How to Make a Drumstick Bag

Carry multiple drumsticks in a homemade drumstick carrying case.

A flat carrying bag called a drumstick bag can carry multiple drumsticks. Sewing a separating zipper along three of the bag's four sides will create a drumstick bag that lies flat when completely unzipped, and that exposes the drumsticks. You can purchase a separating zipper at local fabric stores. You can make a homemade drumstick bag from a heavyweight fabric such as denim, canvas or twill.

Things You'll Need

• 3/4 yard, 45-inch canvas
• 26-inch separating zipper
• Ruler
• Sewing pencil
• Straight pins
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Drumsticks

Instructions

1. Place the 45-inch canvas on a flat work surface. Measure, mark and cut two, 9-by-19-inch pieces of canvas for the back of the drum case. Measure, mark and cut one piece of canvas 9 1/2- by 13 inches long to use as the pocket. Measure, mark and cut one piece 2 1/2- by 16 inches long to use as the handle.

2. Lay the 9 1/2-by-13-inch piece of canvas on a flat surface. Fold the 13-inch edge down 1/4 inch. Pin into place. Press the 1/4-inch pinned seam. Remove the pins. Fold the same edge down another 1/4 inch and pin. Sew a straight-stitch seam across the center of the 1/4-inch area. Remove the pins and press the seam.

   Note: Folding the 1/4-inch seam down twice creates a clean, finished, professional edge and prevents the fabric from fraying.

3. Place one, 9-by-19-inch piece of canvas on a flat work surface so the 9-inch edges are on a horizontal plain. Pick up the 9-by-13-inch square with the 1/4-inch finished seam. Match the 9-inch, unsewn edge with the 9-inch edge on the larger piece of canvas. Pin the two pieces of canvas together along the three matching edges. The sewn edge of the smaller square creates the pocket for the drumstick.

4. Sew a basting stitch (the largest stitch the sewing machine will allow) 1/4 inch from the edge of the pocket. Remove the pins. Set aside.

5. Place the second, 9-by-19-inch piece of canvas on the flat work surface with one of the 9-1/2-inch sides along the bottom of the work surface. Mark the center of the 9-inch ends of the fabric. Measure 4 1/2 inches from the 19-inch edge and place a small mark at the 4 1/2-inch location. Make sure to mark both 9-inch edges with center marks. Place the marks close to the outside edge of the fabric.

6. Unzip the separating zipper. Pin the left side of the zipper to the left hand side of the 9-by-19-inch piece of fabric beginning at the center mark on the bottom of the canvas. Position the zipper so the teeth are pointing toward the inside of the fabric. Place the bottom end of the zipper 1/2 inch to the left of the center mark. Pin the zipper to the bottom, side and top of the fabric. The top of the zipper will stop 1 inch from the top center mark. Repeat the process with the right side of the zipper.

7. Sew the zipper into place using a 1/4-inch straight seam. Remove the pins while sewing.

8. Match the edges of the piece of canvas with the zipper to the edges of the fabric with the sewn pocket. Pin the fabric pieces together along all four edges. Sew a 3/8- to 1/2-inch straight seam around the outside edge of the fabric. Begin sewing 1 inch away from the center mark at the top of the carrying bag. Sew all four sides, stopping 1 inch away from the top center mark. Remove the pins while sewing. This will create a 2-inch opening at the top of the drumstick bag.

9. Open the 2-inch area and push one of the bottom corners through the center of the bag, then through the hole. Pull on the exposed corner and work the fabric until the entire bag is turned. Pull slightly on the zipper to straighten the edges. Pin the 2-inch opening and sew closed.

10. Fold the 2 1/2-by-16-inch piece of fabric in half to form a 1 1/4-by-16-inch rectangle. Iron the folded edge, making sure to keep the edges matched. Pin the edges. Sew a straight seam 1/4 inch from the edge. Begin sewing at the folded edge on a 1 1/4-inch end. Stop sewing at the top of the 16-inch edge. Remove the pins while sewing. This is the first step in creating the handle for the drumstick bag.

11. Separate the seam apart on the 1 1/4-inch, sewn end. Position a pencil in the seam and begin sliding the fabric over the pencil. This turns the sewn fabric to encase the seam. Remove the pencil.

12. Fold the unsewn edge of the tube toward the inside of the tube. Fold down a 1/2- to 3/4-inch piece of the fabric. Press the folded edge.

13. Flip the drumstick bag over so the pocket is on the back of the fabric. Position the bag so the top of the zipper is facing to the right. Fold the sewn tube in half to form a handle. Match the two, 1-inch ends of the tube. Position the 1-inch ends 2 inches from the right and bottom edge. Pin into place. Sew a straight seam along the ends of the folded tube. Move the sewing machine's pressure foot and sew a second straight seam across the tube handle 1 inch from the sewn ends.

14. Insert the drumsticks in the pocket. Zip the drumstick bag closed.