How to Cut Out Letters for Personalizing a Garment Bag

The final touch to any handcrafted gift is a touch of the personal. By placing the name of initials of an individuals in a tasteful and well-executed manner onto a sewn gift such as a garment bag, pillow case or cushion lets people know that the gift was meant for them from start to finish. Look below for guidelines on how to cut out letters for personalizing a garment bag.

Things You'll Need

• Stencil
• Card
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Chalk
• Fabric

Instructions

1. Create or buy a stencil to use for marking your letters on the fabric. Letter stencil in thick card or plastic are available at all craft and stationery stores. To make your own stencil, draw out your letter on a piece of stiff card using a pencil and a ruler before cutting out with scissors.

2. Place the stencil on top of the fabric in the exact position you wish the final letter to be. It is easier to do this with the fabric the right way up, as it helps avoid letter reversal and other confusions.

3. Draw around the edge of the stencil making sure to get both sides of the letter or letters. Be careful to hold the stencil very still and use a sewing pencil or piece of chalk for outlining so it can be erased afterwards.

4. Cut out the letter or letters using a sharp pair of scissors making sure to follow the stencil outline as accurately as possible. This letter could be applied directly to the finished garment bag and sewn in place. For a layering effect, continue through the other steps.

5. Select a contrasting fabric for a second layer to the letter that acts as a border to the first letter. If you start with a patterned fabric, you may want to go with a plain or block color fabric for trimming.

6. Lie the first letter on top of the second fabric with the fabric facing upward and mark a borderline around the edge of the letter. How thin or thick this border is will be up to you. Consider the second fabric a frame for the letter and be sure it will fit comfortably onto the front or back of your garment bag.

7. Cut out the second layer carefully using scissors to create a second fabric look to the finished bag. You can continue to a third or fourth layer if you wish and have enough room on your garment bag to accommodate the letters.