If you are in need of a gift bag and you have only 10 minutes to stitch it, this drawstring bag tutorial is exactly what you need!
These bags are so much fun to stitch and you can sew them from fabric pieces in any size. Once you learn the technique, just check your stash, pair fabric rectangles and start sewing drawstring bags.
Drawstring bag size: 5 3/4” x 8 1/2”
Let’s learn how to quickly sew these drawstring bags.
Materials needed:
- 2 rectangular pieces of fabric, one for the outer bag and one for the lining; my pieces measure 10” x 13”. Use quilt cotton weight.
- 16” piece of ribbon or tape, assorted with your fabric.
Place the two fabric pieces right sides together and stitch along the longest edges – top and bottom edges in this picture. Stitch at 1/4” from the edge.
Press the seams allowances to one side of the fabric and turn the piece right side out. Your piece should look like a tube.
Fold the piece so you have about 1 1/2” (it could be smaller or bigger, as desired) of the lining showing on top. Press on the top and bottom edges.
Fold the piece in half as shown. Add the ribbon just below the joining seam between the two fabrics. Keep it in place with a pin.
Stitch at 1/4” from the edges as shown. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.
This is the right side of the bag – don’t worry, everything is correct!
Stitching done along the raw edges.
Trim off the seam allowances to about 1/8”. Press.
Turn the piece on the other side ( lining side out). Pull out the ribbon so you don’t catch it in the next seam you have to stitch. Press the seams well.
Sew again, ¼” or 3/8” away from the edge so that the seam allowances on the other side are enclosed into the seam. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seams.
Turn the piece right side out and give it a final press. Cut the ribbon in half.
This type of seam is called French seam and – stitched first on the right side of bag
You can use pieces in any size, rectangle pieces are better than squares, the bags are more spacious.
If you have squares from layer cake packs, here is how it looks a drawstring bag stitched from two 10” squares. It measures about 4 1/2” x 9”.
I hope you will give this drawstring bag tutorial a try! It’s fun, easy and helps you stitch from your stash!
Do you have home decor fabric in your stash and don’t know what to use it for?
Pair the French seam you learned above with the flat-felled seam- another fabulous finishing seam that you must know – and sew quickly bags like this. Learn more about this pattern here.
Happy sewing!
Gracias por los tutoriales. Un saludo desde Chile
looks interesting
Terrific tutorial Geta – thank you.
Love that little bag, thank you for sharing. Happy Christmas and wishing you a wonderful new year 🌲😀
Thanks Geta. I have a few gift that would fit in one of these.Also Thank-you for all of the free Gifts you have given all year. Seasons Greetings to you and yours.From NL,CANADA
Wonderful project and great tutorial just in time for making Christmas gifts.
Love all you share with us, and look forward to 2019 tutorials.
Wishing you and the family a beautiful Christmas, Happy New Year bringing
in good luck, good health, and lots of happiness. Missouri
I appreciate your tutorials. They are very explicit and direct in the directions. Plus your colours make me motivated to try.
I really like this bag but prefer that the drawstring be encased especially when making larger bags. I’m sure it would preclude using a French seam unless an extra piece of fabric is added to create a casing. It will likely make sense once I’m doing it, but your instructions for this option would be bonus. Thank you for sharing an already wonderful pattern.
Agree!
You can still do a French seam, make a buttonhole opening in the outer fabric only, opposite your French seams. Pin your ribbon in place so you don’t stitch through it. Sew your ribbon channel. Happy sewing!
I’m fairly new at sewing, watched your tutorial gave it a try and was a bit confused at first but I did it and I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. now back to making a few more
I had ordered two patterns from you on Craftsy. Today I received an email from you with so many interesting ideas and bag patterns. Wow! I am amazed of all the knowledge you share. I want to order some items. Thank you so much.
What simple directions. I was expecting more complicated directions to have the lining showing at the top of the bag. Thanks you for sharing!