How to Make a Large Drawstring Pouch

Sew a drawstring pouch, customized to hold whatever you desire.

Recycling and reusing can be implemented everyday. Reusing or using cloth bags for shopping is an environmentally friendly, as well as, convenient choice. If you are purchasing, wrapping or carrying larger items than will fit in a small grocery bag, the choices often involve paper or plastic that will be disposed of. Make a large drawstring pouch to carry laundry, wrap gifts or store seasonal clothing or bedding. The size of the pouch can be customized for each individual use.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Ironing board and iron
• Seam ripper
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon
• Safety pin

Instructions

1. Measure the object that will go in your pouch, or if the pouch will slip into a clothes hamper, box or drawer, measure the inside dimensions of these locations. Add 1 inch to the width measurement and 4 inches to the length measurement. Cut two pieces of fabric using these measurements.

2. Place the two fabric pieces together with the right sides facing. Pin the side edges and the bottom edge of the bag. Sew the pinned edges using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

3. Open the unsewn end and place it over the nose of your ironing board. The pouch is still wrong side out. Fold over the open edge 1/4 inch to the wrong side and press. Rotate the opening around the ironing board nose until the entire edge has been folded and pressed.

4. Fold over the edge 1 inch to the wrong side, press and pin.

5. Sew around the pinned edge to create a casing in the top of the pouch. Top stitch around the top of the casing, as close to the top edge as possible. Turn the bag right side out.

6. Insert the point of a seam ripper into an outside seam on the side edge of the pouch, between the top and bottom stitch lines of the casing. Open the seam between the stitch lines. Repeat on the other side edge of the pouch.

7. Cut two lengths of 1/4-inch wide grosgrain ribbon, twice as wide as the pouch, plus 4 inches. For example, if your pouch is 7 inches wide, your ribbons would each be 18 inches long. These are your drawstrings.

8. Attach a safety pin to one end of a ribbon. The safety pin will work as your guide to thread the ribbon. Insert the safety pin in one opening of the casing. Thread the ribbon through the casing, all the way around the pouch and out the same opening. Remove the safety pin. Bring the two ends of the ribbon together and tie an overhand knot 1 inch from the end. Repeat with the remaining ribbon in the other opening in the casing.

9. Pull the knotted ribbon ends at the same time to draw the pouch closed.

Tips & Warnings

• If your pouch is extra large, or the object going in the pouch is heavy, reinforce the stitches and use medium to heavyweight fabric for stability.

• Grosgrain ribbon is a sturdy ribbon capable of withstanding heavy use. Cord, jute and twine can be substituted.