve sewing the bag together, turning it right side out, and creating a drawstring or ribbon closure. You can also add embellishments like imitation pearls or gemstones to decorate the bag further.

Sew the fabric

Now that you have your fabric cut into a rectangle, it's time to start sewing!

First, place the rectangle right side up on your work surface. Cut two pieces of lace trim, each 25 inches long. Lay one piece of trim along each of the 25-inch-long sides of the rectangle, with the lace facing inward on the fabric. Pin the lace in place to secure it.

Next, fold the rectangle in half to create a 15-inch by 12.5-inch rectangle. Sew along the two side seams, making sure to sew through the edge of the lace trim as you go. Remember to leave a 1-inch opening at each top edge.

Now, turn the bag right side out. The lace should now be on the outside of the bag, sewn into the side seams. Fold inward 1 inch of fabric at the top, open end of the bag. Sew along the rough edge of the fold to create a tube.

At this point, you can slide a piece of ribbon through the tube at the top of the bag. This will be used to close the bag later. Cut two pieces of satin ribbon, each 24 inches long. Slide one end of each ribbon through the eyes of a sewing bodkin, and then slide the bodkins through the tubes at the top of the bag. Remove the bodkins and pull on the ribbons to close the bag.

Your money bag is now sewn and ready for embellishment!

Add lace and other decorations

Now for the fun part: decorating your wedding money bag! Rows of lace can be added 2 inches from the bottom of the bag, with the lace facing in, before sewing the side and bottom seams. You can also add two pieces of lace trim to the long sides of the fabric rectangle, pinning them in place before folding the rectangle in half. This will sew the lace trim into the side seams, with the lace on the outside of the bag.

If you want to add a bit of sparkle to your bag, you can glue imitation pearls or gemstones onto the bag in random places. You could also use floral patterns, either by choosing a lace with a floral pattern or by adding fresh flowers. If you want to add a pop of colour, you could add a small green ribbon, or if you're feeling creative, you could embroider a four-leaf clover or an Irish blessing onto each bag.

Create a drawstring

Creating a drawstring for a money bag is a simple process. The following steps will guide you through it:

Firstly, cut two pieces of satin ribbon, each 24 inches long. You can also use a grosgrain ribbon that is 44 inches long. Next, attach a small safety pin to one end of the ribbon. This safety pin will be used to guide the ribbon through the casing at the top of the bag.

Now, let's create the casing. Fold the top edge of the bag towards the wrong side (the side that will be on the inside of the bag) by ½ inch and press it down with an iron. Then, fold it again by ¾ inch and press once more. Sew along the folded edge to secure the casing in place. Leave a small opening on one side of the casing, which will be used to insert the ribbon.

Take the safety pin and ribbon, and begin to insert the ribbon into the casing through the opening. Guide the ribbon through the entire casing and out of the same opening. Now, repeat this process with the other piece of ribbon, starting from the opposite side of the bag.

Finally, tie the ends of the two ribbons together in a knot to form the drawstring. Pull on the drawstrings to close the top of the bag. You can also add a small amount of glue to the knot to secure it in place.

Your drawstring is now complete! This simple technique can be used to create a beautiful and functional money bag for a wedding or any other occasion.

Embellish the bag

Now for the fun part: it's time to embellish your wedding money bag!

If you're looking for a simple, elegant embellishment, consider gluing imitation pearls or gemstones onto the bag in random places. This will add a subtle sparkle to your bag. You could also sew on some beads or sequins for a similar effect.

If you want to incorporate some colour, try adding a ribbon. You could use a thin ribbon as a drawstring for the bag, or attach a wider ribbon as a handle. For a rustic look, you could use twine instead of ribbon.

If your wedding has a particular theme, you can also add embellishments that tie into that. For example, if you're having an Irish-themed wedding, you could attach a small green ribbon or a green clover to each bag. Or, if you're having a country-themed wedding, you could use a piece of twine as a drawstring and attach a small bunch of dried flowers to the bag.

Finally, don't forget that the fabric you choose can also be an embellishment in itself. Using a luxurious fabric like silk or satin will give your bag a sophisticated look, while a fabric with a bold print or pattern will make it really stand out.

Frequently asked questions