Drawstring Bag Tutorial

I often have scrappy bits of bias tape hanging around and this is one of the ways that I have found to use them. Note: The bias tape I've used is not actually cut on the bias....it is all cut on the straight grain. For more information on how to make bias tape, there are great instructions here.

Warning: There are lots of photos and lots of thread colour changes involved in this tutorial.

Disclaimer: I'm an aussie but this I've used quilting rulers to make these drawstring bags so all of my measurements are in inches (sorry about that)! I will try to convert to centimetres as I go along.

Step 1:

Cut 2 pieces of fabric for the outer bag - 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches - 24.1 cm x 24.1 cm

Cut 2 pieces of fabric for the inner bag - 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches - 24.1 cm x 24.1 cm

Step 2:

Place right sides together (separately) for the inner and outer.

For the outer bag, sew along 3 sides using a 1/4 inch seam (0.6 cm)

For the inner bag, sew along 3 sides using a slightly larger seam allowance, but remember to leave a small opening at the bottom, and backstitch at the edges of the opening.

Step 3:

Outer bag - clip the bottom corners to take away the bulkiness, turn right side out and iron flat.

Step 4:

Make bias tape following the instructions for your bias tape maker.

I cut a strip 2 inches wide (5.1 cm) x 18 inches long (45.7 cm) and used my Clover 25 Bias Tape maker.

Step 5:

Turn the ends of the bias tape over and iron flat

Step 6:

Pin the bias tape onto the outer bag (1 inch from the top of the bag) - 2.5 cm from top.

Step 7:

Sew the bias tape onto the outer bag along the top edge and the bottom edge. Don't sew along the end as this is where the drawstring will thread through later.

Step 8:

Place the outer bag inside the inner bag - the right side of the outer bag will be facing the right side of the inner bag.

Step 9:

Secure the top edges together using pins or clips.

Step 10:

Check that the layers are even.

Step 11:

Topstitch along the top using a 1/4 inch seam allowance (0.6 cm)

Step 12:

Pull the outer bag through the small gap at the bottom of the inner bag

Step 13:

Stitch the gap closed at the bottom of the inner bag

Step 14:

Push the inner bag back inside the outer bag and topstitch very close to the edge.

Step 15:

It's now time to make the drawstring. You can really use anything you like for a drawstring but I'm using bias tape again.

Cut a strip 2 inches wide (5.1 cm) x 38 inches long (96.5 cm).

Make the bias tape and then fold in half (keeping the raw edges inside) and iron flat.

Step 16:

Stitch the bias tape closed along the outer edge and the ends.

Step 17:

Attach a safety pin and thread the drawstring through the open channel on the bag.

Step 18:

Just to ensure that the drawstring doesn't get tugged out acidentally, it's a good idea to stitch it in place on the opposite side to the channel opening.

Step 19:

The drawstring is now securely stitched into place

Step 20:

The finished product!

These can be made in many different sizes so just scale up the measurements to suit the size that you need.