How to Make a Drawstring Bookbag
Drawstring bookbags are not difficult to make and their uses are endless. Depending on the size you decide to make, you can also use them to carry magazines, groceries, sports equipment or gifts. The environment benefits by the reduction of plastic bags that end up in landfill. These drawstring bags are easy to fold and store and cost only pennies to make.
Things You'll Need
- Clean fabric
- Fabric scissors
- Thread
- Sewing needle or sewing machine
- String or cord
- Safety pin
Instructions
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1
Cut two rectangles of the approximate size you would like the bag to be when finished.
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2
Place the two pieces of fabric you have cut, good sides together and facing each other.
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3
Thread a needle with two strands of a corresponding thread color. Two strands gives the thread additional strength. Knot the end.
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4
Sew through the fabric approximately 1/2 inch from one corner of the two fabric pieces and sew around the other three sides of the rectangle about 1 inch from the cut edges. Stop 1 inch short of the last edge. Do not sew the fourth side yet.
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5
Fold only one of the unsewn edges down 1/2 inch. Press this to make your sewing easier. Sew this edge down, leaving lots of room for the drawstring which will go through later. Flip your material over and do the same with other unsewn edge.
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6
Cut one piece of string, cording or equivalent longer than the combined length of both sides of the bag and make a large knot in one end.
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7
Attach a safety pin to the knot. Push the safety pin through the gap you just sewed down. When you see the pin emerge at the opening, feed it through the other side of the sewn down area. When you have pushed the string through both gaps, remove the pin.
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8
Cut the drawstring to the finished length that you want it to be. Knot both ends once or twice.
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9
Turn the bag inside out to reveal the nice side of the fabric.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to really save money, rather than purchasing a new piece of fabric from a fabric store, get a piece of fabric (perhaps a dress or shirt) from a second-hand store, wash it and use it for your bag.
If you are hand sewing, be careful when you are pushing the needle through the fabric so that you don't injure your fingers.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
