Project Summary:
This drawstring bags project is a wonderful way to introduce children to basic sewing machine techniques. The bags look great and can be used for so many different purposes such as using them for lunch bags, swim bags or to store sets of toys.
Safety Notice
Please note that children should only use sewing machines in situations where an adult has deemed it safe to do so based on their individual skill set. Sewing machines should only be used under the highest level of supervision.
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Project Details: Drawstring Bags Craft Project
| Materials: |
| A selection of material |
| Pins and a scissors |
| Ruler and a pencil |
| Twine or ribbon |
| A sewing machine |
You will need a sewing machine for this project. If you do not already have one, sewing machines are a great investment as they can be used for endless craft projects and will provide value for many years to come. Amazon has a fantastic selection of sewing machines, ranging from machines for beginners to machines for advanced users, click on the links below to view details:
Latest Products: Sewing Machines
Step 1 – Prepare the materials
The first step is to gather a selection of material that can be used to create rectangular shaped bags. Once you have the sewing machine set up, you will also need pins, a scissors, and twine or ribbon for the drawstrings.
Step 2 – Cut the material for the bag
The next step is to take your chosen material and fold it in half. Then use a ruler and pencil to mark out a rectangle shape on the material. The bags can be created for any shape or size so it is best to select a size to suit the purpose for which you will be using the bag. Once you have completed this you can cut along the pencil lines with a scissors.
Step 3 – Create a hem
Once you have cut a rectangle shape from your material, turn the material so that the pattern sides (the right sides) are facing each other. Then fold the top edge of the material down twice to make a hem and pin the material in place. Make sure to create a wide hem, approximately 1 inch, and this will give you room to thread the drawstring through later. Iron the hem down to make it easier to sew on the material.
Using the sewing machine, sew one line of stitching along the outer edge where the pins are holding the hem in place. As you sew remove each pin before sewing further. When the two hems have been sewed cut any excess thread away.
Step 4 – Sew the sides of the bag
Once the hems have been stitched, fold the material in half with the pattern-sides facing each other, and line up the hems. Pin each of the two sides of material together. Using the sewing machine, sew down each of the two sides which have been attached together using pins. Again, remove the pins when sewing and cut off any excess thread when complete.
Once the sewing has been completed use a scissors to create simple slits which will act as access points for the drawstrings within the top hem (you will have four slits in total). When cutting be careful to cut the slit only on the inside piece of material and not the outer part as you want the slits to be hidden from the outside.
Step 5 – Thread the drawstrings
The final step is to turn your bag inside out to show the right side of the fabric facing outwards. Then attach the ribbon or twine you have chosen to a large safety pin and thread the drawstring into the first slit. Feed the safety pin around the entire hem and pull the drawstring through the slit at the other end of the fabric. Repeat this step by feeding the safety pin into the next slit and around the other side of the hem. Finally pull the drawstring out of the final slit where it meets the starting point of the drawstring. Simply tie the start and end points of the drawstrings together and cut off any excess thread.
Step 6 – Display the finished product
Your drawstring bag is now complete and children can easily open and close the bag by pulling the drawstring and scrunching the material of the fabric as to become tightly closed.
Step 7 – Experiment
You can experiment by trying out different materials and creating bags of different sizes. Drawstring bags can be used for so many purposes and smaller bags are a great way to store smaller items from children’s toys. They can also be a great way to enable younger children to develop their fine motor skills by placing small objects in and taking them out of the bags.
