How to make a drawstring bag from leftover fabric

Got a pile of fabric pieces that are too nice to throw out but too small for a garment? Turn them into a drawstring bag. In this free tutorial, we’ll show you how to make a drawstring bag with two drawstrings, step by step, using a few small pieces from your stash.

It’s quick to sew, easy to personalize, and you'll use it again and again: for gifts, for travel, or to keep small things organized.

This drawstring bag pattern project at a glance

• Level: a simple project, great for beginners
• Fabric: any fabric will do, so it's perfect for scraps
• Closure: two drawstrings that pull the bag closed from both sides
• Measurements: in both inches and centimeters

A simple scrap fabric project for beginners

If you’re wondering what to do with fabric scraps, a drawstring bag is one of the best scrap fabric projects to start with. The bag is made from two squares and two rectangles, so you can combine different fabrics or play with the direction of a stripe or print. The bag in our photos uses the same striped fabric with the stripes running in different directions.

It’s also one of those easy sewing projects for beginners that teaches you useful basics: sewing straight seams, finishing raw edges with a zigzag stitch, sewing a casing, and turning a fabric tube.

Easy drawstring bag pattern to sew your own reusable gift bag

A drawstring bag also makes gift wrapping feel extra special. Use it instead of disposable wrapping paper, put the gift inside, and the recipient gets a handmade bag they can use again. It's an easy, eco-friendly gift wrap idea. Choose a fabric that suits the occasion, and you’ll have a thoughtful gift with a personal touch.

Once you’ve made one, you can sew a whole stack of fabric gift bags for birthdays and holidays.

What you need to sew a drawstring bag

• Leftover fabric (any fabric will do)
• Sewing machine with a zigzag stitch
• Matching thread
• Fabric scissors
• Pins
• Iron
• A safety pin or a bodkin to turn and thread the drawstrings

Cutting chart to use this drawstring bag pattern

The chart below gives you all the drawstring bag dimensions in both inches and centimeters.

How to sew a drawstring bag – step by step

Ready to sew? The bag comes together in the eight simple steps below. All the pieces are squares and rectangles, so you don’t need a printed drawstring bag pattern. The measurements in the cutting chart are all you need. 

One tip before you begin: take your time marking the notches in step 1. They show you where to stop sewing the side seams and where to fold the casing, so they keep both sides of the bag even. 

Each step has an illustration to show you what to do. 

RSF in the steps below means right sides facing.

Step 1: Cut your pieces

Cut out two squares, two rectangles, and two long rectangles for the drawstrings, using the measurements in the cutting chart. Follow the grainlines shown in the drawing. Mark the notches on each square, 2" / 5 cm below the top edge.

Step 2: Sew the square and rectangle together

Pin and sew one square and one rectangle together RSF, then finish the seam with a zigzag stitch. Press the seam, and zigzag the entire piece along the outer edges. Repeat with the other square and rectangle.

Step 3: Sew the two sides together

Pin the two pieces together RSF. Sew from one notch, around the edge, to the other notch. Remember to secure the stitch at both the beginning and the end.

Step 4: Press the seams open and sew around the opening

Press the seams open on both sides of the bag. Then sew around the opening: continue 3/8" / 1 cm below the notch, pivot with the needle down, sew across the seam allowance, pivot again, and sew back up to the edge. Repeat on the other side of the bag.

Step 5: Sew the drawstring casing

Fold and press the top edge 3/8" / 1 cm. Fold the edge again, this time down to the notch in the seam, and press. Topstitch the casing as close to the folded edge as you can.

Step 6: Make the drawstrings

Fold one drawstring strip RSF, pin, and sew it together. Use a safety pin or a bodkin to turn it right side out. Repeat with the other drawstring.

Step 7: Thread the drawstrings

Not sure how to thread a drawstring? Attach a safety pin or a bodkin to one end and push it through the casing. Thread the first drawstring from right to left, then thread it back from left to right.

Repeat with the second drawstring, this time threading it from the opposite direction. This way, you get a double drawstring bag that pulls closed from both sides.