Quilted Drawstring Bag Tutorial
Discover the perfect solution for gifting quilts, storing them when not in use, or creating versatile bags for party favours and taking your quilt with you to your next sleepover party, with my DIY Quilted Drawstring Bag Tutorial. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of making a beautiful and functional quilted drawstring bag with my adorable Party Animals quilt block series. Perfect for gifting, storage, or fun occasions, these bags are sure to be a hit!
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Find all the tools and materials mentioned below in the one place here*
- One block from the Party Animals quilt block series. Download the quilt block pattern(s) from here. The Tiger block was used in this example.
- Sewing machine (with zigzag stitch function, if you don’t know have access to a serger / overlock sewing machine). The purpose of the zigzag stitch (or serger) is to enclose the raw edges of the drawstring bag casing.
- Serger (optional)
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
- Quilting ruler(s) – preferably a long, medium and small sized ruler, i.e. 6in x 24in, 6in x 12in and 6½in x 6½in.
- Coordinating thread(s). 50 weight for piecing, general construction, quilting.
- Heramarker
- Scissors for fabric
- Measuring tape
- Fabric pencil or marker
- Pins
- Seam ripper
- Snips (optional)
- Iron
- Basting spray (for spray basting) or safety pins (for pin basting)
- Batting – two (2) 24in squares.
- Light-weight fusible interfacing (optional) – one (1) 18in square. this additional layer can be added to the back of the Party Animal quilt block to prevent the face from distorting while quilting.
- One safety pin
- Fabric, quilting cotton – Fabric requirements outlined below exclude fabric requirements for the quilt block. Those are supplied in the individual Party Animals quilt block [pattern, which can be downloaded here. Requirements are in bold text and based on 42in WOF (width of fabric) and cutting directions are in bullet points.
|
Fabric A (Flying Geese) |
¼ yard (23 cm)* or one (1) fat eighth • Two (2) squares, 7in |
|
Fabric B (Flying Geese) |
⅛ yard (12 cm) or one (1) fat eighth • Eight (8) squares, 3¾in |
|
Fabric C and D |
For each Fabric C and D ¼ yard (23 cm)* or one (1) fat eighth
From each Fabric C and D, cut: |
|
Fabric E (Backside of Bag Exterior) |
½ yard (46 cm) • One (1) square, 17in |
|
Fabric F (Lining of Bag) |
½ yard (46 cm) • Two (2) squares, 17in |
|
Fabric G (Bag Exterior Binding) |
⅛ yard (12 cm) • One (1) rectangle, 2in x 40in |
|
Fabric H (Drawstring Casing) |
¼ yard (23 cm)* or one (1) fat eighth • Two (2) rectangles, 6½in x 17in |
|
Fabric I (Drawstring Ties) |
⅛ yard (12 cm) • Two (2) rectangles, 2in x 40in |
*Note: Do not substitute ⅛ yard (12 cm) for Fabrics A, C, D and G requirements, even though a fat eighth is sufficient. This is because ⅛ yard (12 cm) is not wide enough for larger cuts.
DIRECTIONS
Read through all the directions before you start. Seam allowance throughout the project is ¼in unless specified.
FLYING GEESE UNITS
Step 1: On the wrong side of all Fabric B squares, draw a diagonal guideline.
Step 2: As shown in the diagram, with right sides together and diagonal guidelines lined up, place two (2) marked Fabric B squares on top of one (1) Fabric A square to create Flying Geese Set A. Pin as needed to keep the pieces secure as you sew.
Repeat this step to create a total of two (2) Flying Geese Set As.
Step 3: Sew ¼" on both sides of the drawn line on all Flying Geese Sets. Cut on the drawn guideline to create two (2) Flying Geese Sections and press the seams, as shown in the diagram. There should be a total of four (4) Flying Geese Sections As.
Step 4: Noting the orientation of the marked guideline, place one (1) marked Fabric B square (from step 1) on top of one (1) Flying Geese Sections A. Sew ¼" on both sides of the drawn line on all Flying Geese Sections. Repeat this step with all four (4) Flying Geese Sections As.
Step 5: Cut on the drawn line on all Flying Geese Sections, and press the seams to create a total of eight (8) Fabric A/B Flying Geese units.
