Drawstring Bags Sewing Pattern
The Way My Mind Works
Are you the person who can’t bear to waste a garden glut? Every year we have an abundance of rhubarb, both homegrown and gifted from others experiencing a surplus too. Somehow I find myself accepting the seemingly impossible challenge of not wasting a single stalk. It’s partly my resourceful side trying to make good use of what we’ve been given. But I think within me there’s a creative excitement of “what could this become?”.
The older I get the more I realise my creativity isn’t restricted to one art form. It shows up in the garden. In the kitchen. In the way I look at wildflowers. And apparently…in the way I think about embroidery placement. I’m learning to recognise this part of myself as stewardship. My brain always looks for meaningful homes for things. Rather than fighting it, I’m embracing it as another expression of creativity.
When You Don’t Know Where to Put Your Embroidery
Embroidery can feel a bit like that glut of rhubarb. We are enthused by endless ideas…flowers we want to stitch, techniques we want to try and there's the repetition the learning process itself requires. Everyone enjoys embroidery differently. Some stitch purely for the peaceful process. Some frame their work. Some keep samplers. For me, embroidery is like the rhubarb. I feel that bubbling creative excitement of “what could this become?”. I’m naturally drawn towards sewing projects that give my embroidery a home in daily life. But just like the garden harvest, embroidery placement can become overwhelming. That’s where creative rhythms help just like a recipe would.
Sometimes embroidery ideas are already intricately woven into a sewing project in my mind. Our upcoming tool case and needle case are examples of that. Your creative wires align them, and each feels like it uniquely belongs to and completes the other. But often my creativity or time is so focused on the intricacy of that embroidery pattern or stitch that I have no ideas left about where it will belong.
The Drawstring Bags Sewing Pattern
That’s when I need a practical solution to return to time and time again. Just like I turn to my favourite staple rhubarb recipes…pairings with apples, nectarines or even a crumble or two. In my sewing room, the Drawstring Bags have become my staple recipe.
Having a familiar project ready means I spend less time wondering where a design should go and more time stitching. I get to satisfy my wiring urge to find a home for everything and celebrate that embroidery I spent so long creating.
Design Notes
I designed the Drawstring Bags pattern with embroidery placement in mind. If you are an embroiderer but new to sewing, this is a perfect starting project. It offers simple sewing techniques while giving you a blank canvas for your creative stitching. I have detailed some of the design features below.
Beginner friendly
If you’re new to sewing, this little project is accessible for complete beginners. It combines simple construction methods with multiple sizes and optional techniques to suit your sewing set up. You could even hand sew these bags if you don’t yet have access to a sewing machine.
- Four sizes included
- Printable PDF pattern
- Step-by-step video tutorial
- Method for completing without an overlocker/serger (& no raw edges!)
- Methods & shortcuts for overlocked/serged versions
- Suitable for beginners
Four Thoughtfully Sized Bags
Each size has been designed to pair with a commonly used embroidery hoop size (details below), making it easier to choose a project that feels naturally proportioned to your stitching.
Size 1 - 4” hoop
Size 2 - 5” hoop
Size 3 - 6” hoop
Size 4 - 8” hoop
Designed for Embroidery Placement
Each bag provides a generous central panel that allows botanical embroidery to sit comfortably without needing to rethink scale or positioning every time you begin a new design.
Made to Be Used
One of my favourite things about combining sewing and embroidery is watching handmade work become part of everyday life. These bags are designed to be filled, carried or even gifted. They can home your knitting, sewing tools, embroidery supplies or turn gift wrapping into a gift itself. I don’t think I’ll admit just how many of these I have made in the last year. But I can tell you that I have very few left in my own home. I didn’t think I knew that many people! It seems you can never have enough embroidered little gift bags at hand!
Less Time Deciding, More Time Stitching
Removing one small decision gifts us space to enjoy the process. This pattern helps me spend less time deciding and more time stitching. It has become my familiar starting point whenever I simply want to enjoy embroidery without overthinking where it should go.
Make it Yours
I hope this pattern helps solve a little of the decision fatigue for you, just as it has for me, and becomes a blank canvas for your creativity. You'll find the Drawstring Bags pattern right here and some FAQs below. If you’ve been waiting for a project to try a new stitch, a favourite wildflower or your very first botanical embroidery, perhaps it doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes having one familiar place to begin is all it takes to start creating. After all, every beautiful thing begins with the same little question…what could this become?
Much love,
Lisa xx
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Drawstring Bags sewing pattern suitable for beginners?
Yes. The Drawstring Bags pattern is beginner-friendly and a lovely project for building sewing confidence. The construction is simple, with the front and back sewn together before creating the drawstring channel, while the guide introduces useful techniques including Turn & Stitch seams and French seams.
What sizes are included in the Drawstring Bags pattern?
The pattern includes four sizes, with finished dimensions ranging from 15 × 20.5 cm for Size 1 to 27 × 37 cm for Size 4. This makes them useful for everything from little supplies and gifts to larger handmade projects.
What fabric can I use for the drawstring bags?
The bags are designed for woven fabrics. Cotton poplin, quilting cotton, calico, linen around 180–200gsm and cotton-linen blends are all great choices. It's also a versatile pattern, so you can experiment with other woven fabrics you already have at home.
Do I need an overlocker to make the bags?
Not at all. The pattern has been specifically designed so you can achieve a neat finish using an ordinary sewing machine. Turn & Stitch seams enclose the raw edges along the sides and a French seam creates a clean finish along the bottom. The guide also includes an alternative construction method if you do have an overlocker or serger.
What can I use for the drawstrings?
You can use ribbon, cotton tape, cord, lace or even twine, depending on the look you'd like to create. The pattern has a 2 cm drawstring channel, so flat drawstrings can be up to 2 cm wide, while thicker cord-style drawstrings are best kept to around 1 cm wide.
Can I embroider the drawstring bags?
Absolutely. The bags were designed with embroidery in mind. Each of the four bag sizes corresponds to a common embroidery hoop size, from a 100mm (4 inch) hoop for Size 1 through to a 190mm (8 inch) hoop for Size 4. You can also use smaller embroidery designs on any of the larger bags.
When should I add embroidery to my drawstring bag?
It's easiest to embroider the fabric after you've cut and marked your pieces but before you begin constructing the bag. This keeps the fabric flat and gives you plenty of room to position your hoop and stitch comfortably.
How much fabric do I need?
If you'd like to make all four sizes, you'll need 90 cm of fabric at least 100 cm wide. If you're making just one bag, you can use the finished measurements in the guide to help estimate the fabric required, remembering to allow for the seams and drawstring channel.
How do I print the digital sewing pattern?
The pattern includes both A0 copy-shop and A4/US Letter files. When printing at home, print at 100% or Actual Size and check the ruler on the printed pattern before assembling your pages. The guide also walks you through assembling the tiled pattern.
Is there a video tutorial included?
Yes. A step-by-step sewing tutorial is available to accompany the pattern, along with a separate video showing you how to print and assemble a digital sewing pattern if it's your first time.