Book Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial

Welcome to the first post of the 2024 Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along! Today I have a new bag size to share, the Book Lined Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial!

I'll be updating the Sew Along Page each week with all the posts so that you can easily catch up or reference these posts after the sew along ends!

I hope you'll sew along with us! Sew from the tutorial or the patterns:
Lined Drawstring Bag Tutorial
Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Here are a few to-do items for week 1 of the sew along!

The main goal for this week is to get your bag plans mapped out. Figure out how many bags you'd like to make, which sizes and choose fabrics. Here are a few posts from the archives that you might find helpful when tackling this:

- My tips for choosing fabrics, specifically for drawstring bags. This post includes a bunch of sample fabric pulls too. Find it here: Tips for Choosing Fabrics for Drawstring Bags

- Guidance for making drawstring bags for wrapping gifts. There are also some gift ideas for each size, to give you an idea of what would fit in all the different sizes: Tips For Using Drawstring Bags to Wrap Gifts

- There are a few other bag sizes outside of the tutorial or pattern, you don't want to miss then! The Wine Bottle Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial and the Knit Drawstring Shoe Bag Tutorial.

- Still looking for fabric combination ideas? I'd recommend checking out my Lined Drawstring Bag Pinterest Board as well as the #lineddrawstringbag hashtag on Instagram. You'll find lots of finished bags to take inspiration from!


I'm so excited to share two bag sizes with you today that would be great for books! Books make such a nice gift, I thought we could all get some use out of a bag tailored specifically for wrapping books. I'm sharing two different bags today, one that fits larger novels and another that fits small paperbacks.

The Large Book Bag is 15" tall x 9" wide and fits hardcover books around 9.5"x6.5", as well as larger trade paperback books around 9"x6". The inside usable height of the Large bag is 12.5".

The Small Book Bag is 12.5" tall x 8" wide and fits medium paperbacks around 8"x5" as well small mass-market paperbacks around 7"x4". The inside height of the Small bag is 10.25". Both bags fit books that are of moderate thickness.


If you're worried that your book won't fit, I suggest making a test bag! You can always add height (the same amount to the Exterior Main and Lining) if you need to. A good rule of thumb is if the book is shorter than the Exterior Main height measurement, it has a good chance of fitting. If your book is particularly thick, you may consider adding a little to both the height and width of the pieces to accommodate it.

Book Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial

Sewing Level: Beginner
Finished size: Large - 15" tall 9" wide, Small - 12.5" tall 8" wide

Book Drawstring Gift Bag Materials:

	Small Bag	Large Bag
Exterior Main	1 Fat Quarter	1 Fat Quarter
Accent	1 Fat Quarter*	1 Fat Quarter*
Lining	1 Fat Quarter	1 Fat Quarter
Ties	1/8 yd or 1 5/8 yd twill	1/8 yd or 1 2/3 yd twill

*1/4 yard cut could be substituted

- Coordinating thread
- Acrylic ruler
- Large safety pin
- Pencil

Looking for supplies? Check out my Pattern Supplies and Resources post.

Book Drawstring Gift Bag Cutting:
All cutting measurements are listed as height x width

	Small Bag	Large Bag
Exterior Main	(2) 10"x8.5"	(2) 12"x9.5"
Accent	(2) 4"x8.5"	(2) 4"x9.5"
Lining	(2) 13.5"x8.5"	(2) 15.5"x9.5"
Ties**	(2) 28"x2"	(2) 30"x2"

**If using twill for ties, ignore the 2" measurement and simply cut to length.

Book Drawstring Gift Bag Instructions:

For bag construction, refer to the free tutorial or the lined drawstring bag pattern. The depth for both bags is 0, so you can skip steps 6-8 and proceed to step 9. If you need extra guidance on the construction, please refer to the video tutorial.


I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! I can't wait to see your bags! Please share them with me on instagram @jenib320 + #lineddrawstringbag or via email (jenib320 @ gmail.com)!

Don't forget to pin this post to your Pinterest for future reference!

Happy Sewing!

2024 Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along Schedule

This year's Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along starts in one week! I wanted to share the schedule for the sew along so that you know what posts you can expect from me starting Wednesday, November 20th! If you'd like to break up your bag making across the sew along, I'm also sharing a schedule for making that you can choose to use if you'd like! I'll also be sharing my progress on my personal bags throughout the sew along! Here are the posts I have planned for each week:

Week 1 - November 20th
Tutorial post: Book Drawstring Gift Bag Tutorial (new size!)
To do: Plan your bags! This week your task is to decide how many bags you'd like to make, what sizes, and pick out fabrics.

Week 2 - November 27th
Tutorial post: Wreath Block Drawstring Bag Tutorial
To do: Cutting! Now's the time to finalize your fabric choices and cut out all the pieces for your bags.

