Drawstring bags are easy to make, carry, use and customize.
They can be repurposed and reused over and over again.
They are washable and environmet friendly compared to plastic or paper bags that are usually used once and thrown away.
They are great for organizing small items, packaging and packing.
They are very suitable for various school uses such as packing lunch, separating used excercise cloths from the clean one in the gym bag or organizing and storing drawing supply or other small items.
Once you make one you will be hooked and get creative with it. You can make it light and simple (ideal for dry lavender in closet) or lined and decorated and customised with applique or Inktense pencils.
You can repurpuse old clothing, use leftovers, fat quarters or even orphan blocks.
Bags made from Orphan block are great for gift wrapping.
Dated prints or used linens are perfect for lining the bags.
Supplies needed for a 10" tall, 7" wide and 3" deep bag
Main fabric: 17 ½" x 10 ½" rectangles (1 piece)
Accent fabric: 4” x 10 ½" strips (2 pieces)
Interior fabric: 12 ½" x 10 ½" rectangles (2 pieces)
Twill tape or ribbon (½" wide) or cotton string approximately 1 ½ yard
Sewing
Sew the pieces into one continous strip and press the seams
If you use orphan blocks or directional fabric you can sew the blocks into two separate exterior rectangles of 9" x 10 ½" then sew the two rectangles together with the seam on the bottom
Fold the strip in half, right sides together and align the seams
Sew along the sides and leave a 3" long opening on the bottom (for turning the bag inside out) of the lining and two 1" opening on the accent fabric for the string
the 1" opening for the string can be in the center of the accent fabric or slightly closer to the main fabric
Box Corners
Press either corner into a triangle
Mark a 3" long line 1 ½" away from the tip of the corner
Sew along the line and trim off the corner ¼" away from the seam line
Finish all corners in the same way
Turn the bag inside out through the 3" long opening and gently push out the corners
Close the 3" long opening on the lining
Nestle the interior into the exterior and press along the top edge
Mark a horizontal line at the top and bottom of the 1" opening
Sew along the lines and the top edge
Cut the ribbon or string in half
Attach a safety pin to the end of either ribbon and insert the safety pin into one of the side openings
Push it through all the way to the other opening
Repeat with the other ribbon
Tie the ends together in a tight knot on either side
You can get the pear templates by buying my "Share the Pears" pattern:
The pattern contains the templates and instructions to make placemats, table runner and a throw size quilt
Visit my fellow designers' pages for more ideas for September projects