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Home » Sewing » Sewing Bags

How To Make A Drawstring Bag

Feb 2, 2022

See how to make a drawstring bag. Use up your old scrap fabric and make these easy sew drawstring pouches - adding the sweet corner and casing details will make it unique - and it's so easy!! Scroll down for the free tutorial.

These drawstring bags are so practical for anything you can think of: diy treasure pouches, bags to store tiny items, school pouches for art accessories (like those crayons that never stay in the original box? Or sharpies scattered all around the school bag?) These are perfect to store produce from your garden, too! Oh, and please remind me to get me some calico to make bread bags.

how to make a drawstring bag

Do you want an ad-free, printable copy of this online tutorial? Find it here for just $3. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it. ------ Or get the BUNDLE with ALL the Printable Tutorials - current and future ones!

link to printable pattern bundle

This post may contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support. Check out THESE tutorials for easy bags:

  • No time to make a lined bag? This Super FAST Diy Gift Bag - In Minutes!
  • How To ADD pretty drawstring stoppers
  • and THIS is a different type of a drawstring basket - so cute, and NO threading at all!

Why You'll Love this drawstring bag

Many people know how to make a simple drawstring bag. But this one is ... special. With the lovely corner accents, everybody will love them - and I made sure you can sew it even if you've never yet made a drawstring bag!

Check out a quick slide show for a few glimpses of these beautiful prints - and a bit on the drawstring bag how-to:

My kids were super happy when they caught a glimpse of my latest post package. They don't usually pay attention to my fabric, but hey, these were the dinosaur and fossil prints coming to our home! For this project, I had let my kids pick their favorite prints. I myself couldn't have chosen better! Since I love convenient storage (check out all these diy storage solutions!) I promised to make them a few treasure hunt pockets. Sewing time it was, immediately!

The prints are all from the Riley Blake Designs' Fossil Rim collection (you can buy them here).

How To Make A Lined Drawstring Bag

This time, I've made treasure pouches for little explorers. And I'm hoping my little dinosaur explorers will be happy to keep their tiny dinos neatly tucked into these diy drawstring bags.

three diy drawstring bags

If you like this post, you'll want to see these too:

  • How To Make A Hanging Storage Basket
  • Mini Pouch Free Pattern
  • How To Sew A Cosmetic Bag - Free Template
flat drawstring bag with corner accents

Finished Size

Now, on to the diy draw string bag: the first batch I made were 8" tall and 7" wide (that would be 18 x 21 cm). They are wide enough so all the little treasures can be easily spotted.

Supplies:

  • exterior, lining and accent fabric: less than a fat quarter altogether (you can use scraps, see measurements below)
  • optional: light-to-medium interfacing like Pellon SF101 Shape Flex or Vilene G700 if you want to add stability
  • twine, ribbon or cord (1 yard/metre per bag)

Cutting Directions

  1. Cut from outer fabric: For bag EXTERIOR: 12 ½" by 7 ½" (1 piece)
  2. From lining fabric, cut:
    1. For bag LINING: 10 ½" by 7 ½" (2 pieces),
    2. For CORNER accents: 4" by 4" (1 piece) - cut diagonally into 2 triangles
  3. Cut from accent fabric:
    1. For CASING: 6 ½" by 2 ½" (2 pieces)
how to make a drawstring bag

Instead of accent fabric, you can also use lining fabric. This diy drawstring bag can be made with anything from 1 up to 5 different fabric prints.

Sewing Steps:

PART 1 - Prepare and Stitch the Corner Accents

Start with the corner accents: turn under the two SHORTER edges of each triangle by ⅜" (1 cm) and press, notching the corner a bit to make a clean corner.

how to make a drawstring bag

Take your outer piece and fold it in half crosswise (not lengthwise!), then press to get the center crease. Make sure to keep the width of 7 ½"! The folded rectangle will measure 6 ¼" by 7 ½".

navy blue piece of fabric folded in half

Unfold and place the corner accents on the fold line, using the center crease as guide for placing: place the triangles so the long edge (the one NOT turned under) is aligned with the sides. Topstitch over the turned-under edges, attaching the corner accents to the outer fabric.

how to make a drawstring bag

PART 2 - Prepare The Casing

Now take the two casing pieces (each 2 ½" by 6 ½") and hem the short sides, turning them under by ¼" and stitching. You'll get this:

two rectangular fabric pieces with short edges turned under

Fold them lengthwise wrong sides together and press.

PART 3- Sew 1st Casing Piece into the Bag

Grab the outer piece and place it on a flat surface right side up, then place one casing piece (folded WST) with the raw edges aligned with the top, and then place one lining piece on top, the raw edge aligned.

layering the fabric pieces to sew a drawstring bag

Pin and stitch using a ¼" seam allowance.

how to make a drawstring bag

PART 4 - Sew The other piece of Casing To The other side

Repeat on the opposite edge of the outer fabric piece: place the outer piece right-side-up, then place casing on it, plus the other lining piece stacked right-side-down on top. Pin and stitch, again using a ¼" seam allowance.

how to make a drawstring bag

This is what you get - all pieces assembled:

diy draw string bag

PART 5 - Sew The Drawstring Bag Together

Fold in half, right-sides-together. Stitch along the sides, leaving a few inches in the bottom of the lining, like this:

how to make a drawstring bag

6 - Turn And Close The Gap

Turn right side out, close the turning hole and press.

how to sew a drawstring bag

When done, I usually bury the thread ends. Here's a popular how-to that can help you with neat seam finishing:

How To Finish Seam The Neat Way

How To Finish Seam The Neat Way

Tuck the lining in - since it's longer, 2 inches will peek out, making the drawstring bag look so much nicer! (This is the feature I love most!) Feel free to topstitch the top edge for even a neater finish.

