How to Sew a Drawstring Bag

Make a Waterproof Laundry Tote or Cloth Diaper Pail Liner

Jan 7, 2009 Christy Jones

This drawstring bag is easy to sew, and it's perfect for toting laundry, wet swimsuits, sports clothes, or beach gear, or as a washable liner for a diaper pail.

You can make a drawstring bag from any type of material, but if you want it to be waterproof for toting wet items, you’ll need to use fabric such as nylon or laminated polyester. Since nylon often ravels a bit at the edges, especially when frequently washed, you may want to cut the fabric about one inch larger than directed and sew the bag using French seams, which will keep all the edges enclosed.

To make the drawstring, you can use a piece of cording, decorative ribbon, or elastic cording. Elastic cording works especially well if you want to use the bag as a pail liner, since it will help the bag stay snug around the rim of the pail. You’ll need the drawstring to be about twice as long as the top of the bag, plus 12 inches.

To hold the drawstring bag open or closed, you can use a cord stop, available in the notions section of most fabric stores. If you’re using thick cording, make sure to get a double cord stop, or one that has an opening large enough to hold both ends of the cord.

Pail Liner Size

You can make the drawstring bag any size you need, but if you want to use it as a laundry pail liner, make sure the bag will be large enough to fit easily over the edge of the pail. Wrap a measuring tape around the upper rim of the pail. Add about 6 inches, and divide this number by two.

For example, if the pail measures 48 inches around, 48 + 6 = 54. You’ll need two pieces of fabric, each 27 inches wide. Next, measure the height of the pail and add about 6 inches. If the pail is 24 inches tall, you’ll want to cut the fabric 30 inches tall. For a bag this size, you’ll need 1 yard of 60-inch fabric, or 1 1/2 yards of 44-inch fabric.

Supplies:

• 1 to 1 1/2 yards of nylon or waterproof fabric
• matching thread
• 1 piece of drawstring, ribbon, or elastic cording
• 1 cord stop
• scissors
• straight pins
• sewing machine

Sew a Drawstring Bag:

1. Cut two pieces of fabric, each about 1/2 inch wider and 3 inches taller than you want the finished bag.
2. Place the pieces of fabric right sides together and pin them together along the sides and bottom edge.
3. Stitch the fabric together along the sides and bottom edge using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave the top edge open.
4. Fold the top edge over 1/2 inch toward the wrong side, then fold it over another 1/2 inch, so the cut edge is enclosed. Stitch along the fold, taking care not to sew the bag shut.
5. Fold the top edge over about 2 inches toward the wrong side. Pin the lower edge of the fold in place. This will be the casing for the drawstring.
6. Stitch along the lower edge of the casing, leaving an opening about 2 inches wide.
7. Attach the cord stop to one end of the drawstring. Insert the cord stop through the opening in the casing, and push it until the drawstring is all the way through the casing. Insert both ends of the drawstring into the cord stop.
8. Turn the drawstring bag right side out.

You can leave the drawstring bag plain and simple, or decorate it with appliqués. You can also use letter appliqués, or permanent fabric paint, to add the owner’s name.

The copyright of the article How to Sew a Drawstring Bag in Sewing/Needlework is owned by Christy Jones. Permission to republish How to Sew a Drawstring Bag in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Sew a Drawstring Bag