How to Hand Sew a Simple Drawstring Bag for Beginners

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to sew a simple drawstring bag by hand. It’s an easy project for beginners, especially kids, and a great way to use up fabric scraps.

You don’t need a sewing machine. Just some fabric, a needle and thread, and a bit of cord or ribbon for the drawstring.

You can use any kind of fabric you have lying around: old clothes, leftover scraps, bits of tablecloth or bedsheet. I even used part of an old jumper for one of mine. Anything works as long as the fabric’s still in good shape.

👉How to Help Children Learn to Sew ~ Free Sewing Guide

Choosing Your Fabric

The first thing to do is choose your fabric. I laid out a few pieces and picked one to start with, just something small and soft. You’re going to cut out a long rectangle. How big you make it depends on the size of the bag you want.

A good guideline is: cut a rectangle that’s twice as long as your finished bag height, because we’ll be folding it in half. You can make it tiny, like for a marble or a little gift, or much bigger. Whatever you need.

Once you’ve chosen your fabric and decided on the size, go ahead and cut out your rectangle. That’s your base.

Sewing the Drawstring Channel

Now we’ll make the top part of the bag where the drawstring will go. On each short end of your rectangle, fold the fabric over once – just a small fold, about an inch – and sew along the edge to hold it in place. This creates a little tunnel (or channel) for the string to go through later.

I like to use a backstitch for this because it holds everything really well. I double my thread and tie a knot at the end to keep it from slipping. You can use matching thread, or a contrasting colour if you want the stitching to stand out.

Once you’ve stitched both short ends, you’re ready to fold your bag and sew the sides. (We’ll get to that in the next step.)

👉 Five Most Important Basic Hand Sewing Stitches for Beginners

Sewing the Bag Together

Once you’ve sewn the casings at the top of the bag, fold your piece of fabric in half with the right sides together. That just means the patterned or “nice” side of the fabric should be on the inside for now. 

Line up the raw edges on the side seams and the bottom edge, and lay it out on a flat surface to keep things even.

Now you’ll sew the side seams, but don’t sew into the casings at the top. Stop right where the folded part starts so you’ll still be able to thread your drawstring cord through later.

I use a backstitch again here and I try to keep a rough ¼ inch seam allowance along the sides. This will form the actual shape of your bag. 

Once both sides are sewn, that’s it for the main construction.

Adding the Drawstring

Now it’s time to turn your bag right side out. You’ve now got a little bag, unlined and simple, but perfect for storing small items or using as a gift bag.

To add the drawstring, grab a safety pin and attach it to the end of your ribbon or crocheted cord. (I have a video tutorial on how to make a super easy crochet chain if you’d like to try that too, it’s a great crochet project for beginners.)

Feed the safety pin through one side of the casing, then pull it all the way through the opposite side. Do the same again if you’re using two ribbon pieces, one going in each direction, so you can pull the bag shut from either side.

Once the ends of the ribbon are even, knot them or leave them loose, it’s up to you. 

And that’s it! You’ve made an easy drawstring bag using just a piece of fabric and a few simple stitches.

Want to Crochet Your Own Cord?

If you’d like to make your own drawstring cord, you can crochet a simple chain in any colour you like. It’s a sweet way to add a handmade touch, especially if you’re using the bag for gift wrappings or want it to match another crochet project.

I’ve made a post and video that walks you through how to crochet a chain. It’s very beginner-friendly and a great way to practice if you’re just starting out. You’ll just need a bit of yarn and a hook.

Once you’ve made your chain, just follow the same steps with the safety pin to feed it through the top edge of the bag. 

And there you have it: your own DIY drawstring bag made from simple pieces of fabric, all stitched by hand. 

These little drawstring bags are so handy to have around. You can use them as gift bags, laundry bags for delicate items, or just to hold small items like marbles, buttons, or herbal sachets.

They make lovely gift wrappings, especially if you’re giving homemade things or want to add a personal touch. You can also experiment with different sizes, depending on how much fabric you have. Try using fat quarters or even upcycled clothes to make a whole set of easy bags in one go.

If you’re looking for simple sewing projects to do with kids or just for a slow, satisfying afternoon, this is a great one to start with. No fancy tools. Just fabric, thread and time.

Watch the Video

Want to follow along step by step? I’ve made a video tutorial that walks you through the whole process in real time.

You can see exactly how I fold the fabric, sew the seams, and add the drawstring cord using a safety pin. It’s relaxed, beginner-friendly, and perfect if you’re more of a visual learner.

(If you don’t see the video, you can also find it on my YouTube channel under “Making Things”)

Uses for Simple Drawstring Bags:

• Gift bags (eco-friendly, reusable alternative to wrapping paper)
• Travel pouches (for organizing socks, underwear or toiletries)
• Snack or lunch bags (especially with food-safe fabric)
• Project bags (for knitting, crochet or hand-sewing works-in-progress)
• Toy or game storage (great for puzzles, blocks, small toys)
• Nature walk bags (for collecting treasures like leaves and stones)
• School supply holders (for pencils, erasers, scissors, etc.)
• Lavender sachets (smaller versions for drawers or closets)
• Shoe bags (keep shoes separate in a suitcase or gym bag)
• Reusable produce bags (for bulk bin shopping or farmers’ markets)

If you make one of these simple drawstring bags, let me know! I’d love to hear what you used it for. Gift wrapping, organizing small items, or something completely different. 

And if you’re just getting into sewing, I’d love to know:
What kinds of beginner-friendly projects do you enjoy most? Or is there something you’ve always wanted to try?

Thanks for reading and happy making!

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