Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Drawstring Bag Tutorial

If you read my last post, you will know that I needed to make 20 drawstring bags this week for an upcoming event.  After creating the pattern and making a couple of mock-ups to get the measurements right for the size I needed, I made a schedule for getting them done in the time frame I was working with.


One day I did all the cutting and clipped together the body pieces readying them for sewing, which was Tuesday's task.  The 'body' should measure 12 x 12.5, with the fold at the bottom and the clips on the side.

For each bag, I cut:

one 12 x 25-inch rectangle for the body (If fabric is directional, take this into consideration when cutting.)  

in addition, for each bag I cut ...

one 2.5 x 23-inch strip for the facing (I folded this piece in half making it 1.25 x 23 and pressed it.)

one 5.5 x 11-inch rectangle for the loops (I turned under a quarter inch on both sides and stitched it down.  Then cut each in half into a 2.25 x 11-inch piece.  That piece then got folded in half and pressed with the finished piece measuring approximately 1.12 x 11) Each bag needs two of these pieces which will be the loops.

The next day I stitched up the body pieces using French seams.


I clipped the 'loop' pieces to each side of the bags (front and back)


Next, I fit the facing piece to the size of the bag opening, stitched the facing closed making a circle and then clipped it on over the loop pieces.


I stitched it all down, turned it, top stitched it and pressed it all.

For the last step I ran the cording through creating a 'draw string' for each bag.

I loved the way these turned out and can't wait to show you how they will be used for an upcoming event.

These make up really fast and once I got the design down and the kinks worked out, I speed through the sewing process.  This is definitely a method that I will use over and over, in fact, I think I will make up several to go in my gift trunk for gift giving purposes.

What's next in my sewing world?  Well, it's time to get the summer wardrobe out, see what I have, what I can restyle if I didn't wear it last summer and what I need to add.

What are you stitching up and or creating?

mrs. patsi @ Grandma's Got a Sewing Machine

4 comments:

  1. So cute! Handy, too. I just cut an old bath towel into 10" squares and zigzagged around the corners to extend the life of a much worn and repaired towel just a bit longer. I'll use them for rags. I also made a key fob and a zipper bag this week.
    Blessings from Harvest Lane Cottage

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    1. Laura, that's a good use of tattered and worn old towels! I'll have to remember that! I have key fobs on my list of things I want to make too! Do you have a picture of yours on your blog?

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