Step 6: Trim all Flying Geese units from the previous step to 3¼" x 6" rectangle. This is broken down into two steps:
(a): Position Flying Geese horizontally and the larger triangle of the Flying Geese unit is pointing towards you. Use ruler with 45-degree angle guide, match the guide with the diagonal seam and align the tip of the triangle (the red circle as shown in the diagram) with the 3" marking on the ruler. Ensure there is at least ¼" of fabric between the tip of the larger triangle of the Flying Geese unit and the bottom edge of the Flying Geese unit. This measurement is the seam. Then trim the right and top edge of the unit.
(b): Rotate the unit 180-degrees, and trim Flying Geese unit to 3¼" x 6" rectangle. Repeat this step for all Flying Geese units.
Step 7: Sew two (2) Fabric A/B Flying Geese units together to create one (1) Fabric A/B Block; Press the seam as you go.
Repeat this step to create a total of four (4) Fabric A/B Blocks. Set units aside for Block Assembly, Step 3.
HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS
Step 1: With right sides facing each other, place one (1) Fabric C square on top of one (1) Fabric D square. Sew a line ¼" from all four edges to create one (1) Fabric C/D HST Set. Pin as needed to keep the pieces secure as you sew.
Step 2: On the wrong side of all the Fabric C/D HST Sets, draw two diagonal guidelines.
Step 3: Cut on the marked guidelines and press the seams open or to the dark side to create four (4) Fabric C/D HST units.
Step 4: Trim each Fabric C/D HST unit to a 3¼in square. Set units aside for Block Assembly, Step 3.
BLOCK ASSEMBLY
Step 1: This project calls for one of four Party Animals quilt blocks. Download the one of your choosing – Tiger, Koala, Bear and Monkey – and assemble the block. For this tutorial I have created the Tiger block.
Step 2: If using light-weight fusible interfacing, apply interfacing on the back of the Party Animal quilt block.
Step 3: Following the diagram, sew together two (2) Fabric C/D HST units and one (1) Fabric A/C Block to create one (1) Row A unit. Press the seams as you go.
Repeat this step to create a total of two (2) Row A units.
Step 4: Complete Party Animal Block by sewing together two (2) Fabric A/C Blocks, one (1) Fabric A/C Block on each side of Bear unit. Then sew two (2) Row A units on the top and bottom of the Bear Block. Press the seams as you go.
BAG SANDWICH
A quilt sandwich (in this instance, a quilt block) usually consists of three layers – quilt top [quilt block], batting and quilt back [quilt block back]. For this particular project, the sandwich is made up of the quilt block created in Block Assembly, Step 1, permanent stabiliser or interfacing (if used), and one layer of batting. The backing fabric is omitted from the quilt sandwich and will be added in a later step as the bag lining.
Step 1: Lay batting down and place the Party Animal Block from the previous step on top of the batting. The wrong side of the Party Animal Block touching the batting. Baste the layers together using your preferred method, and machine quilt on a domestic sewing machine to secure the layers to create one (1) Bag Front Sandwich.
Repeat this step with second batting square and one (1) Fabric E square to create one (1) Bag Backside Sandwich.
Step 2: For each Sandwich from the previous step, remove excess batting with a quilting ruler and rotary cutter. Each Sandwich should measure 17in square.
BAG EXTERIOR AND LINING
Step 1: With right sides together, pin one (1) Bag Front Sandwich to one (1) Bag Backside Sandwich. Sew ¼in away from the edge and leave the top edge of the bag open to create Bag Exterior. Don’t forget to reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam.
When sewing the Bag Sandwiches together, make sure the animal design at the front of the bag is position correctly in relation to the bag opening. You don’t want the animal design to be upside down when opening and closing the bag.
Step 2: Carefully clip the bottom two corners without cutting into the seam to create a crisp and flat finish. Turn Bag Exterior right side out, and use a point turner or tip of scissors to poke the corners out to complete the Bag Exterior. Set Bag Exterior aside for Bag Exterior and Lining, Step 3.
Step 3: Similar to the previous step, with right sides together, pin two (2) Fabric F squares together. Sew ¼in away from the edge and leave the top edge of the bag open to create Bag Interior. Don’t forget to reverse stitch at the start and end of the seam.
Carefully clip the bottom two corners without cutting into the seam to create a crisp and flat finish.
Step 4: Turn Bag Exterior right side out. With a point turner, poke both corners out to create sharp and crisp corners.
Slide Bag interior inside of the Bag Exterior, wrong sides to touching each other. Start at one side of the bag, line up the side seams and raw edges. Pin Bag Exterior and Bag Lining together. When pinning, ensure the side seams on the Bag Exterior and Bag Lining are open to reduce seam bulk. Repeat this step with the second side of the bag. Then, pin in between the sides to hold the Bag Exterior and Bag Lining in place.
