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Drawstring bag

Make a little bag for treasures, travel or a gift. Choose from three sizes and a fabric you enjoy.

SewingCritic team · Updated 2026-11-04

Illustrated fabric drawstring bags

Free pattern · Make it your own

Finished size
Small 6 × 8; medium 10 × 12; large 14 × 16 in
Skill
Beginner
Time
Allow 1–2 hours (planning estimate)
Seam allowance
0.5 in, included in cut sizes

Drafted from measurements by the SewingCritic team. We have not yet photographed a sewn sample.

What do you need?

Light or medium woven cotton. Cords are not suitable for unsupervised young children.

Two cords: 20 in each (small), 28 in (medium), 36 in (large); safety pin; matching thread.

Check the needle and thread chart

Fabric to buy, by nominal width
Size / fabric44 in58 in
Small · main0.5 yd10.5 + 2 = 12.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd0.5 yd10.5 + 2 = 12.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd
Medium · main0.5 yd14.5 + 2 = 16.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd0.5 yd14.5 + 2 = 16.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd
Large · main0.75 yd18.5 + 2 = 20.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd0.75 yd18.5 + 2 = 20.5 in; round up to 1/4 yd

We reserve 2 in of width for selvedges. Place pieces left to right in chart order, starting a new row when the next piece does not fit. Each row uses the longest piece in that row. Add 2 in handling to the total cut length, divide by 36, and round UP to the next 1/4 yd. Pieces do not rotate. No shrinkage allowance is included. Prewash before measuring usable fabric. Directional prints can need more.

Which pieces should you cut?

All sizes are inches. Cut single layers unless the instructions say otherwise. Seam allowance is already included.

Exact cutting chart
PieceQuantityWidth × lengthSeam allowance
Small
Body (main)27 × 10.5 inIncluded
Medium
Body (main)211 × 14.5 inIncluded
Large
Body (main)215 × 18.5 inIncluded

How do you lay out the pieces?

These diagrams use the chart dimensions and keep the grain parallel to the long fabric edge. Rectangles do not rotate. PDF large-format pages are 100%; for home printing use the chart. The stocking also includes four Letter-size template tiles.

Small · main

Body7 × 10.5 inBody7 × 10.5 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 10.5 in cut length
Body7 × 10.5 inBody7 × 10.5 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 10.5 in cut length

Medium · main

Body11 × 14.5 inBody11 × 14.5 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 14.5 in cut length
Body11 × 14.5 inBody11 × 14.5 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 14.5 in cut length

Large · main

Body15 × 18.5 inBody15 × 18.5 in44 in fabric · 42 in usable · grain ↓ · 18.5 in cut length
Body15 × 18.5 inBody15 × 18.5 in58 in fabric · 56 in usable · grain ↓ · 18.5 in cut length

How do you sew it?

  1. Cut and mark

    Cut two matching body rectangles from one size row. On each side, mark a point 2.5 in below the raw top. Use 1/2 in seams.

    Measure seam allowance from the raw edge to the stitch line

  2. Finish the edges

    Zigzag the side and bottom raw edges separately. Put pieces right sides together. Sew from each side mark to the bottom and across the bottom, leaving both upper 2.5 in side sections open.

  3. Press the side openings

    Press side allowances open, including the unsewn top sections. Stitch each folded opening edge in place 1/4 in from its fold. Keep the two layers separate.

  4. Form two casings

    On each top edge press 1/2 in to the wrong side, then 1.5 in again. Stitch close to the inner fold, making one casing per panel. Do not close the side exits.

  5. Thread both cords

    Pass cord A into the left casing opening, across the front, then back through the other casing. Knot both ends together on the left. Repeat with cord B starting at the right. Both cords run through both casings.

  6. Finish the bag

    Turn right side out and press. Pull paired knots apart to close. Finished height includes the casing: cut height minus 2 in top folds minus 1/2 in bottom seam.

What can you change?

Use two colours for front and back. Use ribbon instead of cord only if it slides freely through the 1.5 in casing.

What could you make next?

Which sources did we use?

  1. SewingCritic original measurement draftsoriginal draft; arithmetic, no sewn sample · read 2026-11-04