How to Make a Red Talisman Bag

Red is the color used for protection.

A talisman is a magical object frequently created to protect the one who possesses it from evil, but a talisman is also used to attract something desired. It can be made of material as soft as paper, or it can be made of a substance as hard as metal. Symbols that increase the talisman's magical powers are usually written or engraved on the object before it is consecrated and worn or carried to serve its purpose. A talisman is sometimes carried in a small red bag that can be sewn together in minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Piece of red satin fabric, 7 by 7 inches
• Box of pins
• Red thread
• Sewing machine
• Small safety pin
• Piece of satin ribbon, 20-inches long and 1/8-inch wide

Instructions

1. Put the iron on a low setting.

2. Fold 1/4 inch of the edge of the satin fabric over to the wrong side and press the fold with the warm iron.

3. Make another fold on that edge of the fabric, this time folding 1 inch over to the wrong side. Press the fold with the iron. Note that the total amount of fabric folded over should equal 1 and 1/4 inch.

4. Place a pin approximately 1/3 inch down from the top of the folded edge and close to one side of the fabric. Position the second pin on the opposite side and the third pin in the center of the two pins. Make sure the pins are horizontal.

5. Thread your sewing machine with the matching thread and sew along the bottom folded edge to secure the folded fabric in place. Make sure the sewing machine needle is far enough away from the pins to avoid striking them.

6. Remove the pins.

7. Sew another row of stitches across the fabric, 1/2 inch up from the stitches just sewn.

8. Fold the satin fabric in half so that the wrong side of the fabric is exposed and the right side of the folded edge is visible. Fold the fabric lengthwise so the folded edge is at the top.

9. Push two pins through the fabric to prevent the folded fabric from shifting. Place the pins a good distance away from the side and bottom edge of the fabric.

10. Sew 1/4-inch in from the unfolded edge of the fabric, along the side, starting at the top and ending at the top row of stitches. Make sure to back stitch over the first and last stitch to prevent the stitches from unraveling.

11. Continue to sew down the side, starting at the bottom row of horizontal stitches. Raise the sewing foot and turn the fabric to sew along the bottom edge. Back stitch over the first and last stitch made.

12. Secure the safety pin to the end of the satin ribbon and feed the ribbon through the 1/2-inch wide tunnel.

13. Remove the pin and turn the finished talisman bag to the right side.

References

• "The Witch Book, The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-paganism"; Raymond Buckland; 2002