Drawstring Gift Bags: A Free Sewing Pattern by Tara Schreyer
There is something undeniably special about a handmade gift bag. Before the recipient even touches what is inside, they can already feel the care and intention that went into the wrapping itself. Fabric gift bags are reusable, beautiful, and surprisingly quick to sew, making them one of those projects that delivers enormous satisfaction for the time invested. This drawstring gift bag pattern by Tara Schreyer has become a beloved go-to for sewists of all skill levels, and once you make your first one, you will almost certainly want to make a dozen more.
Whether you are preparing for the holiday season, a birthday, a baby shower, or just want to have a collection of beautiful bags ready to go, this tutorial will walk you through everything you need to know — from choosing your fabric to pulling that drawstring closed with a satisfying tug.
Why Fabric Gift Bags Are Worth Making
Before we dive into the pattern itself, let us take a moment to appreciate why fabric gift bags have earned such a loyal following among crafters and gift-givers alike.
First, there is the environmental side of things. Single-use wrapping paper is one of the most wasteful traditions in modern gift-giving. Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled because of the foil, glitter, and dye it contains, and it ends up in landfills after a matter of seconds of being torn apart. A fabric gift bag, on the other hand, can be used for years — even decades. It becomes part of the tradition. Families pass the same bags back and forth at holidays, watching them soften and age beautifully over time.
Second, fabric gift bags are endlessly customizable. You can choose fabrics that perfectly match the personality of the recipient, the theme of the occasion, or the aesthetic of your home. A vintage floral cotton feels entirely different from a crisp linen or a luxurious velvet, and all of them are stunning in their own way.
Third, these bags are genuinely quick to sew. Even if you are new to sewing, you can complete your first drawstring gift bag in under an hour. Once you have made a few, thirty minutes is plenty. They are the ideal project for using up fabric scraps and stash fabrics that have been waiting patiently for the right purpose.
Materials You Will Need
One of the best things about this project is how little you need to get started. Here is a basic supply list for a medium-sized drawstring gift bag:
Fabric: You will need two coordinating fabrics — one for the outer bag and one for the lining. Fat quarters work beautifully for smaller bags, while half-yard cuts give you more flexibility for larger sizes. Quilting cotton is the most popular choice because it is easy to work with and comes in an almost infinite variety of prints and colors. However, linen, canvas, lightweight home décor fabric, and even flannel all work wonderfully.
Ribbon or cord for the drawstring: You will need approximately one yard of ribbon, twill tape, cotton cord, or decorative cording per bag. The width of your ribbon should be chosen to match the size of the casing you sew at the top of the bag. A quarter-inch cord pairs well with a narrow casing, while a half-inch ribbon calls for a slightly wider one.
Basic sewing supplies: A sewing machine, coordinating thread, scissors or a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, a ruler, pins or clips, an iron, and an ironing board are all you need. A safety pin or bodkin makes threading the drawstring through the casing considerably easier and is worth having on hand.
Optional but helpful: Tailor’s chalk or a fabric marking pen for marking seam allowances and casing lines, and an ironing board cover or pressing cloth if you are working with delicate fabrics.
Choosing the Right Fabric
Fabric selection is one of the most enjoyable parts of making gift bags, and it is also where your personal creativity gets to shine. Here are a few tips to help you choose wisely.
For the outer bag, look for fabrics with visual interest — prints, textures, or colors that feel celebratory or personal. Think about who the bag is for. A child’s birthday gift might call for a bright, playful print. A wedding gift could be beautifully wrapped in elegant ivory or blush fabric with a delicate floral print. A holiday bag might feature classic Christmas motifs, rich jewel tones, or a sophisticated plaid.
For the lining, you have two main options. You can choose a coordinating print that peeks out from the top of the bag when the drawstring is open, adding a delightful surprise element. Alternatively, you can choose a solid or tonal fabric that blends quietly with the outer fabric, keeping the focus on the exterior. Both approaches look beautiful and the choice is entirely yours.
When it comes to weight, try to keep your outer fabric and lining fabric similar in weight. Pairing a heavy canvas outer with a thin cotton lining, for instance, can create a bag that does not sit or hang quite right. Matching similar weights results in a finished bag that looks professional and feels balanced in the hand.
Pre-washing your fabric is always a good idea, especially if the bag will be reused and eventually laundered. Wash and dry your fabric the same way you plan to care for the finished bag, and press it well before cutting.
Understanding the Pattern Sizing
Tara Schreyer’s drawstring gift bag pattern is wonderfully versatile because it can be scaled to accommodate gifts of almost any size. The basic construction method remains the same regardless of the dimensions you choose, making it easy to adapt once you understand the fundamental steps.
For a small gift bag suitable for jewelry, small books, or stocking stuffers, a cut size of approximately 8 inches wide by 10 inches tall (for both the outer and lining fabric pieces) works beautifully. For a medium bag that fits most standard gifts — candles, wine bottles laid on their side, folded scarves, or small toys — try 12 inches wide by 14 inches tall. For large gifts or holiday hampers, scale up to 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall or even larger.
The key measurement to keep in mind is that your finished bag will be roughly 1 inch narrower and about 3 to 4 inches shorter than your cut pieces, accounting for seam allowances and the casing at the top. Always cut a test rectangle from scrap paper first if you are unsure about sizing.
Step-by-Step Sewing Instructions
Now for the heart of this tutorial — let us sew these bags together.
Step One: Cut Your Fabric
Cut two rectangles from your outer fabric and two rectangles from your lining fabric, all the same size. These four pieces will form the front and back of your outer bag and the front and back of your inner lining.
Press all four pieces with a hot iron to remove any wrinkles. Starting with well-pressed fabric makes every subsequent step cleaner and more accurate.
