A Drawstring Bag Tutorial

I know there are a lot of drawstring bag tutorials out there, so why am I writing this tutorial? I have yet to find one that satisfies all of my drawstring bag requirements. So in the last couple of years, I have created my own way of making a bag and when I went to make one a couple of weeks ago, I had a hard time remembering my process. So probably more for myself than anyone else, I am writing a tutorial - I hope someone else can use it too!
With this tutorial, you will be able to make a regular drawstring bag, or a drawstring backpack!
Let's get started! First, you need to choose and cut your fabric. You need outer fabric and inner fabric as well as lining fabric (plain flannelette).


Cut the outer fabric 10" by 14" two times. Cut your inner fabric 10" by 12" two times. Cut the flannelette 14" by 12" two times. (Obviously, you can alter these to make bigger or smaller bags. Just make sure the inner fabric & lining is 2" shorter on one side than the outer fabric.)

Time to sew! First you need to sew your inner fabric to your lining fabric. Layer your fabric as follows: lining, inner fabric, inner fabric (right sides facing), lining.

Pin one of the short sides and sew. **You will need to leave an opening along this side so you will be able to turn your bag!!** I used 1/4" seams throughout the project.



Line up your fabric with all the right sides facing as follows: Outer, inner, inner, outer.


Fold this fabric in half and pin.


You need to mark where your drawstring holes will be.


Sew up one long side, the short side (that isn't the fold!) and back down the other long side. **DO NOT SEW in between where you have marked the lines.** Make sure you back stitch on both sides of the opening!

Using the opening in the inner fabric, turn inside out. You should have an extra 2" of outer fabric on the inside of your bag. Iron flat.


Pull out the bottom of the inner fabric so you can sew up your turning opening. I would probably use a more discreet color of thread than I did, but I was too lazy to change the thread on my machine!!


Stuff your inner fabric back in the bag. Now you need to sew all around the top of the bag on either side of the drawstring openings.




Time for your strings! You need two separate strings - I usually just measure as I go. Thread one string through one side of the bag all the way through so that it comes back out the same hole. Do the same with the other string through the other hole.




OK, here is finishing option #1 - simply tie off the strings and you have a regular drawstring bag:





OR, you can make a backpack! For this you will need a grommet tool and 11mm grommets. (I found mine at Walmart - cheap!) Because I am not the brightest, I thought I would photograph the whole grommet process so I don't have to read the instructions so carefully every time!

Use the grommet tool to make the hole: (Oh and don't do it on your hardwood floor unless you want your husband to come and yell at you. But then, when he does, have him use the hammer to make the holes, because I wasn't quite strong enough to get through all the fabric!!)


Ta-Da! A nice, clean hole! (You need two, one on each bottom corner of your bag.)

Now insert your grommet into the hole from the bottom. If you have a right side, make sure that you have the wrong side facing you.



Place the eyelet on top of the grommet barrel.


Use the grommet tool and a hammer to finish the job! Again, make sure this is the wrong side, because it will be the ugly side of your grommet. Here is what the finished, pretty side looks like!



Thread the strings through your grommets and knot.


Tape the ends of the string and burn them so they won't unravel. This didn't work very well with the string I had this time, so I also used fray stop. We'll see if it lasts!


Voila! You have a drawstring backpack!


I hope that all makes sense - sometimes it's hard to put into words what to do! Let me know if you have any questions or tips to make the bag better or easier!