I feel like I’m one of Santa’s elves sweating out in Santa’s workshop (aka sewing room), sewing up gifts for everyone.  With only 20 days to go before we lay out the welcome mat for Santa, this is what I’ve done so far.

First up, drawstring bags.  I didn’t have a size in mind in the beginning since I didn’t know what was going inside them, but once I knew what I wanted in them, the first one (stripey) was too small.  Underestimating the size of my contents yielded a second drawstring bag that wasn’t big enough.  So this is how I ended up with 3 different sized drawstring bags.  Ready to see what’s inside them?

Ok, the largest drawstring bag contains these number bean bags using this tutorial from Chez Beeper Bebe.  My bean bags aren’t as colourful as hers but I was too lazy to pick out 10 different fabrics so mine has a monotone look.  I didn’t realise ten bean bags could take up so much room.

This is the first time I’ve done zig zag appliqueing as I normally just do a straight stitch.  Not as neat as I would like it but hey, it’s my first time.  Plus zig zagging curves takes practice, right?

So that’s gift number one done.

The medium sized drawstring bag contain these little beauties – six bean bags, but this time backed with some left over cuddly fleece from another project (yet to be sewn).  So nice and soft.

Oh, and they are a tad smaller (finished size 3.5″ square) than the number bean bags (finished size 4″ square).  Good size for toddlers perhaps?

Well, onto the last teeny drawstring bag now, can you guess what it is?

Any ideas?

It’s a cape, like the one I made here from The Long Thread.  Of course, I didn’t make the cape for my 8.5 month old son but his sister refused to model it for me because it wasn’t pink.

I lined it with Amy Butler’s Ritzy Stripe and even tried some fancy schmanzy stitches for the collar.

So here are my two little superheros, all ready to save the world (maybe) and three presents done.

And FYI, there’s this great tutorial on how to make a lined drawstring bag.  Just make sure that if you do have a directional print that you’ll need to cut the outer pieces in half (with added seam allowance) and then sew them together right way up.