DSB (Drawstring Bag) 101: Simple Drawstring Bag

This is the simplest drawstring bag I could think of.  It is made with just one fabric.  I used ribbon for the drawstrings, but you could use anything.  It is easily adaptable to any and all sizes.  Here's how in excruciating detail.

See previous post here for an explanation about why I am writing these tutorials.

By the way, click each photo for a slightly larger view if you need it.

1.  Cut your fabric to the desired size.  Remember, you'll lose about an inch and a quarter x2 on the ends and a 1/4 inch x 2 on the sides.  (This is for beginners, remember...)
2.  As seen above, lay your fabric right side down on the ironing board.  Fold one of the short edges of your fabric up 1/4 inch and press.  Then fold up again 1 inch and press again.  This fold will create your casing for the drawstring.

3.  As seen above, sew on top of the fold, close to it, to secure the casing.  Be sure to overstitch at the beginning and end (go back and forth to secure your stitches.)  In the future, be sure to do this anytime you will not be sewing over the line of stitching again, or your stitches might come out.  This is especially important if you are going to stress the seam by pulling a drawstring through it or weighing it down by putting heavy objects in the bag...)

4.  Fold your bag in half, right sides together.  Pin up the sides, stopping where your casing begins.  Sew up the sides using a 1/4 inch seam, stopping right where your casing begins.
5.  Turn the bag right side out and press the seams flat.

6.  Cut 2 pieces of ribbon or some sort of string to desired length.  The length is width of your bag x 2 + about 6 more inches for knotting. Put a safety pin through the ribbon or whatever you are using.  If it is something that frays easily, wrap it with a little tape before inserting the safety pin.  To make it easy to scooch, use the biggest safety pin that will fit through your casing easily.

7.  Using the safety pin to hold on to, thread your drawstring into the casing, scooching it along inch by inch.  Go in one side, through to the other side, and come out where you started.

8.  Do the same with the other ribbon, but start on the opposite side this time.  When you are done, you'll have the picture above.

9.  Tie a simple knot to secure your drawstring by holding the two ends of one string even, forming a loop in the ribbon and pulling the end through.  You can make the knot quite close to the bag.  Repeat on the other side.

10.  Cut the ends of your ribbon off even, an inch from your knot -- or closer/further depending on what you want.  If your drawstring material might fray, dab it with a little craft glue (like Tacky Glue) or fray stopping liquid (such as Stop Fray) and let it dry.
11.  You are done!  Dance a jig. 

Note:  This bag has exposed, unfinished seams on the inside.  It is fine for casual use such as a little gift bag, but is probably unsuitable for hard use or washing.  You could finish the seam with a serger I guess, but if you know how to use a serger, then you probably aren't reading this.

If you try this, please let me know if something is confusing and I'll see if I can clarify.  If you have success, share with me and everyone by posting a comment with a link to your blog or photo if possible.  Happy sewing from happythings.

Comments

[simplewife]

Love the 101 title--it makes you sound just like Martha Stewart! A while ago I saw a Cath Kidston book at the library (it was lovely, I'd love to get a copy for my coffee table where I stack all my crafty books that I like to read over and over again) in which she used little drawstring bags like these to store just about everything in her pantry. Wouldn't it be fun to open your pantry to rows of beautiful little bags filled with rice and beans and lentils, rather than bags that are splitting open and held shut with clothespins and rubber bands?

[Toni]

Thank you! I love little bags like this. You could eliminate the raw edges by folding the sides over twice and stitching before you make the casing. Then when you stitch up the sides the seams will be finished as well as each opening of the casing. Does that sound right? I think so :)

[Mom]

You are so ambitious!!! Great job! To Toni regarding raw edges. Another way to eliminate raw edges is to create a French seam, as follows: place wrong sides of the fabric together and stitch a 1/4th seam. Press seam and then turn so that right sides of the fabric are together and proceed with a 3/8 inch seam. The first time I saw my mother do this was in 1953 when she was making some cool infant clothes for my soon-to-be baby brother Scott (August in Kansas, no air-conditioning, just water cooler and fans). The fabric was very light & soft and the clothes needed to endure many washings. Another trivial tidbit: There was another arrival to our house that summer...a new Westinghouse automatic clothes washer with window in the front. My little brother John and I sat in front of it and watched the diapers wash, rinse and spin! Until that time all our laundry was done with the Magtag wringer washer. It was a few more years before Mother got a clothes dryer so everything dried on the clothesline outside.

