A small drawstring bag is a useful first sewing project: two fabric panels, two casing strips and one cord. Use it for craft supplies or wrapping a small gift. This version uses separate casings so you can thread the cord without cutting into a seam.
What you need
- Two cotton fabric panels, each 12 × 15 inches (30.5 × 38 cm)
- Two cotton casing strips, each 12 × 3 inches (30.5 × 7.5 cm)
- About 36 inches (90 cm) of cord or ribbon that fits the casing
- Thread, pins or clips, scissors, ruler, iron and a safety pin or bodkin
- A sewing machine, or a needle for hand sewing
Allow a ½-inch (1.3 cm) seam throughout unless stated otherwise. Practise on a scrap first if you are new to sewing, and read our craft preparation tips before cutting.
1. Prepare the two casings
On each short end of a casing strip, turn ¼ inch to the wrong side, then another ¼ inch. Press and stitch the folded ends. Each strip is now about 11 inches long. Fold each strip lengthways, wrong sides together, and press. Leave the long raw edges open.
2. Attach a casing to each panel
Place a folded casing on the right side of a panel, with its long raw edges aligned with the panel’s top edge. Centre it so each finished end sits ½ inch from the panel’s side. Pin and stitch across the top with a ½-inch seam. Repeat for the second panel. Finish the raw seam edges with a zigzag stitch or another suitable finish, then press the casings upwards.
3. Sew the bag
Place the panels right sides together, matching the top seams. Keep the casings clear of the side seams. Stitch down one side, across the bottom and up the other side, using a ½-inch seam and securing the stitching at both top ends. Leave the top open. Finish the side and bottom seam allowances.
4. Turn and thread
Turn the bag right side out and gently push out the corners. Attach a safety pin to one end of the cord. Feed it through the front casing, then back through the other casing. Both ends should emerge at the same side. Remove the pin and tie the ends together. Check that pulling the cord closes the bag smoothly.
If the cord catches
Check that the casing ends are open and that no side seam has caught them. A thick cord may need a wider channel; test its fit before sewing. Do not pull hard enough to tear the stitching.
Make it your own
Try contrasting casing fabric or a different ribbon. Keep the construction the same for your first bag, then adjust the panel size once you understand how it fits together. Drawstrings can be a hazard around young children; this is a storage or gift bag rather than a child’s toy.
Find more ideas in our craft project collection.