Step 5: Sew ⅛in away from the raw edge to secure the Bag Exterior and Bag Lining to create Bag Body. Set Bag Body aside for Bag Assembly, Step 1.
DRAWSTRING CASING
Step 1: Use a serger or zigzag stitch the shorter sides of both Fabric H rectangles to cover and prevent the raw edges from fraying.
Step 2: With right sides facing each other, pin two Fabric H rectangles together. Using a fabric pen or pencil, from the top edge, mark 2in and 2¾in on the shorter sides of Fabric H. These marks indicate the holes to thread the drawstrings.
Step 3: Starting at the top of pinned Fabric H rectangles and along the shorter edges, sew ¼in away from the raw edge up to the 2in guide. Then lift the sewing machine presser foot and needle. Starting from the 2¾in guide, sew ¼in away from the raw edge. Don’t forget to reverse stitch at the start and end of each seam for additional enforcement. Press the seams open.
Step 4: Fold the long, top edge of Fabric H rectangles down ½in. Press to hold in place.
Tip: Draw 1in guide from the top edge of the Fabric H rectangles. Then fold the long raw edge to the 1in guide. This guide helps with achieving ½in fold accurately.
Step 5: Fold the enclosed long edge of Fabric H rectangles down 1¼in. Press to hold in place and edge sew to permanently hold in place. Then sew ⅛in away from the fold to create Casing. Set Bag aside for Bag Assembly, Step 1.
Tip: Draw 2½in guide from the top, folded edge of the Fabric H rectangles. Then fold long raw edge to the 2½in guide. This guide helps with achieving 1¼in fold accurately.
DRAWSTRING TIES
Step 1: To create the Drawstring Ties, begin with one (1) Fabric I rectangle, wrong side facing up. Fold both raw, shorter edges towards the centre of the rectangle (approx. ¼in) to enclose the raw edges. Press and top stitch both folded edges.
Step 2: Fold Fabric I in half lengthwise with the wrong sides to the fabric together, and press flat. Unfold Fabric I. Using the centre crease as a guide, fold raw edges of Fabric I rectangle towards the centre and press. Then using the centre crease as a guide again, fold Fabric I rectangle in half again. Therefore, there should be four layers stacked on top of each other. Sew approximately ⅛in from the edge to secure the four layers of fabric to create one (1) Drawstring Tie. Don’t forget to reverse stitch at the start and end of the seams.
Step 3: Repeat this Drawstring Ties, Step 1 and 2 to create a total of two (2) Drawstring Ties. Set Drawstring Ties aside for Bag Assembly, Step 3 and 4.
BAG ASSEMBLY
Step 1: With the wrong side of the Casing touching the Lining of the Bag Body from Bag Exterior and Lining, Step 5, match the side seams and raw edges. Pin in place and sew ⅛in away from the raw edge to create Bag. This ⅛in seam keeps the layers in place while binding in the next step.
Step 2: Take Fabric G rectangle for Binding, fold it in half lengthwise and press to hold in place. Bind raw edge of Bag using your preferred method.
Step 3: Take one of the drawstring cords from Drawstring Ties, Step 3, and attach a safety pin on at one end. Starting from the top drawstring casing, thread cord from the left to right. Then thread cord through bottom drawstring casing from the right to left. Remove safety pin and pin both ends of the drawstring cord to prevent the cords from sliding back into the casing.
Step 4: This step is the opposite of the previous step. Take the second drawstring cord, attach the safety pin at the end of it. Staring from the top drawstring casing again, but this time thread the cord from the right to the left. Then thread cord through the bottom drawstring casing from left to right.
Step 5: Remove safety pins and tie a knot at each end of the drawstring cords to prevent the cords sliding out of the case.
Step 6: Trim loose threads to complete the project.
With these steps, you're well on your way to creating a charming quilted drawstring bag that's perfect for gifting, storage, or any fun occasion. The vibrant geometric border and delightful Party Animals quilt block will make your bag not only practical but also a stunning showcase of your quilting skills. Whether you use it to wrap a special quilt, store your quilting projects, or as a unique party favour, this bag is sure to impress.
I hope you find the no-waste flying geese and 4-in-1 half-square triangle methods as efficient and fun as I do. Don't forget to share your creations on social media and tag me so I can see your beautiful work! Happy quilting!
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