Easy Peasy: 25 Drawstring Bag Patterns You Can Make in a Day!

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Drawstring bags are an easy and fun sewing project for sewers at all levels. A drawstring closure is simple to sew and usually requires no extra notions such as zippers, snaps, or buttons.

Projects with drawstrings include backpacks, gift bags, tote bags and purses, jewelry bags, treat bags, laundry bags, beach bags, and more. Let’s jump right in… You can grab some fabric from your stash (or upcycle an old sheet) and make the first bag on this list today!

Heart Drawstring Bag Pattern

Photo credit: Amy Smart / Diary of a Quilter

This first free drawstring bag pattern makes a gift that comes straight from the heart! Use patchwork techniques to make a special drawstring sack for someone you love. Wouldn’t it make the best gift bag?

Easy Peasy Drawstring Backpack Pattern

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

The easy-peasy drawstring backpack pattern is perfect for boys, girls, teens, and young adults. It has been an online favorite for years!

Smaller Drawstring Backpack with Ribbon Ties

Photo credit: Alice & Lois

What kid doesnโ€™t want a little backpack to carry their found treasures, books, gum, lip balm, and little trinkets? This simple backpack tutorial has a pocket on the outside of the bag and is very easy to sew.

Japanese Style Square Drawstring Bag

Photo credit: Sum of Their Stories

These bags have a lovely fat shape and can be decorated any way you like. The free tutorial shares a simple Boro style that uses small pieces of scrap fabric and just a couple of very easy hand stitches. You can, of course, skip the embellishment step and just make a sweet square komebukuro bag from a beautiful fabric youโ€™d like to showcase.

Beautiful Drawstring Purse with Patchwork

Photo credit: Amy Smart / Diary of a Quilter

Amy Smart shows us just how beautiful a drawstring bag can be! Her free pattern makes a beautiful purse that’s perfect for carrying on vacation.

Drawstring Gift Bags from Cotton Fabric

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

Sew small drawstring bags with ribbon ties in two different sizes. The pattern includes a larger bag that is approximately 9 1/2โ€™โ€™ tall and 9โ€™โ€™ wide and a smaller bag that is approximately 5” x 4”. These cute bags are perfect for holding gifts and treasures.

Bride’s Drawstring Bag

Photo credit: Sum of Their Stories

Most wedding dresses donโ€™t have pockets and brides donโ€™t generally carry a handbag or purse around on their wedding day. You can help solve this problem by sewing a beautiful bride’s drawstring bag for her. Isn’t this the most thoughtful gift?

Drawstring Bag from a T-Shirt

Photo credit: Swoodson Says

Dig into a thrift store or your donate pile and turn old tshirts into drawstring bags! There are many different ways to make a drawstring bag, but this tutorial is specifically for stretchy fabrics that donโ€™t fray and can be sewn up quickly en masse for gift giving. This tutorial does not have specific sizes, so it can be used for whatever size shirt youโ€™re working with; very little measuring is required!

DIY Jewelry Bag

Photo credit: The Sewing Loft

Whether you are new to sewing or just getting back into it after a long break, this easy-to-make drawstring bag is the perfect project. The simple bag tutorial requires no special pattern or rulers and can be made with your favorite fat quarters.

Handy Dandy Pouch Pattern

skinny drawstring pouch free sewing patterns
Photo credit: Sedef Imer.

The Handy Dandy Pouch is a narrow drawstring bag that is the perfect size for reading glasses, sunglasses, pencils, markers, or treats. Contrasting fabrics make them look like they come from an exclusive boutique.

Drawstring Ditty Bag Pattern

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

The Drawstring Ditty Bag is a little bit larger, and it has a flat bottom. You can sew it with contrasting fabrics or all one fabric. Ties can be ribbon, fabric, or leather strings. So many uses, from gifting to organizing. How will you use them?

Bunny Treat Bags

Photo credit: Igisheva Maria / Shutterstock.com

Darling Bunny Treat Bags are easy to sew for Valentine’s, Easter, spring parties, or anyone who loves animals.

Drawstring Wine Bottle Bag

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

Hereโ€™s a drawstring wine bottle bag that will come in handy for gifts. There’s also an optional gnome cover you can make for the top. Itโ€™s perfect for sharing holiday cheer and for holiday decorating, too.

Fabric Drawstring Basket

Photo credit: Gluesticks

This precious bag is sewn from 2 fabrics and can have a DIY drawstring or use ribbon or rope. The drawstring basket bag is perfect for gift-giving or carrying your lunch!

Drawstring Gift Bags in lots of sizes

Photo credit: See Kate Sew

Reusable gift bags will save you time and money on wrapping paper in the long run. This free tutorial shows how to make a basic fabric gift bag with a drawstring or one with a sash that ties at the back. The drawstring method uses buttonholes, but the sash option doesnโ€™t, so itโ€™s a little easier.

Easy Gift Bags with Burlap and Yarn

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

Burlap Gift Bags are another variation on a small sack for gifts or treats. A rustic natural burlap set would be a cute addition to a farmhouse-style get-together. What about a heart embroidered in red for Valentine’s Day?

Retro Drawstring Bags

Photo credit: aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com

I adore these Cute Retro Drawstring Bags from Spoonful of Sugar Designs. The details make all the difference in Lisa and Sarahโ€™s free tutorial.

Patchwork Drawstring Bag Pattern

Photo credit: Melissa Mortenson / Polka Dot Chair

Melissa at Polka Dot Chair shares a charming patchwork drawstring bag pattern using pre-cut squares. The finished size is approximately 13” x 18”.

Simple Unlined Drawstring Bag Pattern

Photo credit: Sum of Their Stories

Maybe you are short on time or short on fabric! If that’s the case, here’s a tutorial for a simple unlined drawstring bag. Sometimes simple is best!

Easy Drawstring Backpack with a Zipper Pocket

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

A drawstring backpack with a zipper pocket is better for keeping contents separated. This drawstring backpack is a great one to pick.

Drawstring Laundry Bag

Photo credit: Melissa Mortenson / Polka Dot Chair

Drawstring laundry bags are a basic necessity for travelers, students, and kids’ bedrooms. Here’s an easy tutorial that uses fat quarters.

Fish Shaped Drawstring Laundry Bag

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

Fish-shaped drawstring bags are a clever way to make laundry fun! Use mesh fabric for the bottom part, and it makes a sand-free beach bag. This tutorial comes with a free printable template.

Fish-Shaped Drawstring Backpack

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

You can also sew a DIY Easy Fish Shaped Drawstring Backpack. It is a huge hit with boys and girls alike. Who will you send on an outing with this one?

Japanese-Style Drawstring Bag with a Handle

This Japanese-style tote is another fabulous drawstring bag. Patchwork and pockets make each side stylish and functional. It might be even cuter uncinched than when itโ€™s cinched. You decide.

Mod Satchel Faux Leather Bag

Photo credit: SewCanShe.com

The drawstring bag gets a glamorous makeover when made with faux leather on the exterior, cotton fabric on the inside, and a shoulder strap. The Mod Satchel Pattern makes a great purse!

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Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. ๐Ÿ™‚