Early in the holiday season I am always full of plans.

In September, I’m positive I’m going to make my kids’ Halloween costumes. But on the weekend before trick or treat, I’m at the nearest discount store trying to cobble something creative out of what’s left over.

Last year my son was Rugrats character Reptar wearing a Powerpuff Girls costume. Thank goodness my partner, Matt Fox, came by and threw a tool belt on him. My boy went out to scare the candy out of the neighbors and fix any leaking pipes they had as well.

But, back to the point: I’m already starting to sew up this year’s quick gift. That’s the gift you give when the neighbors stop by and you realize you should have gotten them something for picking up your mail during your last vacation or helping carry in that sofa. Small fabric gift bags that can hold anything from decorative coasters to a bottle of wine are easy and inexpensive to make. Here’s what you’ll need:

l Two different but coordinating fabrics

l Matching thread

l Cording or ribbon

Start by determining what your gift for this year is going to be. For example, you can give a bottle of wine from a local vineyard. Coasters, which satisfy all sorts of people, are one of those things you never seem to get around to buying for yourself.

Potpourri is a sensible gift that keeps on giving. Or how about holiday embroidered hand towels for a guest bath? I like to select a special ornament to pass around at the holidays. Sometimes it is generic enough that it can be displayed all year.

As you can imagine, it’s important to know what the gift is that you are placing in the bag; you need to know how big to make the bag and how much material to purchase.

For example, if you’ve determined your gift will fit into a 6-inch-wide by 10-inch-tall bag, add 2 inches to the height for a pretty flap to fold down along the top. You also want to add a half-inch seam allowance all the way around.

So cut out of the main fabric two rectangles measuring 7 inches by 13 inches. Then cut two more rectangles out of the coordinating lining fabric.

Next, pin the main fabric pieces together with the right sides facing each other and sew along the two long sides and across the bottom. Leave the top end open. Repeat this step for the lining as well.

Trim the seams and fold the top edges over a half an inch to the outside of the bags, keeping them inside-out. Press the top edges in place. To connect the lining to the main bag, turn the lining bag right side out and inset it into the main bag, matching up the seams.

Pull the top half-inch seam that was ironed up, pin the lining to the main bag, and machine stitch along the fold line about half of the way around.

The next step is to pull the lining bag out of the main bag and turn the main bag right side out. Turn the lining bag right side in, and stuff it into the main bag. Hand-stitch the rest of the top seam together by pinning along the ironed edge and sewing the edges together.

To create a pocket for the cording, measure down two inches from the top of the bag and machine sew all the way around the bag, sewing the lining and the main bag together. Do this again 2-1/2 inches down from the top edge and you have a pocket.

The side seam within the range of the pocket on the outside of the bag must be slit open to allow the cording to go inside. Use a safety pin attached to the end of the cording to feed it through the pocket. Tie knots in the ends of the cording, and bag one is complete.

This is a great project to do with your kids because the rectangles are easy to cut, and selecting the combinations of fabrics can be a fun learning experience for them too. Now, insert those special gifts you’ve selected for your unsuspecting neighbors, the mailman, and people you just want to remember this season.

Take joy in the creating as well as the giving. And feel proud that you had all this planned and packaged before the first snowflake fell.

Shari Hiller writes this column with Matt Fox. They also co-host the Home & Garden Television show “Room by Room.” For more information, visit www.hgtv.com.