How to sew a draw-string bag tutorial

It has become very obvious to us that marbles are a nusaince to keep track of. They seem to get under furniture, behind book cases and I think my daughter loves leaving them around the house just as much as she likes playing with them. I have to admit having marbles here, there and everywhere is making me lose my marbles so I've decided to suprise my daughter with her very own draw-string marble bag. In case you are also in need of a draw-string bag for marbles or any other small toys and bits and pieces here is a tutorial on how to sew one.

What you will need

• Sewing Machine
• Scissors or rotary blade cutter
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Safety pin and sewing pins
• Cutting mat if using a rotary blade cutter
• Pen or anything to make marks on fabric
• 2 pieces of fabric, any non-stretch material, cotton, linen, polyester, gingham
• 2 pieces of ribbon 

First you will need to use your scissors or rotary cutter to cut 2 pieces of fabric 12 inches x 10 inches.







If you want you can now go over the edges with a zig zag stitch to clean up edges and stop fraying do this now around all sides of both pieces of fabric. I recommend it as sometimes the holes where the ribbons are threaded through tend to come through and fray.






Using your ruler or measuring tape, measure from the top of bag and make 2 marks at 3 inches, then at 4 inches along the longer side of the bag. Mark both sides of bag in the same manner.  See photo below.

Put both pieces of fabric right sides facing each other and pin in place. Set up your sewing machine on straight stitch and start sewing leaving a 1/4" seam from the edge of fabric. Sew back and forth a few stitches to anchor your sewing. Stop at the 3 inch mark and then start again at the 4 inch mark so you have a 1 inch gap for your ribbon to go through. Continue sewing along the side and bottom edge and then back up the other side, again stopping and starting again at the 4 inch and 3 inch marks. See photo.


Now you can leave the bag just as is or you can get a little fancy on the bottom corners. The bag will sit open a bit better and it just looks a little nicer, I think. But this really is an optional step. To make the bottom corners a little fancy, put your hand in the bag and open up the corner. Fold so that the corner forms a triangle. With your fingers on the outside feel that both seams are touching each other. Then press flat and put under the machine to sew. See photo below as I really find this tricky to explain.


Sew across the triangle like this about an 1.5 inches from the triangle's top point. Repeat on other side. Once you do that you end up with something like this.








Flip 2 inches of the top into the bag to form the casting where the ribbon will go through. Using a straight stitch sew a 1/4 of an inch from the edge of the casting.

Cut two pieces of ribbon 23 inches in length. Put a safety pin through the end of one of the pieces of ribbon. Thread through one hole until you come back to the same hole. Once you have done that tie the two ends together with a knot. Do the same again with the other piece of ribbon but thread through the other hole.











And there you have it! Your own draw-string bag for all those amazing marbles. Of course this simple bag would be great for all sorts of game pieces and toys. If you want something bigger or smaller just adjust the size of the fabric pieces and the length of the strings.

Happy sewing and happy playing!