How to Make a Drawstring Bag with Bandanas

A handy bandana drawstring bag is a perfect beginner-friendly sewing project for teaching a child or beginner how to sew. This is such an easy project! Although all skill levels of sewists would also enjoy making these.

It’s a great way for someone to get familiar with using a sewing machine and learn basic sewing techniques while creating something useful.

A DIY Bandana Drawstring Bag teaches:

• How to use the sewing machine
• How to sew straight seams
• Backstitching to lock stitches in place so they don't unravel and come apart
• How to make a drawstring casing
• How to insert drawstring into the casing

You don’t need a lot of things to sew this cheap drawstring bag, all you need are two bandanas and ribbon or cord. 

If you purchase the supplies at a dollar store such as Dollar Tree (Dollar Tree has bandana 2-packs for $1.25), the bag will cost less than $3.  To purchase bandanas in bulk, try Amazon. 

For some other fun and creative sewing projects that kids can make such as a fabric bookmark, a sock cell phone case, a key lanyard, a pencil case and much, much more, visit our Kid's Corner Free Sewing and Quilting page.

If you want to make a bandana bag or teach someone how to make one, we've created a video tutorial for you to watch. Simply click on the link below to go to our YouTube video tutorial.

In addition, we have a full written photo tutorial with step-by-step instructions below.

INSTRUCTIONS for the drawstring bandana bag:

STEP 1: gather the supplies

First, you need to gather your supplies - two bandanas and ribbon or cord.  No fabric cutting is necessary for this project since the bandanas are used whole.

The bandanas used in this tutorial were 100% cotton and were 20" x 20" square.  If you use a different size, you may have to use a longer or shorter length of ribbon or cord for your project.

The bandanas may be wrinkled due to packaging.  So you may want to remove the wrinkles by ironing them.  Important:  Make sure to supervise kids while they are using the iron.

STEP 2: create drawstring casing

To start the project, let's prepare the casing to hold the cord or ribbon.

What is a casing?

A casing is a folded-over edge of fabric that creates a channel through which the ribbon or cord can be threaded in order to pull and gather the fabric.

Lay the first bandana on the table with the right side facing down.  Bandanas, like most fabric,  have a right and wrong side.  The pretty or brighter side is the right side.

Using a sewing measuring ruler, fold down one edge of the bandana 1 1/2" toward the wrong side.  Finger press (or press with iron) and pin. 

Go to the sewing machine.  Using a straight stitch (and you can use the presser foot edge as a guide), sew close to the unfolded edge being sure to backstitch at the start and end.  As sewing along remove the pins.

Now, again using a straight stitch, edgestitch the top (folded edge) of the casing using the edge of the presser foot as a guide.  Remember to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Trim the threads.

Repeat the casing-making process with the second bandana.  Both bandanas now have casings for the cord (ribbon).

STEP 3: sew the drawstring bandana bag together

To make the drawstring bag, a seam will be sewn along the two sides and bottom.

Lay the two bandanas on top of each other, right sides together, aligning all edges.  The bandanas may not be the same size so do the best you can. 

 Pin all the way around the bandanas to hold them together.  Starting at the inner casing stitching (you don't want to stitch the casing closed), 

all the way down one side, across the bottom and up the other side to the casing; stopping at the stitching line. 

The two bandanas I purchased were not exactly the same size.  Below is an example of how I pinned them together.

To begin sewing the bandanas into a bag, go to the sewing machine, place the bandanas under the presser foot and begin sewing the first side right at the casing seam; leaving the casing unstitched. You begin sewing where you stitched the first casing seam.

Using the edge of the presser foot as a guide and a straight stitch, sew a few stitches forwards, then a few stitches backward (locking the stitches in place).

Stitch all the way down the first side, backstitching to lock the stitches at the end.

Remove the bag from the sewing machine, sew along the bottom edge.  Finally, sew along the other side making sure to stop before the casing.

STEP 4: insert the drawstring

Now the bag itself is finished!  You just have to put the drawstrings in through both casings.

For the drawstrings, you will need two lengths of cord or ribbon 48" long.

A simple safety pin is a great way to thread cord or ribbon through the casing channel.

To do this, take the first cord/ribbon and make a knot on one end.  Attach a safety pin to the knot.

Insert the safety pin into one of the side casing openings.  Then scrunch the fabric around it and slide the safety pin forward until it comes out of the casing on the opposite side of the bag.

Go around the gap and insert the safety pin into the other casing, keep feeding the cord/ribbon through so it goes around the whole bag and comes out the opening where you started.

Once completely through both casings, remove the safety pin, cut off the knot, pull the drawstring ends up evenly and tie them together with a knot.

Repeat the process with the other cord/ribbon but this time start on the opposite side of the bag.

STEP 5: closing the drawstring bag

Now, you should have two handles and when you pull both drawstrings at the same time the bag will close.

All done! The bag will look like this once done.

We hope you enjoyed this bandana drawstring bag tutorial.  Be sure to pin, bookmark and share.  Come join our many followers on our YouTube channel. While you're there, please be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don't miss future videos.

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