7 - Insert The Drawstrings

Cut the cord into two pieces of 20" (50 cm) or a bit less and use a safety pin or a bodkin to guide the first cord through the entire drawstring casing. Both ends of the cord will come out of the same opening. Knot the ends of the drawstring or tie them together to prevent them from slipping through again. Repeat with the second cord and the second opening:

diy draw string bag

If you have never yet made a cinch bag with double drawstrings, take a look at a separate tutorial for how to put two drawstrings in a drawstring bag: How To Insert Drawstring - Quick & Easy.

Your diy draw string bag is finished! Fill it with goodies - or fossil stones and tiny dinosaurs - and go play!

how to sew a drawstring bag

I couldn't stop at one, so I made a few more. Such a fun project!

I will probably need to make two bigger ones for the bigger dinosaurs too, and since these cute bags are so easy to enlarge, no problem. I love all and any excuses to sew, and sometimes easy projects are so therapeutic!

What Are The Uses For A drawstring Bag like this one?

I'm glad you asked! Drawstring bags are fun to make, and they’re also handy and useful:

  • A drawstring bag is a fun craft project for all ages. once sewn, hand your kids fabric pens and let tehm decorate their own!
  • A bag like this could be used to hold craft supplies.
  • gym bag!
  • A larger drawstring bag is great to store sporting equipment.
  • A drawstring bag is a simple way to pack a few clothes or other possessions while traveling. The bag is simple to make and the drawstring keeps everything inside the bag.
  • great for storing loose toys such as Lego! Make them larger to store a whole Lego collection.
  • a stylish alternative to plastic grocery bags!
  • and last but not least, it's also a convenient and functional way to add a retail-ready, reusable bag to your business. You can even have your logo printed on them.

I'm hoping you've enjoyed my tutorial on how to sew a drawstring bag. If you want to, check out more stuff I've got to sew, on the Free tutorials page here. Or check out more drawstring bags ideas to sew.

Make sure to save this tutorial for later:

how to sew a drawstring bag

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drawstring bag

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patti A.

    November 13, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    Just have probably a dumb question, but here goes. How much bigger would you make the triangles for the corners? This is my favorite pattern to make, so glad you posted the bigger size.

    Reply
    • Damjana

      November 13, 2021 at 7:28 pm

      Patti hi,

      no hard rule here, and you can just leave the triangle size the same or add an inch to each side. But as long as the placement is at the correct corner, you can also just eyeball the size. Happy drawstring bag sewing!

      Reply
      • Heather

        August 30, 2022 at 2:33 pm

        Use these as treat bags for my children's birthday party. So cute and fast to make so it wasn't a problem making multiples. I kind of wished more kids came so I could make more of them!

        Reply
  2. Kellie

    October 11, 2021 at 11:30 pm

    I love your website and blog. Please tell me where you got the beautiful fabrics used for this project?

    Reply
    • Damjana

      October 12, 2021 at 7:01 am

      Kellie hi,

      the prints are all from the Riley Blake Designs' Fossil Rim collection.

      Reply
  3. Georgia

    May 30, 2021 at 10:10 pm

    My sister and I made these for our siblings for Christmas 2020 - everyone was so impressed (we're 15 and 13)! They turned out so pretty!

    Reply
  4. Jackie

    December 19, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    Thank you for making the instructions so very easy to follow! I made the bag a little larger and also incorporated some machine embroidery. Turned out very cute!

    Reply
    • Damjana

      December 19, 2020 at 3:47 pm

      Jackie hi,

      so happy to hear that. I'd love to see your embroidered drawstring bag, please tag me @applegreencottage if you post it on Instagram.
      xoxo,
      Damjana

      Reply
  5. Lauren Zaubi

    April 30, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    This takes a gift bag to a whole new level!! Going to be whipping these up with my scraps - thanks for a great tutorial!

    Reply
  6. nanajan

    December 03, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Where can I send the photos?

    Reply
    • Damjana

      December 03, 2019 at 5:23 pm

      Hi,
      do you use Facebook? You can post anything you've made in our FB group! We're a friendly, creative bunch of people, join in! Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AppleGreenCottage/

      Alternatively, feel free to send them ot me to damjana@applegreencottage.com
      Can't wait to see what you sew! Thanks,

      Reply
  7. nanajan

    December 03, 2019 at 11:59 am

    Great pattern and I love the way the lining ‘pops’ up but I’d like to make some larger ones; old age. I can work out dimensions for width but for the life of me I can’t work out the length of the lining pieces. I would like to make them approximately 9.5-10” finished

    Reply
    • Damjana

      December 03, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      nanajan hi,
      I can't find my drafts, so I did the calculation again, hope it works 🙂 For a 10" tall drawstring bag, your outer piece should be 16 1/2 inch tall, and each of the 2 lining pieces should be 12 1/2 inch. width is easy: just instead of using the 7 1/2 inch width for all the pieces, I'd probably use 2 inches larger, that would be 9 1/2 inch. Hope this helps, and I'd love to see your pouches when you finish them!

      xoxo, Damjana

      Reply
  8. Trudy

    October 02, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    So cute, Love to make these soon. They would make a cute bag for kids in hospital that I do quilts for.

    Reply
    • Damjana

      November 02, 2019 at 8:49 am

      Trudy,

      a great idea!
      xoxo,

      Reply
  9. martachka

    October 02, 2019 at 11:25 am

    Oh, they are so cute!!!

    Reply
    • Damjana

      October 02, 2019 at 11:30 am

      Martachka hi,
      thank you, I'm glad you like them!
      xoxo,

      Reply

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