Step Two: Prepare the Casing
On each of the four fabric rectangles, fold down the top edge by half an inch and press. Then fold down again by another inch and press. This creates a double-fold hem at the top of each piece, which will eventually become the casing for your drawstring. Pin or clip the folds in place to hold them while you work.
Stitch along the lower edge of each folded hem, sewing approximately 7/8 of an inch from the top fold. This stitched line creates the channel through which your drawstring will pass. Do not stitch the ends closed — you will want the channel to be open on the sides so the drawstring can be threaded through later.
Step Three: Sew the Outer Bag
Place the two outer fabric pieces together with right sides facing each other, aligning all edges carefully. Pin or clip along the sides and bottom.
Sew down one side, across the bottom, and up the other side using a half-inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of your seam to secure it. Leave the top open.
Clip the corners diagonally, being careful not to cut through your stitching. This step reduces bulk in the corners and allows them to turn out crisp and square. Press the seams open if possible.
Step Four: Sew the Lining
Repeat the same process with your two lining fabric pieces, but this time leave a gap of about 3 to 4 inches along the bottom seam. This opening is what you will use to turn the bag right-side out at the end of construction.
Press the seams open and clip the corners just as you did with the outer bag.
Step Five: Combine the Outer Bag and Lining
Turn the outer bag right-side out so that the exterior fabric is facing outward. Leave the lining wrong-side out.
Slide the outer bag down inside the lining so that the right sides of the two bags are facing each other. The top raw edges should be aligned. The casing hems you pressed and stitched earlier should be facing the interior at this point.
Pin or clip around the top opening, matching the side seams and aligning the top edges carefully.
Sew around the entire top edge using a half-inch seam allowance. Take your time here and keep your seam consistent.
Step Six: Turn and Close
Reach through the gap you left in the lining’s bottom seam and carefully pull the entire bag through. It will feel awkward for a moment, but once it starts coming through, the transformation is very satisfying to watch.
Once the bag is fully turned right-side out, push the lining down inside the outer bag and use a knitting needle, chopstick, or point turner to poke out the corners neatly.
Close the gap in the lining by folding the raw edges in and stitching them shut, either by machine close to the edge or by hand with a ladder stitch.
Press the entire bag well, paying particular attention to the top edge to ensure it lies flat and the casing sits evenly all the way around.
Step Seven: Thread the Drawstring
Attach a safety pin to one end of your ribbon or cord. Feed the safety pin into the casing channel on one side, work it all the way around, and bring it out the other side. Both ends of the drawstring should now emerge from the same side of the bag.
Knot the two ends together, or tie them in a bow, or add a bead or button to each end for a decorative finish. Give the drawstring a pull to test it — the bag should gather beautifully, closing snugly at the top.
Finishing Touches and Creative Variations
The basic drawstring gift bag is a wonderful starting point, but there are so many ways to personalize and elevate the design.
Consider adding a fabric label or a stamped tag to the front of the bag before assembling it. A simple iron-on label with “For You,” “Happy Birthday,” or a monogram adds a lovely personal detail. You can also embroider a name or small motif by hand on the outer fabric before cutting — this works especially well on linen or a solid quilting cotton.
For a more luxurious look, use a velvet ribbon as your drawstring and pair it with a rich jewel-toned cotton or a heavy silk dupioni for the outer bag. The contrast between textures creates a gift presentation that feels genuinely elegant.
If you want to add structure to the bottom of the bag so it stands up on its own, simply box the corners before stitching the bottom seam. Pinch each corner into a triangle, measure 1 to 2 inches from the point, draw a line perpendicular to the seam, and stitch across it. This creates a flat base that helps the bag stand upright — particularly useful for heavier gifts.
For a whimsical holiday variation, use seasonal prints and add a little jingle bell to the end of each drawstring. These make the most delightful sound when the bag is lifted or carried, and children absolutely love them.
Tips for Sewing Multiple Bags at Once
Once you fall in love with this project, you will want to make bags in batches. Assembly-line sewing is your best friend here. Cut all your fabric at once, then move through each step for all bags simultaneously rather than completing one bag at a time. Sew all the casings, then sew all the outer bags, then all the linings, and so on. This approach is far more efficient and makes the process feel almost meditative.
Set up a little pressing station close to your sewing machine so you can press seams without interrupting your flow. A small tabletop ironing board is ideal for this kind of work.
Storing and Gifting Your Bags
Finished gift bags store beautifully nested inside one another, like a set of Russian dolls. Keep a collection in a basket or drawer so they are ready whenever a gifting occasion arises. Having a variety of sizes and fabrics on hand means you are never scrambling for wrapping supplies at the last minute.
When you gift with a fabric bag, you might include a little note encouraging the recipient to reuse it. Many people genuinely love the idea but simply need the nudge to start the practice. You could even offer to take it back after the gift is opened if they do not want to keep it — though in practice, most people want to hold onto something so pretty.
A Gift That Keeps Giving
There is a quietly radical act embedded in making and using fabric gift bags. It pushes back gently against the throwaway culture that surrounds so much of modern celebration, and it replaces that culture with something more intentional, more beautiful, and more lasting. Every time one of your handmade bags is pulled from a shelf for a new occasion, there is a little ripple of care and craft moving through someone’s life.
Tara Schreyer’s drawstring gift bag pattern captures all of that in a project that is genuinely accessible to anyone who can sew a straight line. The results are polished, practical, and personal in a way that no store-bought bag ever quite manages to be.
So pull out your fabric stash, fire up your machine, and start sewing. The people in your life are going to love not just what is inside the bag, but the bag itself — and they will keep right on loving it for years to come.
