Mini Tutorial: A Draw String Bag
I love these bags! They can be made in no time at all (though maybe not quite as quickly as in the video!) and can serve so many purposes! They make great gift bags, PE bags and even make storage for your sewing supplies! So what do you need….
Fabric
For this version of the bag I used:
2x pieces of main fabric 10” by 12”
2x pieces of lining fabric 10” by 12” and
2x pieces of fabric for the channel 9” by 2.5”
You also need something to use as a drawstring, I used 2 pieces of piping cord measuring roughly 25” each.
You can make these bags whatever size you like and what ever proportions you like - just make the channel width 1” smaller than your main fabric width and you are onto a winner!
So how do you put them together? You can watch the video above or follow the step by step instructions below.
Step By Step
Iron over 1/2” to the wrong side of each of the shorter sides of the channel fabric (four sides in total on the 2 pieces of fabric) and sew in place.
Iron both pieces in half lengthways
Lay a main piece of fabric right side up in front of you and position one of your channel pieces in the centre of the top edge with the raw edges matching and the folded edge pointing into the fabric. Pin or clip in place.
Lay a piece of lining fabric right side down over the top of the main piece of fabric sandwiching the channel between them and pinning or clipping in place along the top edge.
Sew along the top edge using a 1/2” seam allowance and backstitching at the start and end of your line of stitches.
Open out the fabric to make a large rectangle with one side of lining fabric, one side of main fabric and the channel sticking out of the middle.
Repeat with the other pieces of main, channel and lining fabric.
Lay one of your large rectangles right side up and push the channel towards the lining fabric. Lay the other large rectangle right-side down on top matching the lining fabric with the lining fabric, the main fabric with the main fabric and having both channels pointing towards the lining fabric in the centre.
pin or clip around all four edges marking a 3” gap in the shorter edge of the lining fabric to leave for turning.
Sew around the edges using a 1/2“ seam allowance and backstitching either side of the gap.
Clip your corners.
Turn in the right way, pushing out the corners with a chopstick or pen with a lid on..
Close up the gap by folding in the seam allowances and stitching 1/8’ along the edge.
Push the lining fabric into the main fabric, your channel will pop up from the top of the main fabric.
Now all you have to do is thread through your drawstrings through the channel. Attach a safety pin to one end of your drawstring and use that to thread the string through the channel, start from one end and loop the string all the way around (through both the channels on either side of the bag) and tie the 2 ends in a knot. Then repeat with the other drawstring starting from the opposite side of the bag so your knots end up either side.
Hey presto! You have a very handy and cute drawstring bag! Good skills my friend! Reward yourself with a lovely cup of tea and a biscuit!
