How To Make A Drawstring Bag
Free Sewing Tutorials By Sewing Bee Fabrics
This drawstring bag pattern is perfect for a school sports bag or swimming bag because of it’s easy pull string top and it’s waterproof lining. To find out how to make your own easy drawstring bag pattern, and how to sew it together you can either watch the sew-a-long video tutorial or scroll down for full step by step instructions.
You will need:
A lining fabric – I used Polyurethane Laminate Fabric
An outer fabric – I used Patterned Cotton Fabric
It is also helpful but not essential to have a knit foot/walking foot/Teflon foot. Check out our guide to see more tips on how to sew PUL fabric. You can also see our sewing machine feet range or our guide on sewing machine feet.
Drawstring Bag Pattern
To make your pattern, you first need to decide how big you want your bag. Mine was 35cm (14 inches) high by 30cm (12 inches). It was made for a 5-year-old, so for an older child, you may need to make a bigger drawstring sports bag for them. Simply increase these sizes as required. Then add a tab on top which is approximately 5cm high (2 1/2 inches) and 1cm (1/2 inch) narrower on each side than the bag width.
How To Sew A Drawstring Bag
Cut out 2 in your lining fabric and 2 in your outer material. Place them as an outer bag and a lining bag with the pattern sides together and sew around the outer edge of the outer cotton layer ignoring the tab. To turn the corners, stop your machine with the needle down, lift the presser foot and swivel the fabric before lowering the presser foot and continuing.
Repeat with the lining fabric leaving a gap at the centre of the bottom but ideally switch to a knit foot or walking foot or Teflon foot if you are sewing PUL fabric with the laminated sides facing outwards. The lamination tends to stick to a normal sewing machine presser foot, causing a slight drag. This causes a slight stretch as you sew on the top fabric layer causing the top and bottom to move out of synch. You can still use a universal needle and straight stitch as this is a much more stable fabric than the likes of jersey (which would benefit from a double needle and/or zigzag stitch). In a lining position under a non-stretch cotton, the polyurethane laminate fabric will not be subjected to stretch in it’s day to day function either.
Now turn your lining layer the right way around and place it inside the outer cotton layer so that both of the patterned sides face each other. This time we are going to join together the tops of the 2 bag shapes by sewing the outer edge of the tabs to each other.
If you sew the fabric with the polyurethane layer facing downwards, then you can use a standard presser foot.
Because the cotton fabric is prone to fraying, a zigzag stitch or overlock stitch around the edge will prevent this. If you have an overlocker (aka serger) then brilliant, use it. If not, an overcast foot lets you sew along the edge of your fabric keeping a perfect zigzag over the fabric edge. If you don’t have this either you can sew a zigzag stitch near the edge instead.
Next, turn the bag through the hole so the patterns face outwards, making sure all corners are poked fully out (a chopstick works well for that!).
Then sew closed the hole – a hand-sewn invisible stitch aka ladder stitch will hide your hole the best.
Poke your PUL lining half back inside the outer cotton fabric and flatten it out.
Fold down the top tab on each side and pin in place before stitching the edge of the tab down – do not sew the sides of the tabs down – we are creating a tunnel for the drawstring.
Next, tie your pull cord to a safety pin and pass it through the tunnel. The safety pin makes it much easier to grab the end and move it along.
Once you have been through both sides and made a big loop, tie the cord at the desired length then snip off the ends. I prefer to poke the knot into the centre of the tunnel out of sight.
Then you are done and ready to show everyone your DIY drawstring bag.
If you have made a drawstring bag, I would love to hear how you made it and what your favourite use for drawstring bags are.
Thank you for this pattern and instructions. They were so easy to follow. I just made a padded drawstring bag following your instructions. I want to use it for my employer-supplied headphones & stand so I can take them to and from work without them being damaged. See my result at my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DP.craftsbysarah
I’m so pleased it came out so well! I love your bag!
This is wonderful! The fabrics you used are fantastic, and I like the way you made the fold over tab, which is so much easier than how I’ve always made drawstring bags! 🙂 Lisa
Thank you! So pleased you liked it 😀