How to Sew a Drawstring Bag

These easy drawstring bags are a great sewing project for learning how to sew. Even more advanced seamstresses will enjoy sewing these bags, and they are easily customizable. Read on to learn how to sew your own drawstring bag!

I first learned how to sew a drawstring bag when I was 8 years old, and it’s been one of my favorite projects ever since. I just love how versatile they are! You can make them for any season or occasion, and I’m always finding new uses for them.

From start to finish, these bags only take about 20 minutes to make. Additionally, they only require straight seams and minimal ironing, which makes them a wonderful way to practice beginning sewing skills.

Because you can easily adjust the sizing, these bags are great for using up those leftover scraps of fabric you just can’t bring yourself to throw away 🙂

Can you tell I love these bags? Keep on reading to make some of your own and to see how awesome they are!

What kind of Fabric should I use for Drawstring Bags?

If you’re just learning to sew, I’d recommend using cotton for this project. To make a transparent bag, you could use organza. Alternatively, to make a bag for your shoes, you could use linen or a lightweight canvas, in fact, really any lightweight woven fabric would be a good choice.

Tips for Sewing Drawstring Bags

• If you have a rotary cutter, you can use it to cut our your fabric. If not, you can make a pattern by cutting out a rectangle of paper to the right dimensions and pinning it to your fabric.
• Don’t skip the ironing! Often, I’m tempted to skip the ironing instructions, but they truly are important for making your finished product look neat and professional.
• Err on the side of making the casing for your ribbon wider rather than narrower. If you do this, it will be easier to thread the safety pin through later on.
• Use a zig-zag or overcasting stitch to finish the inside edges of your bag. This will prevent your fabric from fraying.

What can I use Drawstring Bags for?

Once you’ve learned how to sew a drawstring bag, you can use these bags for whatever you like! For example, you can use them for…

• Lavender sachets. Simply fill your bag with dried lavender and rice. Next, pull the drawstrings tight, and then hand-sew the opening closed. Lavender sachets also make excellent gifts and will keep your closet smelling fresh and clean.
• Hair supplies. These bag are perfect for keeping all your hair ties, bobby pins, and hair clips in one place.
• Sewing supplies. You can create your own sewing kit by filling a bag with needles, thread, pins, scissors, and buttons, so that you’ll always be prepared for unexpected wardrobe emergencies!
• Gift Bags. While you could give a drawstring bag as a gift itself, it would also make a nice gift bag. You’re giving your friend 2 gifts in one!

Tools you will need:

To sew these drawstring bags you will need

• Sewing Machine
• Iron
• Scissors
• Safety Pin
• Cutting Mat
• Rotary Cutter (optional)

Materials you will need

When learning how to sew a drawstring bag, you will need

• 1/4 yard of fabric
• 1/2-3/4 yard of ribbon
• Matching thread

Instructions for Sewing a Drawstring Bag

Cutting your fabric

Cut 2 rectangles out of your fabric. For a larger bag, cut them 15 1/2″ by 10″. If you want a medium bag, cut them 9 1/2″ by 6 1/2″, and if you want a small bag, cut them 7 1/2″ by 4″. If your fabric is directional, make sure that the pattern is facing upright.

Make a 1/4″ cut 3″ from the top of your fabric on each side. You should now have 2 cuts on each piece of fabric.

Sewing your bag

Place one of your rectangles right side down on the table. First, fold over the top 3″ on one side of your rectangle from the top to where you made the 1/4″ cut, and press it with an iron and then sew a 1/4″ hem.

Next, repeat for the other side, and then repeat for the other rectangle. You should now have 2 rectangles with the top 3″ hemmed on both sides. Next, using an overcasting stitch to finish the top edge of both your rectangles. At this point, it should look like the pictures below.

Place your rectangles right sides down on the table. Fold the top 1 1/2″ of one rectangle down, and then press it with an iron. Next, beginning on one side of the rectangle, sew 1/4″ away from the finished edge of the fabric from one side of the rectangle to the other.

Now, sew across the top of the rectangle again, this time 1/4″ away from the seam you just sewed. This is making a casing for the ribbon. Repeat for the other rectangle.

Pin the rectangles right sides together. Next, starting and stopping underneath the first seam you sewed, sew down around the edges of the bag. After this, use an overcasting stitch to finish the edges.

Turn the bag right side out, and attach your ribbon to the safety pin. Thread the safety pin through the casing on one of the rectangles and pull the safety pin through, and then without cutting the ribbon, thread it through the second casing.

Cut and knot the ends of your ribbon. Next, if you want, you can thread another piece of ribbon through the casing starting at the opposite side, which will make your bag close tighter. You can also add a button to your bag by threading your ribbon through a button before tying it off.

You’re finished! Enjoy using your new drawstring bag!

Want to keep practicing your sewing skills? Find more projects and tutorials here!

What did you use your drawstring bag for? Let me know in the comments section below!