How to Make a Reversible Drawstring Bag

Project/Craft

Let's get a little crafty by making a reversible drawstring bag. It can be turned inside-out to reveal a different fabric design.

Tools & Materials

To get started, you will need to collect the following materials. Be sure to read the assembly instructions first so that you can modify the materials list to your liking.

For your convenience, we have provided affiliate links to the materials. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying products.

Assembly Instructions

Step 1

Steps 1-8 apply for both pieces of fabric.

Cut out a 8″x12″ piece from one of your two sheets of fabric. Then, fold the piece in half, lengthwise, from left to right. The good side should be facing inward.

Draw seam lines 1/4″ from the edges, then pin the edges together.

Step 2

On the fabric's top-right edge, mark a line 1″ from the top.

Step 3

Fold one corner of the fabric to make a narrow lapel. The bottom end of the lapel should terminate at the 1″ mark that you made.

Fold the lapel one more time and pin it into place. Make sure not to pin it to the other side of the fabric.

Flip the piece over and repeat to create a matching lapel.

Step 4

Stitch a line up the centers of each lapel. Be sure not to sew them together!

Step 5

Sew the bottom and right side of the fabric, following the seam line. DO NOT sew up the lapels, and DO NOT sew up the top!

Cut off the lower-right corner at a 45-degree angle. DO NOT cut into the thread.

Cut a small slit up the lower-left corner where the fabric folds. Stop the cut just short of the seam line.

Step 6

Turn your bag so that the side seam is on top. Try to center it as much as possible.

The bottom of the bag should fold into a diamond shape. Open the seams and iron them flat.

Step 7

Now, you need to box the bottom of your bag. This will give it a flat base that will allow the bag to stand.

Use a ruler to mark the centers of each edge of the diamond.

On the top corner of the diamond, draw a line between the two centers. Repeat for the bottom corner.

Step 8

Sew seams along both lines that you drew. Then, cut off both corners approximately 1/4″ from the seams.

Step 9

Open both bags. Make sure that one is right-side-out and one is right-side-in.

Place the bag that is right-side-out inside of the bag that is right-side-in. The right sides of the bags should be facing each other.

Adjust the bags so that the side seams and lapels line up. Then, pin the top edges of the bags together.

Sew a seam along the top of the bag approximately 1/4″ from the top edge. DO NOT sew along the lapels! The lapels should form a hole.

Step 10

Through the lapel hole, turn your bag inside-out. Take your time, and you will have a nearly-completed bag with your fabrics' right sides facing outward.

Step 11

Sew a seam along the top of the bag approximately 3/4″ from the top edge. It should run just below the bottom of the lapels.

Step 12

Cut a 16″-long piece of cord and attach a safety pin to one end.

Use the safety pin to run the cord through the drawstring channel and out the other end.

Remove the safety pin. If you want to use a drawstring clasp to help keep your bag closed, attach it to the cord now.

Tie off the end of the cord, and your drawstring bag is complete!

Use your own fabrics and design templates to create unique bags for different purposes like a cusotm bag to hold a growing collection of power tokens for the Disney Villainous board game.

What changes did you make? Did you create a wild color scheme? Did you make it bigger or smaller? Submit photos of your creations to the Fan Board so that everyone can see!

Both the post author and this website have not received any compensation for writing this post. Both the post author and this website have no material connection to the third-party brands, products, or services that have been mentioned unless otherwise explicitly stated. Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means that if you purchase the item, we will receive a commission. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying products. This is being disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."