[krommama]

Yay! Thank you for posting this tutorial. I just made my first drawstring bag on Friday. I used a tutorial from a link posted on Craftster (the link went to livejournal). But I wanted to find other ways to make them. So thank you again!

[lvg4him]

Thank you SO MUCH for this GREAT tutorial! It helps beginners like me, but it will also help me teach my daughters to sew! I am going to print this out and put it in their notebook for them to sew! THANK YOU! I plan on checking out your other tutorials! Maybe, just maybe I CAN sew!!! :)

[sUsAn]

Thank you for this tutorial!!! I just finished my first drawstring bag and am so excited! I got a sewing machine for Christmas and this is the first project I have tackled. I did it!! Yay!

[MikeShelly]

Hiya! Firstly - best drawstring tute I was able to find - Thanks! Secondly - I'm trying to figure out how to make the open string case ends come together on the same side rather than on opposite sides of the bag... any wisdom in that area? Thanks SOOoooOOOO Much! Mike

[Emily]

It's gorgeous -- I can't wait to try. What might one do with a bag like this?

[Megan]

Thanks for all the fabulous tutorials! I just finished this one, and it's adorable! I'm going to use mine to carry a small knitting project in the car. Thanks again, now I'm off to make another!

[Jane]

I followed DSB 101 & 201. Pls see photo at my blog http://projectsbyjane.blogspot.com/

You're a genius!

[Tinuviel]

You go, girl! I recognize many of your fabric choices from my own stash!! ;-)

[melissa s.]

THanks for the great tute! Used it to make little farmer's market totes for my kiddums: http://ebabble.blogspot.com/2008/04/seeing-green-junior-farmers-market.html

[Ashley]

Love the super easy to follow tutorial, and since I am an absolute beginner it was needed. I made an Strawberry Shortcake bag for my daughters trainset pieces. She loves it! Thanks!http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/shlee111/drawstringbag002.jpg

[Karleen]

Thanks for such a quick & easy pattern! It was the best one I could find!!

[Melyssa]

WOW!! Thank you!!! I'm going to go try the drawstring 101 right now and have bookmarked this wonderful page to try the others. I am a beginner and am thankful for the clear language and pictures. I can't wait to try your other tutorials!

[Mel M. M. M.]

Fantastic tutorial. Love how you covered all the details. :O)

[jodi @ bpr]

great tutorial - thanks so much - can't wait to give it a try! :)

[Amber]

Really cute! I love drawstring bags!

[brendajos]

This is how I use scraps left over from projects to make produce bags too. They are great for avoiding plastic bags when buying veggies and end up being much more interesting than the bags that can be bought for this purpose. ;-)

[wayfarer]

I made one for my son in about ten minutes for a hospital busy bag while giving labor. I love the way it turned out. Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wayfarersjourney/3118467734/

[Pat S.]

Thank you! Love the bags, and love your tutorials. You are awesome!!

[Vickle Pickle]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is incredible! It's just what I have been looking for as a SIMPLE BEGINNER PROJECT! Thank you sooooo much.
Peace Out!

[Suz]

Hi, I'm trying to get this straight in my mind, I am confused with step 7. It says: 7. Using the safety pin to hold on to, thread your drawstring into the casing, scooching it along inch by inch. Go in one side, through to the other side, and come out where you started.
If I came out where I started wouldn't I just be pulling it right back out again? That's the step that confuses me unless you go around to the other side and come out on the other side of the side you started on. Please help. Suz

[grace]

OMG - I've felt like an idiot trying to make the drawstring part. I've messed up 2 so far. I'm trying this TONIGHT. Looks so easy (finally). THANKS - now we will have muslin sandwich bags (I hope!!)

[Samantha]

hi-
do you use one whole piece of material or two pieces? or does that all depend on what you have to work with. i am using a large scrap. also - if you have s/t you want to make a bag for how do you figure dimensions of material to use/cut? thanks for the great tute- it's the best one i've found on the net.