What do you look for in Tarot Bags?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sarahenglish	06 Apr 2002
I am thinking about making myself some tarot bags. What would your ideal tarot bag be like? Would you want velvet, cotton, silk, etc. Do you like draw strings or fold over flap with velcro or snap? Would you want it lined or not? Would you want it to be a snug fit or have lots of breathing room? Anything else I ought to consider?

Kiama	06 Apr 2002
For practical reasons (Storage space!) I think that a bag with fold over flap, and with a snug fit would be better, esp. if you don't have a big place to store the deck in. You don't want string cluttering up a drawer, do you!? ;) Lined would also be good to protect your deck a bit, and you might want a more hard-wearing material than silk for the oustide of the bag. Enjoy making the bags! Kiama

suzyspellbound	06 Apr 2002
Check out the thread on tarot cloths as there are loads of great ideas and preferences on bags there! Also a great link to a fab site full of inspiration. I think it depends on the deck and personal taste, I made one last week with purple crushed velvet and lined it with a soft purple towelling. It is draw-string and I use a bead I made to keep it shut tight. Mine is more for transport than storage so I like draw-string ones, then there is room to pop in other things like gems ect.

truthsayer	06 Apr 2002
i like cotton bags with draw strings best. i also use wood boxes, scarves, and crown royal bags. i have never even thought about the space a tarot bag or whatever would take in a drawer. i haven't tried velcroed bags b/c i never thought about using one. guess i need to check it out. ime, sewing with cotton is easier than the other materials you mentioned. silk is definitely the hardest. i have silk that i bought well over 15 years ago to wrap my cards that is still in good shape but then i never sewed it together as a bag.

sarahenglish	06 Apr 2002
Well, after several trial and error efforts, I settled on draw string. I must say, I am quite pleased. I used some scraps of blue velvet and a small piece of celestial batik fabric in blues and purples that I have had for a while. I lined my bag in the blue velvet and used the cotton batik on the outside. There is something about my cards being next to that yummy velvet that makes me happy. It's like they are being caressed! I have tried to attach a picture if you are interested

Kiama	07 Apr 2002
Well done, Sarah! I wish I had the skills to make a bag! I can't sew to save my life... Anyway, enjoy your new Tarot bag! Kiama

sarahenglish	07 Apr 2002
Blush Blush Grin Grin Aw Shucks! Made another last night. I must say that I hope the velvet won't hold on to all of the curses I was uttering while I was trying to sew with it. I may need to purify the bags as well as my cards, LOL!

Original Destiny	07 Apr 2002
Must admit I am thinking of getting a Tarot bag...I keep my cards in assorted boxes given as presents...I have my Sacred Rose deck in a Jack Daniel's tin...It's a small tin just the correct size :TWOR

sarahenglish	07 Apr 2002
Maybe I should go into the business! To support my new tarot habit. So many decks, so little money!

Silence Dogood	07 Apr 2002
What do I look for in a Tarot bag? A free Tarot Deck! LOL! A bag with a square bottom (yes, there are such things) so that the deck in its box or wrapped can fit into it nicely without a lot of sliding around. Also, double drawstrings so it opens and closes smoothly, just like a Victorian handbag.

sarahenglish	07 Apr 2002
LOL! I did do a square bottom, but not a double drawstring. I like the sqare bottom, it is definitely nicer.

Silence Dogood	07 Apr 2002
Don't know if you made buttonholes for the drawstrings to pull through, or what, but if you have a small opening on each side instead of just one you thread one drawstring through the left hole, DO NOT come out the right hole and bring it back out the left hole and ties ends together with a nice bead or something. Do the same thing with the right hole; do not thread lace out left hole but rather thread it through and back out the hole whence it started; knot off. Now, when you pull the two knots, the drawstring closes smoothly, and stays closed better than a single drawstring does. {If that is your concern, you can get 'cord locks' at a sewing store- like the ones that they use on sweat pants and such; push the little button to release the cords.}

sarahenglish	08 Apr 2002
I was too lazy to do the button holes. I just stitched down the seam allowance where I wanted my draw string to come out. Amazingly enough, they are easy to open. And I tie my draw string in a bow so it doesn't open.

The What do you look for in Tarot Bags? thread was originally posted on 06 Apr 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.