drawstring bags

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

Sometimes your day is just a mixed bag of emotions. Hehe. When I have a day like that, a simple sewing project is exactly what I need to relax!

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

And trust me, if a simple but oh-so-useful sewing project is what you’re looking for, this is it.  Cause if a pillowcase isn’t the first thing you sew, this definitely could be.
I promise, you can make a drawstring bag!

But I can’t promise that you can make only one.

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

Even if you’re no longer a beginner, there are a million reasons to make and use drawstring bags.
You can use them for:

• Shopping. (No runaway lemons.)

• Gifts. A bag as the gift. Or a bag to hold the gift.

• Travel. A waterproof one for wet swimsuits!

• Organizing. Kids. Or organizing your kids.

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

Also, it may be the best stash-busting project on the planet. Let’s say – hypothetically – you picked up a half yard of a fun print that you couldn’t live without. But you never found the right project and now it has been sitting in your stash for a year. (Ahem.) Make it into a drawstring bag and I guarantee it will get a lot of use.

If you have a smaller piece of fabric….make a smaller bag!

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

So let’s make some drawstring bags — just click the play button below (or you can WATCH THE VIDEO HERE):

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

If you like following step-by-step photos better than a video, check out my Hobo Sack post. It also has instructions for several of the variations shown in these pictures.

How to Sew a Drawstring Bag - video tutorial from MADE Everyday with Dana

 

MADE EVERYDAY with Dana is a fresh new sewing show, where we create everyday items you will love and use.

To watch other episodes:
• Click to the VIDEO page OR
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel so you’re updated as soon as the episode goes live.

  1. 1) Emily

    Thank you for posting this last night. I’ve reluctantly started a nonpartisan group to resist a wave of racism and ugliness in my area. It’s hard and scary.
    In addition to praying and quiet time, I watched your video and forgot about it all and vowed to make time to make things. Standing up for goodness and against ugliness is important, but creating beauty is so important too.

    Thank you for creating beauty in our world. Beauty can unite us and heal us too.

    • 2) Julie

      What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing.

  2. 3) pENELOPE

    Dana,

    You’re timing is perfect. I made some years ago and wasn’t sure on how to get started again. I make embroidered drawstring bags for Valentine gifts and I have an entire cheer team to gift. Also I would really love a tutorial for putting a pocket on a tee. If you have one already, I apologize. If you don’t, maybe one day……
    I love your videos!

  3. 4) Sharon

    I love your site and your tutorials. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

  4. 5) Deb

    I love your blog and have made several things from either your patterns or tutorials. I like to keep up too with your instagram. But lately I can’t get it. Nothing comes up. Do you know why? It has always been so nice to see all the things that people and you have sewn. Thanks so much for your time. Deb

  5. 7) Terri

    Thank you Dana! This was a great video! I love your tutorials…this one was great. Cant wait to make some bags!
    Also, LOVE your fabric line! So bright and happy. Keep it up!

  6. 8) Veronique

    This one comes from the very cold city of Montreal, Canada. Equipped with a very old sewing machine (Singer 327J), I made this simple drawstring bag and I feel like I’m walking on a cloud! I ALWAYS wanted to learn how to sow but was completely intimidated. Thanks to an outstanding tutorial on how to string my machine and your wonderful, wonderful video, I have the confidence to keep sewing! Thanks Dana!

    • 9) Dana

      Yay! I love hearing that, thanks for letting me know. ???? Have fun sewing!

  7. 10) Carol

    Thx for the great tutorial…bag sooo cute! Embroidered initial on bag, filled w/fun things for grandchildren’s birthday. I used bright colored shoelaces for the drawstrings….(terrific site!)

  8. 11) Kerry

    This worked like a charm for us!! So cute!
    If we make different sizes, do we use the one inch difference rule for width and height like you did 14×15 in the video example? Thanks again!! My daughter and I love your videos.

  9. 12) Carol

    Love, love this pattern…
    Made a bride’s bag filled w/items for unexpecteds on wedding day.
    Another for dear friend going through chemo filled w/things to encourage & help her in this journey.
    Hugs, Carol

  10. 13) Shir-Ning

    Hi Dana,
    I love bags and my mom doesn’t usually let me buy them so thank you for making these bag videos Now its so much easier for me to get bags for every little thing I need them for!

  11. 14) lolly

    Hello Dana,first time here,thanks for the bag tutorial wil start making some for my twins,

  12. 15) Joanne

    LOVE this tutorial = fun and easy! Made some for gifts and the grandkids!
    You are so positive = we love all your videos = keep going! after many years of not sewing it has been your tutorials that have me back making things again!

    • 16) Dana

      Aw. That’s such a sweet comment and makes me happy to hear!
      I’m glad you’ve gotten back into sewing.
      Have fun making tons of these little bags!

  13. 17) Idarean J Devers

    what would the size of the other bags?
    Thanks I really enjoy your program they are always simple to follower.

    • 18) Dana

      You can make your bags ANY size. Just use the same steps! Experiment and find a size that you like best.
      Have fun sewing!

  14. 19) janet

    Our computer and sewing machine are in different rooms so it is hard for my granddaughter to watch and sew. Do you have instructions for projects that can be printed?

    Thank you,
    Janet Hogan

  15. 20) Zara

    Hi Dana,

    Thank you for this easy to follow tutorial. This is my first sewing project and hopefully not my last !
    I am twelve and really looking forward to sewing a lot more. By the way I think that you are a wonderful person with a lovely looking family. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face.

  16. 21) Jackie Bray

    Hi Dana, I have made 3 of your drawstring bags, had fun making them. It was my very first attempt. My daughter used hers for her felt tip pens, the other two will be given to my Mum and Mother in Law.

  17. 22) Kalehua

    Aloha Dana! I am so happy I came across your videos & now your website tonight I dug deep for my mini pixie plus machine and made a scrunchy/tie & a drawstring bag! It’s so easy and fun I mean it wasn’t perfection but I think it’s cute & my daughter love love loves it 🙂 I’ll definitely be making more and trying new things Mahalo from Hawai`i 🌺

  18. 23) Libby

    Thank you so much for this awesome tutorial. My Christmas gift bags were a bit hit. I’d like to take my gift bags to the next level with french seams but I keep seaming (pun intended!) to get stuck on how/when to create the casing for the drawstring. Can offer any suggestions or even a video tutorial? Thank you!

  19. 24) Anne hill

    Hello from Nottingham, England. I’m a complete beginner when it comes to sewing and I’m off work at the moment after breast reconstruction so I had a look at your website and made the reversible bag yesterday. Its brilliant and it cheered me up no end. Its going to be the drawstring bag today. Thanks for your great tutorials and cheeriness. Best wishes, Anne xx

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