This easy drawstring bag sews up quick, and they are ideal for a beginning sewer.

If you feel sewing is intimidating, this is the perfect project for you.

All the seams are simple straight lines, and you only need a few supplies.

It's a great way to use up scraps. You can also use fat quarters for these fun small bags.

HOW TO MAKE A DRAWSTRING BAG - A BEGINNER SEWING PROJECT

I taught a group of 12-13 year old girls how to make these fabric drawstring bags. Some of them had never sewn before.

You can do this too! I'll walk you through each step.

These are smaller bags and would be great to use homemade gift bags.

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SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR A DIY DRAWSTRING BAG

Below are the supplies and tools you will need for this project.

12" X 14" piece of fabric
4" X 4" piece fabric for applique
wonder under or heat n bond
yarn, cord or ribbon
safety pin
scissors
sewing machine
cookie cutter (to use as a stencil for appliqué)

three drawstring bags, two red, one green

HOW TO SEW A DRAWSTRING BAG

Begin with a 12" X 14" piece of fabric.

Note for a smaller or larger bag, simply adjust the size of the fabric piece.

Fold and press 1/4" down from the long 14" side.

Fold and press another 1" on the same side. This will make a pocket for the drawstring.

For now, unfold the folds.

Fold your piece of fabric in half with right sides together. It should be folded so it's 12" X 7".

Sew along the bottom and side. Leave an opening from 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" from the top edge.

**Now that we're sewing, a quick word about back stitching. Typically, when sewing projects, you will want to start and end each seam with a back stitch.

To do a back stitch, you begin sewing for about 1/2 inch. Then reverse and go backwards over your stitching for 1/2 inch.

Then sew to the end of your seam and backstitch again. This basically knots your thread so that it won't come undone. **

sewing the side seams of the drawstring bag

Clip the corner.

Fold over the previously pressed area - make sure to keep the seam allowance spread open so that you can thread the string through.

Yeah....I learned this the hard way.

Now sew along the bottom edge of the top fold to create the cord casing, as pictured above. Make sure not to sew your bag closed!

MAKING A DRAWSTRING FOR THE BAG

I chose to use yarn instead of cord since I had it on hand. Ribbon could also be used in place of cord.

Cut 3 pieces of yarn 20" long. Knot one end.

Braid and knot the other end.

Using a large safety pin, thread the yarn through the opening in the bag.

Knot together the two ends of the drawstring. (I untied the previous knots.)

HOW TO ADD AN APPLIQUE

You could stop there, but I wanted to personalize the bags a little. I grabbed some cookie cutters to use as stencils.

Iron Wonder Under to a small piece of fabric.

Trace the desired shape onto the paper.

Cut out and remove paper backing.

Place on bag and iron into place.

There you have it, a fun little drawstring bag.

These would be perfect little car bags for kids, just put a mini coloring book and some crayons, or little notebook and pencil.

What would you use your bag for?

MORE EASY SEWING PROJECTS

Don't forget to Pin it!

How to Make a Drawstring Bag - Beginner Sewing Project