How to Make a Drawstring Pouch

How to Make a Drawstring Pouch

How to make a drawstring pouch

I love drawstring pouches.  They are great to put just about anything in. You can choose fun fabrics to fit your personality or decor. They are also really fun to make.  This particular drawstring bag can be made using basic sewing skills in no time at all.  The pattern for this drawstring pouch came from Sewing Times and I just had to share it with you. I just love the simplicity of this design and I know you will too.  

The fabric that I used for this project came from JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores where you can order online using the link and pick up in store for ultra convenience.  You can also head to Hobby Lobby or Fabric.com to get the perfect fabric for your project. This post contains affiliate links that if you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

If you would like to see a video tutorial of this project head over to YouTube and check out my video.  While you are there subscribe to my free YouTube channel.  

How to Make a Drawstring Bag

What you will Need: How to Make a Drawstring Pouch 

How to Make a Drawstring Pouch
What you will Need Drawstring Bag

Step 1: Cut Your Fabrics

  • From fabric 1 cut two pieces that measure 8 1/4″ x 2 1/8″ and two pieces that measures 8 3/4″ x 5 3/8″ (stripes)
  • Fabric 2 cut one piece that measures 8 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ (flowered piece)
  • From Fabric 3 cut one piece that measures 8 3/4″ x 18 1/2″
  • 2 Pieces of cording that measure 23 1/2″ 
How to Make a Drawstring Pouch
Cut your fabrics

Step 2: Stitch the Outer Bag

Take the fabric 2 piece that measures 8 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ and the the two fabric 1 pieces.  Place the fabric 1 pieces at each end of the fabric 2 piece right sides together.  Stitch using a 3/8″ seam allowance.  Press the seams open.  

How to Make a Drawstring Pouch
Place the fabrics right sides together
Finished outer bag

Step 3: Add the Additional fabric 1 Pieces

Take the two remaining fabric 1 pieces and fold them in half lengthwise and press.  Fold in the short ends by 1/4″ and press.  Place the folded pieces at each short end of the outer bag in the center and clip. You should have folded fabric 1 pieces at both ends of the outer bag.  Stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  

How to make a drawstring pouch
Press the small fabric
How to Make a Drawstring Pouch
Place the small piece right sides together with the outer bag

Step 4: Add the lining

Take fabric 3 and place it right sides together on the outer bag.  Stitch along the short ends using a 3/8″ seam allowance.  Turn right sides out and press the small fabric 1 pieces so that they are facing toward the top.  Turn back right sides together.  Match the small fabric 1 pieces so that seams are aligned and clip.  Sew along the long sides using a 3/8″ seam allowance and leaving an opening along one side of the lining for turning.  Clip the corners open by just snipping the sides without clipping through the stitching.  Press the seams open.  

How to make a drawstring pouch
Place the lining right sides together with the outer bag
How to make a drawstring pouch
Press the Channel upward
How to Make a drawstring Pouch
Match the seams
Clip the corners
Press the seams open

Step 5: Box the corners

Using a Frixion heat erasable pen or some other erasable pen or tailor’s chalk draw a box at each corner that measures 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″.  Pinch the side seam to the bottom seam on each corner and pin.  Make sure that the seams are aligned.  You will create a point on each corner.  Place your ruler on the point and slide it toward the bag until you can measure 3 1/8″ across.  Draw a line.  Repeat for each corner.  Stitch along these lines.  Leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance cut off the excess of the point.  Turn the bag right sides out through the opening you left in the lining.  Sew the opening closed using ladder stitch.  If you are unfamiliar with ladder stitch check out this video. 

Draw the square
Box the corners
Clip the excess
How to - Invisible Stitch or Ladder Stitch

Step 6: Add the Cording

Push the lining into the outer bag.  Press.  Wrap the cording around a safety pin or use a bodkin and insert one of the pieces of cording through the channel you created using the small pieces of fabric 1.  You will push the cording through both sides of the channel.  Tie the ends together to prevent them from sliding back through.  Starting on the other side, push the other piece of cording through the two channels and tie the ends. You have now finished your drawstring pouch.  

How to Make a drawstring Pouch

 

I hope you enjoyed this project. If you would like more sewing and crafting projects sign up for our newsletter and receive your free eBook of 15 handbag patterns and tutorials.  

 

If you would like more simple pouch projects check out my Half Moon zipper pouch tutorial or my Cat zipper Pouch

 

 

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE LATEST FROM SEW VERY CRAFTY!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. Hi from Alaska! I was wondering about step 5. Why do we draw the first line? And box? I’m missing why we mark it. Also, 3 1/8 looks way bigger than what the picture shows. But, we did 3 1/8 and it Reduced our bottom to about an inch and a half wide.

    1. Hi Marlis, You do not measure 3 1/8″ down. Instead, you slide your ruler down until it measures 3 1/8″ across. Then you draw the line which will be your stitching line. I hope that makes sense. I changed the tutorial to reflect that. Thanks you.

Looking Forward to Reading your Thoughts on this Project

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.