Hey everyone! Today we're making easy drawstring bags, and you'll learn a simple casing trick that works every time.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Boundless Coordinated Stash Builder Bundle - Neon Peaks.
It is a Craftsy Bluprint bundle.
The total is 7 1/2 yards.
You get 9 pieces in all.
These are quilt-shop quality fabrics, made in Japan.
Every piece is 100% cotton.
The width is 44/45 inches.
The listed end uses are crafts and quilting.
Here is exactly what you get.
You get a fat quarter of pale yellow solid.
You get a fat quarter of yellow solid.
You get 1/2 yard each of pink solid, mint green solid, red solid, and orange solid.
You get 1 yard of teal solid.
You get 4 yards of black solid.
The pattern is not included.
That is fine, y'all. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
I love this mix for small makes. The black does the heavy lifting. Then those bright solids pop right off it. Pink, teal, orange — oh my goodness, they sing.
The project: drawstring bags
We are making a set of four drawstring bags.
Each bag finishes about 12 by 14 inches.
That size holds a project, shoes, or snacks. It holds yarn really really well too.
Why does this bundle suit it?
Cotton is sturdy and easy to sew. It presses crisp. It holds a crease for the casing.
My pick is black for the bag bodies. Then use a different bright for each top band. One pink, one teal, one orange, one mint green.
Or flip it around. Bright body, black band. Super duper cute that way too.
Completely up to you.
Materials list
- The Boundless Coordinated Stash Builder Bundle - Neon Peaks - various fabric solids 7 1/2 yards total, for the bags below
- For four bag bodies: about 1 1/2 yards total from the black solid, cut as eight pieces 13 by 15 inches
- For four top bands: about 1/2 yard total from pink, teal, orange, and mint green solids, cut as eight strips 13 by 3 inches
- For drawstrings: about 4 yards of cord, ribbon, or twill tape, cut into eight 24-inch lengths
- 100% cotton thread, 50-weight, in black or gray
- A size 80/12 universal needle
- A large safety pin or bodkin for threading the drawstring
- Your usual tools: rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, iron, and sewing machine
Brief steps
Step one: press well. Cut your body pieces and your band strips. Take your time here. Straight cuts make straight bags.
Step two: sew one band strip to the top of each body piece. Use a 1/4-inch seam. Press the seam toward the band.
Step three: fold each joined piece in half, right sides together. Pin the side and the bottom. Leave the top open.
Step four: sew the side and bottom with a 1/2-inch seam. Sew at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Backstitch at the start and the end.
Step five: box the corners if you like. Flatten each bottom corner into a triangle. Measure 2 inches from the point. Sew straight across. Trim the extra triangle away.
Step six: turn the bag right side out. Press the top edge down 1/4 inch. Then fold it down 1 inch more. That fold makes your casing.
Step seven: sew around the casing, close to the lower fold. Leave a 1-inch gap open. Here we go, nice and steady.
Step eight: thread one drawstring through with your safety pin. Knot the ends together. Thread the second one the other way. Knot those ends too. Just like that, it cinches from both sides.
Practical tips
Tip one: your casing gap will try to hide. Mark it with two pins before you sew. I have sewn mine shut before. I laughed, I unpicked a few stitches, and I fixed it.
Tip two: it does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic. A slightly wobbly seam still holds your stuff just fine. Take your time, it's not a race.
Tip three: press the band flat before you fold the bag. A crisp band folds cleaner. Lift and set with the iron. Do not push.
Tip four: slow down at the thick side seams. Slow down or the needle snaps. That bad boy casing gets bulky at the joins.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Make one first. Then the next three go fast.
Alrighty, folks. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Boundless Coordinated Stash Builder Bundle - Neon Peaks - various fabric solids 7 1/2 yards total at Linda's Electric Quilters.
