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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Easy Sew: Drawstring Project Bag

July 11, 2016 5 Comments

Use your favorite pretty fabric to sew a drawstring bag in minutes!

Like many yarn crafters, I’ve got roughly a thousand and one works-in-progress laying about, so I regularly find myself in need of more project bags. As I knit and crochet over the years, I realized that the best project bag is nothing more than a simple rectangle with a drawstring top. You can toss the bags in your purse to keep your skeins in order, you can toss them in a suitcase, and you can easily store them with your other WIPs without worrying about yarn running amok. ;)

Every once in awhile, the odd pair of fancy shoes comes with a drawstring bag. I always hang on to those to use as project bags. But if you’re like me, you also sew a bit in addition to yarn crafting and have some gorgeous fabric that you’re dying to work with. I recently got my hands on some beautiful forest-inspired fabric designed by Bonnie Christine. The moth print in particular made me go all heart eyes the second I saw it. Since I immediately wanted to make something with it, a wee project bag was in order. Today I’m going to walk you through how I make my go-to, super-simple-to-sew project bags in mere minutes. Let’s get started!

Use your favorite pretty fabric to sew a drawstring bag in minutes!

Supplies

1/2 yd of 44-inch wide fabric per bag
1/2 yd lightweight fusible interfacing (optional)
iron
scissors
coordinating thread
sewing machine
twine
safety pin
straight pins
tape measure

Directions

The dimensions for this bag are large as I made these specifically for some larger projects I’ve currently got going. To make a smaller bag, simply alter the size of the rectangles you start with to suit your needs. Easy peasy!

Begin by cutting your fabric into two 18×22 inch rectangles. If you’d like to create a sturdier bag, also cut two pieces of 18×22 inch fusible interfacing and iron to the wrong side of your fabric. Pin on three sides.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Leaving a 3/4 inch seam allowance, sew along the bottom of the soon-to-be-bag. Backstitch at either end to secure.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Sew along each side of the bag, backstitching at the beginning. Stop three inches before the opposite end of the bag and backstitch to secure.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Press open the remaining three inches on both ends and both sides as shown.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Next, press 3/4 inches of the unsewn edge as shown.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Press and then sew a 3/4 in casing on each side of the bag, again backstitching at each end.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Turn your bag right side out. Cut a 63 inch piece of twine and tie it to a closed safety pin. Using the safety pin, thread the twine through the casing on one side of the bag.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Continuing with the same safety pin, draw the twine through the casing on the remaining side of the bag.

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

Remove the safety pin, cut the twine evenly in half, and knot the ends together to finish!

Learn how to sew a super simple drawstring bag in minutes!

A look at the finished bags

The tree print bag on the left in this photo was made without interfacing, but the bag on the right was made with it. As a result, the bag can’t be drawn as tight, but I am already using this bag to wrangle a knitting project that uses a lot of heavier yarn. The unlined bag is proving perfect for storing a laceweight work in progress, and I love it!

Use your favorite pretty fabric to sew a drawstring bag in minutes!

Forest Floor Blog Tour Hashtags
About the fabric featured & the blog tour

This post was part of the Forest Floor Blog Tour and the gorgeous, high quality fabric was provided in exchange for this post. Learn more about the Forest Floor fabric collection from Bonnie Christine.

Check out what Annie & Dot did with their fabric samples from the collection!

Visit Alextillalia Designs tomorrow to see what she’s got in store for her stop on the blog tour.

Use your favorite pretty fabric to sew a drawstring bag in minutes!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, How-to, Sewing Tagged With: bonnie christine, crochet bag, drawstring project bag, easy sewing, forest floor, knitting bag, project bags, sew

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Bonnie Christine

    July 11, 2016 at 8:47 am

    Adorable – and so very useful! Love having you on the tour, Heidi!

    Reply
  2. Alexandra

    July 13, 2016 at 6:51 am

    These drawstring bags are so beautiful! Lovely fabric choices! I share one of your pics on my post for the Blog Tour yesterday and I linked your website, hope you don’t mind. Alex @alextilalila

    Reply
    • Heidi

      July 14, 2016 at 7:14 pm

      No problem! Thanks for sharing! :)

      Reply
  3. Sue Anna

    July 17, 2016 at 12:39 pm

    Heidi,
    I would like to pin this for later but not finding the option. Possible or should I just go ahead and print. May make for Christmas gifts for my cancer knit group.
    Thanks,
    Sue Anna

    Reply
  4. Sue Anna

    July 18, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    Heidi,
    Not sure why I was having issues pinning this but came to my laptop and had no problems! Sorry to bother you. Thanks
    Sue Anna

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Speaking of which, dang it’s good to have my mental health back consistently after the past couple of years. The anxious parts of my personality are just chilling, rather than constantly screaming that my work isn’t good enough to share. The confident parts of me that matter have me creating (and starting to share my creations & process with strangers and friends) again! 
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I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] proj I’m feeling better, & all my [big, bad bug] project needs is a couple of short sleeves! I’ll be finishing this sweater *just* before it gets too warm to wear, but isn’t that always how it goes? 🫠🧶 
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Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, wh Just divided the sleeves on this quick sweater, which has unsurprisingly turned into a love letter to primary colors. ❤️💛💙 The heart stripe is a wee tweak I incorporated, and I don’t regret it! 
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I am unfortunately home bound for the near future I am unfortunately home bound for the near future thanks to the big, bad bug. So far I’ve knit half a sweater, consumed about a gallon of ginger tea, & plowed through 3 seasons of Pit Bulls and Parolees. 
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