How to make a drawstring bag

Make a drawstring bag to carry your essentials with this quick fat quarter project from Jennie Jones.

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Jennie Jones

Published: August 3, 2020 at 8:00 am

Pack everything you need for a summer adventure or the first day back at school in Jennie Jones’ patch-pocket drawstring bag. Let’s go!

Notes

You will need

1 fat quarter of fabric – we've used Summer Balloons from Sweet Escape by Dashwood Studio.
Contrast fabric for the pocket: 10x14cm (4x5½in) – we've used ZigZag Corn Yellow by Premier Prints.

Seam allowance

Use a 1.5cm (⁵⁄₈in) seam allowance unless otherwise stated

You will need:

Fabric (See project notes)
Bias binding (approx 25cm (10in))
Thick piping cord (2.5 metres)

Cutting out

Step 1

From the fat quarter cut two pieces 49x28cm (19³⁄₈x11in) for the bag.

From the bias binding cut one piece 12cm (4¾in) long – for the pocket edging and two pieces 6cm (2³⁄₈in) long for loops.

Cut the cord in two equal lengths.

Preparing the binding

Step 1

Fold the pocket bias binding around the top long edges of the pocket and topstitch.

Step 2

Fold the lengths of the loop bias binding in half lengthways and topstitch.

How to make a drawstring bag

Attaching the pocket

Step 1

Fold the raw edges of the pocket piece and bias binding under by 1cm (³⁄₈in) to the wrong side (WS) and press.

Step 2

With right sides (RS) up, place the pocket 8cm (3¹⁄₈in) up from the bottom edge of a bag piece, centred across, and pin.

How to make a drawstring bag

Step 3

Topstitch the sides and bottom.

Adding the loops

Step 1

Fold one of the loops in half widthways and tack the short ends together.

Step 2

Place the pocketed bag piece RS up then place a loop on top of the bottom edge, matching raw edges, 1cm (³⁄₈in) in from one side. Tack into place.

Step 3

Repeat to place then tack the other loop in the same position in the opposite bottom corner of the same bag piece.

Assembling the bag

Step 1

Place the bag pieces RS facing and pin together along the bottom and sides.

Step 2

Stitch the pieces together down the sides and across the bottom, but leaving the top 10cm (4in) of each side unstitched.

Step 3

Turn the unstitched sections at the top of the bag to the WS and press.

Making the casings

Step 1

Turn the raw side edges of the unstitched sections at the top under by 1.5cm (⁵⁄₈in) to the WS and topstitch to hem.

Step 2

Press the top edges of the bag front and back under by 1.5cm (⁵⁄₈in) to the WS.

Step 3

Fold over again so the first pressed fold meets the top of the side seams.

Step 4

Pin and then topstitch along the bottom edge to hold the casings in place.

Adding the cord

Step 1

Cut the cord in half then thread one piece through the casing all the way around, starting and finishing in the same place.

Step 2

Thread both ends of the cord through the loop on the bottom of the bag that’s on the same side then knot the two ends of the cord.

Step 3

Repeat this with the other piece of cord but starting and finishing at the opening of the casing on the opposite side seam and knotting it though the other bottom loop.

Looking for more bag patterns to make? Try our free messenger bag pattern.

Jennie Jones

Designer Maker

Jennie Jones discovered sewing when she had children and her work is featured regularly in Simply Sewing magazine. Her Fast Fat Quarter designs show makers how to craft modern gifts, accessories and homewares using just one or two pieces of fabric. She shares a mix of handmade loveliness with a bit of vintage thrown in on her Instagram @thestitchinghut. Jenny harbors a fairly serious fabric buying habit

How to make a drawstring bag

Notes

You will need

Seam allowance

You will need:

Cutting out

Step 1

Preparing the binding

Step 1

Step 2

Attaching the pocket

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Adding the loops

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Assembling the bag

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Making the casings

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Adding the cord

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

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