Kristen Sew Krafty: Joyous Project Bag

I am absolutely in love with drawstring bags right now! Anyone else involved in this craze?? Years ago a friend of mine carried her yarn projects in a adorable little project bag with a handle on one side. I fell in love with it immediately and put it on my list to make. Fast forward a few years and I have finally sat down and done so. I have scoured Pinterest for a tutorial on how to make these and could only find paid patterns so I decided to give it a go and make my own. And that is how the Joyous Project Bag came to be.

To make a two tone bag, you will need fabric for the top and bottom outer, as well as lining fabric, the drawstring casing fabric and handle fabric. You will also need some kind of interfacing. I used Decor Bond from Pellon, but Shape flex or fusible fleece would also work - depending on how stiff you want your bag.

I made two bag sizes, but you could definitely play with the dimensions if you wanted something smaller or larger.

For the large bag, cut the following:

Outer top: cut 2 - 8x14

Outer bottom: cut 2 - 7x14

drawstring casing: cut 2 - 13x4 (if you want a larger ruffle, 13x3 if you want a smaller ruffle)

handle: cut 1 - 3x12

For the smaller bag, cut the following:

Outer top: cut 2 - 7x12

Outer bottom: cut 2 - 5x12

drawstring casing: cut 2 - 12x4 (if you want a larger ruffle, 12x3 if you want a smaller ruffle)

handle: cut 1 - 3x12

For the handle, you can make it however you typically make handles - for this one I ironed some shape flex on the back, folded it in half wrong sides together and stitched along the long edge. Then I flipped it right side out and stitched on both outside edges and along the center. You could also fold it in quarters and stitch down as well.

Next, take your drawstring casing pieces and fold 1/8" on the short ends two times so you have no raw edges showing.

Do this on both pieces and stitch down

Next take your top and bottom pieces and stitch them together. I like to press the seam toward the top

Then iron Decor Bond onto the two outer pieces and top-stitch close to the seam

At this point I used my outer pieces to cut my lining pieces so they are the same size. Then I layered all four pieces together and cut out a 2.5" corner for the large and a 2" corner for the small

If you want a pocket on the inside - this is totally optional - cut 2 pieces of coordinating fabric at 13x8 for the large and 2 pieces at 7x5 for the small. Place fabrics wrong side together and stitch all the way around leaving a small opening for turning.

Turn right sides out, iron and stitch along the top edge. Center on the lining fabric, making sure to keep it far enough away from the edges so it won't get caught in your seams when you sew it together. I stitched a line down the center to make 2 pockets - but you can customize however you like!

For both lining and outer, place right sides together and stitch along both side edges and along the bottom edge - just be sure to leave an opening in the lining bottom edge for turning later

Turn the outer piece right side out, leaving the lining wrong sides out

Take the handle and cut both ends at an angle - making sure they are both cut the same way - see pic for clarification

Take the outer bag and fold so that both side seams are touching each other. Place the side seam on a line on your cutting mat

Then take your handle and place the inside edge roughly 1.5" from the side seam

clip in place and do the same for the other side - the handle should be about 3" apart

You can stitch the handles down or just leave them clipped. I left mine clipped and flattened the bag with the seams back on the side. Then place the drawstring casing aligned with the top unfinished edge and centered on the fabric.

Do this to both sides making sure when you look at it from the top they are lined up

Take the lining - wrong side out - and place it over the outer bag (which is still right side out), making sure to match the side seams

Clip in place and stitch all the way around the top

Turn right side out through the hole in the lining and stitch the gap closed

Iron the edge of the bag near the drawstring casing and stitch 1/4" from the casing all the way around the bag.

If you want a ruffle on your drawstring casing, stitch roughly 1/2" from the edge of the bag across the casing - backstitching at beginning and end of casing. Do this to both casings.