Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to make a sweet drawstring bag with a happy 1930s feel.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is 30s Playtime in Sky.
The item number on it is 33635 16.
It comes from Moda Fabrics.
The collection is 30s Playtime.
And the colorway is Sky.
That is a soft sky blue.
It revives cheerful 1930s reproduction prints.
They are light, bright, and full of charm.
This is quilting fabric, in cotton.
It is 45 inches wide.
And it is sold by the yard.
It is lovely in vintage-style quilts.
It also suits reproduction sewing.
And it works in coordinated projects, too.
I picked this one for a small make.
A small project lets that print show.
You see the color up close.
Really really cute, y'all.
Why it suits a drawstring bag
A drawstring bag is a simple fabric bag.
A cord pulls the top closed.
You loosen it, fill it, and cinch it shut.
Use it for sewing notions on the go.
Use it for a small hand project.
Ours will finish about 11 inches wide.
It will stand about 12 1/2 inches tall.
That is handy, not huge.
This Sky print is perfect here.
Quilting cotton folds and presses well.
It holds a crease for the casing.
And it is sturdy enough for everyday use.
The cheerful blue makes it easy to spot.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Two panels, straight seams, one casing.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Super duper fun, and quick, too.
What you will need
- This 30s Playtime Sky fabric — 1/2 yard, enough for the bag with a little left over
- Ribbon, cord, or twill tape for the drawstrings — 2 pieces, each 24 inches long
- 100% cotton thread, 50-weight, in soft blue or cream
- Universal or quilting needle, size 80/12
- Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
- Pins or clips, a safety pin or bodkin, and a good iron
Let me walk through the cutting numbers.
Cut 2 rectangles from your fabric.
Make each one 12 inches wide.
Make each one 15 inches tall.
Those are your front and back panels.
We will sew with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Set your stitch length to 2.5 millimeters.
That is about 10 stitches per inch.
Backstitch a few stitches at each seam end.
That keeps your corners good and secure.
Press the fabric before you cut.
Wrinkles in, mistakes follow. Ask me how I know.
Brief steps
- Press both rectangles well. Put right sides together and pin the sides and bottom.
- Sew both sides and the bottom with that 1/2-inch seam, pivoting neatly at the two corners.
- Press the seams open, then turn the bag right side out and poke the corners out gently.
- At the top edge, fold 1/4 inch to the wrong side and press all the way around.
- Fold that top edge down 1 more inch and press again. That fold forms your casing.
- Stitch close to the lower fold of the casing, all around, but leave a 1-inch opening at one side seam.
- Attach a safety pin to one 24-inch drawstring. Thread it through the casing and tie the ends in a knot.
- Thread the second drawstring starting at the opposite side, tie its ends, then pull both sides and watch it cinch. Just like that.
On that casing step, go slow and steady.
Keep that stitching line nice and even.
Slow down around the thick side seams.
Slow down or the needle snaps, folks.
I rushed that seam on an early bag.
Oh my goodness, my casing came out wavy.
I took out that one row and sewed it slower.
Easy fix. It looked just fine.
Practical tips
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
A slightly wavy casing still draws shut.
Take your time, it's not a race.
Press every fold before you stitch it.
That one habit makes the top look crisp.
Check your first rectangle after you cut it.
If the size is off, fix the ruler, not the fabric.
You have options for the drawstring, too.
Ribbon looks soft and pretty.
Cord cinches tight and feels sturdy.
Twill tape lies flat and washes well.
I prefer ribbon with this sweet print.
It suits that gentle 1930s feel.
But the other ways work great, too.
Completely up to you.
Make one bag, and you will want another.
They are that handy around the sewing room.
Alrighty, that's our sky-blue drawstring bag.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 30s Playtime Sky 33635 16 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
