LINED DRAWSTRING BAG TUTORIAL

Dusted off the sewing machine to make some drawstring bags for our nieces for Easter, sewing bags for our older children as well but won’t be posting them here as they read my blog lol.

I did quite a bit of sewing at Christmas but none since, life happened, also at Christmas I wanted to make some of these to replace the Christmas ones we lost in the flood, didnt happen either. They are a great alternative to wrapping paper and gift bags, awesome to wrap those odd shaped gifts, and the recipient can reuse it as a gift bag or for another use.

We use these for gift giving, storage through the house and when traveling.
We even have one I made from some tie dye fabric my son and I did to resemble a rocket popsicle, it holds loose change in the summer for the Ice Cream Truck, grab and go, I don’t know about the rest of the country or world but in our town if you hear his music you grab and run or you will miss him lol.

To start you need to cut 2 pieces for the outside and 2 for the inside. I don’t use a pattern for these I just fold my outside fabric I have chosen in half and eyeball the cuts then I lay those pieces on top of my inside fabric and cut around it.

These are roughly 11 inches wide and 14 high rectangles, you could use a regular 8.5 x 11 piece of paper as a template if you feel more comfortable and they still make good sized bags.

If they have wrinkles or folds in them you will want to iron your pieces flat.
Next you want to lay your outside fabric onto of the inside fabric good sides facing each other, sew along the top of each pair of fabric and trim.

I like to iron my seams open at this point on the inside and outside, its not the end of the world if you don’t.

 

Now you want to place one of your sewn sides ontop of the other, outside pieces facing one another and same with the inside pieces, take care to line up the top seams as best as you can.
If the bottoms of the fabrics don’t line up its ok just trim them up flush.

Now before you sew your bag there is one step you need to do to create the drawstring hole.
On the outside fabric at the top you want to measure over 1 inch from the sewn line ( for bigger bags increase this )
From that mark you want to measure over 1.25 inches more ( again increasing for bigger sized bags)
Your second space you created is were you will skip sewing when you are going around, I marked it with an x in the photo, you can place a pin in it sideways to remind you as you sew around.
You need to mark like this on both sides of your outside fabric.

Also when sewing around you want to leave a big enough gap at the bottom of your liner fabric to turn your bag inside right.

Before you turn your bag cut the corners off ( all 4 side) then simply feed your bag through the opening. I use an old drum stick to push out my corners but a long dowel or even a pencil or knitting needle works.
Once your bag is inside right you want to pin along the top so that your inside is not peeking up and over.

Now you will need to sew around to create a casing for your ribbon, I hope I explain it well, its not hard really.
You want to feed the bag onto your sewing machine ( you may need to slide of your machines storage) and place the needle above the top of the casing hole you created by not sewing across.

Then use tape to create a sewing guide for the top of the bag, simply sew around keeping the top of your bag next to the tape.
ALSO NOTE YOU WANT YOUR THREAD TO BE THE COLOUR OF YOUR BAG BUT YOUR BOBBIN THE COLOUR OF YOUR INSIDE FABRIC.

Now you will do the same but place your needle to start on top of the casing hole opening at the bottom, adjust your tape over and sew around the same way.

I cut my ribbon 2.5 inches longer then the width of the finished bag side. Each sides width plus 2.5 inches multiplied by 2 ( cut two of these as well)
If the bag is 10 inches wide you want to cut your ribbon 20 inches plus 5 inches for a total of 25. Cut two of them 25 inches long.
I found this jersey type “yarn” at the dollar store and it its great for bags. I am going back and stocking up and will check to see if Michael’s has balls of it too.
Use a safety pin to feed your ribbon through, go through one side then end at the same end, pull the ends together and tie a knot at their end. Now feed the other ribbon from the opposite end.

Most ribbon is polyester and you can quickly use a lighter on the ends to melt them and prevent fraying, this “yarn” I used does not fray and would catch fire if I took heat to it lol, its jersey knit.

Pull both sides of your ribbon and your bag will close. TA DA you made a lined drawstring bag.
Lined bags are great for using up thinner see through vintage fabrics too. Or up cycle some of you unused clothing, these are great in all sizes.

Tiny ones are great for sending back permission slips and money with the kids to school.
This fabric is retro I believe from the 80’s, it screams 80’s Spring/Easter to me! Over 2 yards for $6.
My liner fabric is sometimes thrifted or often solid poly cotton blend goes on sale at the fabric store so I stock up on various colours.

SHARED AT THESE LINK PARTIES

2 CHICKS & A MOM

MAD IN CRAFTS

SEW HISTORICALLY

FLUSTER BUSTER

MY THRIFT STORE ADDICTION

OUR HOPEFUL HOME

GRANDMAS HOUSE DIY

CHA’S CRAZY CREATIONS

EMBRACING CHANGE

ARSTY FARTSY MAMA

THE PIN JUNKIE

THE PAINTED HINGE