Simple Drawstring Pouch Tutorial

Simple Drawstring Pouch Tutorial

I'm a huge fan of easy projects.  While I love quilting, there is something so satisfying about finishing something in under 30 minutes instead of the usual 30 hours.

This lined pouch comes together quickly and you can easily vary the size--making them a great essential in your sewing repertoire.  For this tutorial, I made a large, medium and small size.  Instructions show how to make the large bag, but you can easily change the size by following the chart below.  Take a look and then show me YOUR fabric pouches and how you used them by tagging me on Instagram @midlife_quilter and using #MQDrawstringPouches

Here is everything you need to know:

Supplies:

-Fat quarter of exterior fabric (max)          -Fat Quarter or lining fabric (max)

-Thread                                                        -Ribbon or Cord for drawstring

Instructions:

Cut a 9” x 20” rectangle from both the exterior fabric and lining fabric.

Fold each rectangle in half, right sides together, to form a 9” x 10” rectangle.

Take the lining fabric and sew around the sides, leaving a 4” opening on one side as shown below.   Press seams open.

Next take the exterior fabric, make sure it’s right sides together.  Place pins ¾” down from the open top, then another set of pins 1” below that as shown above.  This will form the case for your drawstring.

Before you start sewing the exterior, use an erasable pen or a Hera marker to mark the opening for the drawstring as shown below. You will be sewing along these lines as a guide for sewing this piece.

Sew from the top edge to the first line you marked, backstitching at beginning and end. Then start again underneath the second line, backstitching at beginning and end.  

Press the side seams open.

Turn the exterior fabric piece right sides out and place it inside the lining piecing as shown below.  The lining piece is still wrong sides out and the exterior piece is inside, with right sides facing out.  

Match up the side seams on each piece and pin along the top edge.

Take the unit to your sewing machine and sew along the top edge using a ¼” seam allowance.  (If your sewing machine has an arm, now is the perfect time to use it.)

Make sure the exterior fabric side seams are open when you sew over them.

Using the hole in the lining, pull the bag through so the exterior is now right side out. Make sure to turn out all the corners. 

Sew the opening in the lining shut. (Marked with pins below).

Give the bag a press and tuck the lining back in.

Top stitch around the top edge of the opening. 

Next, sew along both lines that you had marked above.  This will create the "pocket" for the drawstring.

Make sure to use the arm of the sewing machine or sew carefully so you don’t accidentally sew the pouch shut. (Note: for the smaller sizes, they may not fit around the arm of the sewing machine.)

Starting at one of the drawstring openings, use a safety pin to feed the ribbon or cord all the way around and out the same opening you started from.  Tie the ends together into a knot.

Then take the second piece of cord and repeat the steps above, starting at the other opening, and going in the opposite direction.

You are done!

Once you are comfortable with making these, play around with the sizes.  You can make mini pouches for jewelry or even make one to gift a bottle of wine.  The possibilities are endless.