{"id":59374,"date":"2019-10-21T15:27:12","date_gmt":"2019-10-21T22:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/?p=59374"},"modified":"2019-10-21T15:27:12","modified_gmt":"2019-10-21T22:27:12","slug":"how-to-sew-handmade-gift-child-who-chooses-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldvision.org\/blog\/how-to-sew-handmade-gift-child-who-chooses-you","title":{"rendered":"How to sew a handmade gift for the child who chooses you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this guest blog post, sewing YouTuber Melanie Ham<\/a> gives a tutorial about how to sew a simple drawstring bag that you can make and send to the sponsored child who chooses you! Read about Melanie’s experience traveling to Ecuador last month, where she met the child who chose her, and watch how to make this simple, special gift. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Hi everyone! Welcome to this fun, simple, and fast sewing tutorial about how to sew a drawstring bag. If you scroll to the bottom, you can see a no-sew version as well.<\/p>\n

Last month, I traveled to Ecuador to help World Vision launch a whole new way of connecting children with sponsors<\/a>. I had the chance to personally participate in Chosen<\/a>, and I wanted to bring a small gift to give to the child who would choose us. So I made one of these drawstring bags and gave it to Vanessa.<\/p>\n

You can check out all the details of that trip in this post<\/a>, and meet Vanessa in my new video<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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Melanie gives Vanessa the drawstring bag she made for her! (©2019 photo courtesy of Matthew Paul Turner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chosen — which empowers children to choose their sponsor<\/a> — is such a sweet reminder about God’s love for us, that he chose each of us. I am so proud to help support such a great organization! On our Ecuador<\/a> trip, we got to see firsthand what it looks like for children and families to be empowered through World Vision’s work, and Chosen takes that empowerment one step further. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I’ll have more videos coming about my trip, so make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since I wanted to make this gift for the child who would choose me, I thought I would do a tutorial on it, because I’ve had lots of requests for more simple sewing projects. These would be great party treat bags, travel bags, kits for the homeless … the list is endless.<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of Melanie Ham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once you have a sponsored child — whether they chose you or you chose them — and you make your bag, you can send it to them<\/a>! You can mail gifts that fit in a 9×12 envelope, which is perfect for this bag and maybe even something else. You can find shipping instructions here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our Ecuador trip may be over, but you can still sign up to be chosen! A child from anywhere in the world that World Vision works can be the one empowered to choose you. Sign up to be chosen here!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

How to sew an easy drawstring bag<\/h2>\n

Materials<\/h3>\n