Tuesday Tutorial: Drawstring Bag

My older sister (seamstress extraordinaire) makes her own gift bags to be reused for Christmas each year. Brilliant! We each have a few and put some of our gifts to each other in them and then trade around each Christmas. I adapted what she makes into a more permanent, lined drawstring bag - this could be used as a gift bag (I might do a tutorial in the next couple months on creating her quick gift bags), but could also be used in the everyday. Wouldn't it be fun to make these to be part of the gift itself {Read: Put a handmade gift inside and voilà! Two handmade gifts in one!}. So, this tutorial is part of the "Handmade Christmas".
After many tries, I came up with this cutie. It is perfect to stow away a few things such as a notebook, camera, pen, change purse or wallet.

Materials:
+ 2 pieces fabric (1"x24") - these will be the drawstrings, or you can use ribbon or drawstring-type material - I wanted my strings to coordinate with the bottom section of the bag
+ 2 pieces fabric (3"x 10") - these will be the top pieces of the bag that the drawstring goes through (the polka dot fabric below)
+ 1 piece fabric (10"x16") - this is the patterned fabric you see the majority of on the bag
+ 1 piece lining fabric (10"x22") - use muslin or some other lightweight fabric
+ Scissors
+ Safety Pin (if you are making your own drawstrings)
+ Sewing machine, coordinating thread
+ Rotary cutter, metal ruler and cutting mat
+ Iron

Start by making the drawstrings (skip this step if you are using ribbon or cord). Fold the 1"x 24" strips in half, so the wrong side is out. Carefully press with an iron.

Sew along the open edge, as close to the edge as possible. To flip the drawstrings right-side-out, I used a safety pin and this method. Brilliant! I then tied off each edge into a knot.

Now, pin the 2 pieces of 3"x10" to the large 10"x16" piece, right sides facing each other. (see picture below).

With a 1/4" seam allowance, sew up each long (10") side and then press seams open with an iron.Now, place the muslin fabric piece on the newly stitched outside piece - right sides facing out. Fold the long edge in 1/4" and press with an iron. Repeat for the opposite long edge. Now fold the already folded edge in again 1/4". This will give the insides a more finished and clean cut look - no rough edges.
Stitch along these folded edges.
For the short edge, fold it over once 1/4". Press with the iron and stitch a straight stitch with 1/4" seam allowance.
Now, fold over these short edges about 1.25", press with the iron and stitch a straight stitch about 1" down from the edge. I used the stitch in the ditch method, so as not to make an extra seam (and I can't sew in a straight line that well ;)). This "pocket" is where the drawstring will be housed.
Almost finished! Fold the bag in half with right sides facing in, wrong sides facing out. From the bottom of the bag, stitch a straight stitch up each side (I stitched along the folded edge again). Be sure to stop before getting to the drawstring "pocket" - see arrow in the picture below. You don't want to stitch the drawstring opening closed!
What the bag is looking like (pardon my less than straight seams ;)).Attach one side of the drawstring to a dull pencil or a pen and thread through one "pocket". Untie and tie the other side of the drawstring to the pencil and pull it through the other "pocket".
Now, in order to get the drawstring effect, do the same as above to the other drawstring, except thread these ends through the other side of the openings of the "pockets" on the bag. See picture below- one drawstring is coming out one side and the other is laying on top of the bag as a visual- this is how it should be threaded through the "pockets".
Snip off any access drawstring - to whatever length you desire. You can also tie each end together or leave them open, like I did.
Voilà! A fabulous drawstring bag!