Week 3 - December 4th
Tutorial post: Tips for Sturdy Drawstring Bags
To do: Sewing! Sew your bags through step 10. If you're making a lot of bags and you're short on time, I highly recommend making them assembly line style. This isn't quite as fun, but it's definitely more efficient!

Week 4 - December 11th
Tutorial post: Tie-Dye Cotton Twill Tape Tutorial
To do: Final touches! Tackle those drawstring casings, make fabric ties or prep twill/paracord ties. Pull ties through the bags and finish them off with a simple knot or some fun beads!

Each week's post will go up on Wednesday! I'll update this post and the Sew Along page with the links as we go. You can find all of the previous year's sew along posts on that page too!

Participating is easy, we'll be using the #lineddrawstringbag hashtag on Instagram to share our progress. Not on Instagram? That's okay! Feel free to sew along and if you'd like, share your bags with me via email!


Sew from the free tutorial, the pattern or the expansion pattern! Both patterns are on sale, 20% off through 11/25/23. Prices are already marked down. Shop here:

Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Don't forget to pick up some supplies too!
Cotton Twill Tape
Nylon Paracord
Round Wooden Beads
Beehive Wooden Beads

Happy Sewing!

Announcing the 2024 Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along!

Get your sewing machine ready! It's that time of year, our annual Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along is almost here! Using drawstring bags to wrap your holiday gifts is a great way to reduce the amount of single-use wrapping paper you need. Every year is an opportunity to build up your stash of bags and use up some of the beautiful fabrics you probably have kicking around your fabric stash!

A handmade gift bag can really take a gift to the next level, especially when it's tailored to the recipient or gift. Within our immediate family, we keep reusing the same bags year after year. I love pulling my older bags out and adding new ones to the mix. I hope you'll sew along with me and make a few bags this year!

When:
The Lined Drawstring Bag Sew Along will officially kick off on Wednesday, November 20th and will run for four weeks!

Where:
Each week of the sew along I'll publish a blog post with a new tutorial. There is a dedicated sew along page, which I'll update as we go along. It's a great place to find all the posts from previous year's sew alongs, there is so much good information and inspiration there, so be sure to check it out.

How to Participate:
Just like in years past, this sew along is going to be casual and no-stress. Participating is easy, we'll be using the #lineddrawstringbag hashtag on Instagram to share our progress. Please tag me @jenib320 too, I love sharing your projects throughout the sew along! Not on Instagram? That's okay! Please join in the sew along and if you'd like, share your bags with me via email! (jenib320 at gmail.com)

Patterns & Tutorial:
Sew from the free tutorial, the pattern or the expansion pattern! Both patterns are 20% off today through 11/15/24. Prices are already marked down.

Shop Patterns:
Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern
Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Shop Notions:

Don't forget to pick up some supplies while you're at it! The shop is stocked with lots of different cotton twill tape options, nylon paracord and wooden beads. I also put together a new Lined Drawstring Bag Notions Kit, to make it super easy to pick up a few supplies!

Lined Drawstring Bag Notions Kit
Cotton Twill Tape
Nylon Paracord
Round Wooden Beads
Beehive Wooden Beads


I also have a new color of Nylon Paracord in the shop, black!

Thank you for your continued support. Can't wait to sew bags together!

Happy Sewing!

Remaking Every Bag in the Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern

Happy Tuesday! Today I have a fun parade of drawstring bags to share! I'm celebrating five years since I released my Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern! To mark this milestone, I decided to challenge myself to remake all the bag variations included in the pattern.


I've been working a lot with vintage sheet fabrics lately, so I also challenged myself to use only my quilting cotton and canvas stashes. I wanted to especially focus on using up leftovers and precious saved fabrics. It's nice to have some constraints sometimes, rather than having endless options!


There are 10 main variations included in the pattern, plus techniques and ideas for taking each variation a step further. I made one variation twice, so I ended up making a total of 11 bags over the course of this month. Without further ado, let me show you the bags I made!

Find the pattern in my shop here: Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern.



First up we have the Peek-a-boo bag! This is one of the simpler variations, but it's really cute. I love having the lining fabric peek through at the top of the bag. These prints have been in my stash for many years, I was happy to finally use that floral print in a project! This is a Project size bag. I used antique ruler twill tape to finish it.



The Mini Accent bag is next! This variation plays with the proportion of the accent and the exterior main. I used an old Heather Ross linen, I've had it so long I don't even remember what collection it's from. I haven't used that purple lining print in probably 10 years, still such a good one! This is an Everything size bag. It's finished with 1/2" natural twill tape.



On to the Bottom Accent bag! Of all the variations in the pattern, I've probably made this one the most. Instead of having the accent at the top of the bag, it's at the bottom! I love this sheep print by Ellen Luckett Baker so much! I made a bag (Sheep Maker's Tote) with the mustard colorway back in 2016. This is a Project size bag. Finished with nylon paracord.



Next up, two Patchwork bags! I had two stacks of 2.5" squares that have been kicking around my stash for a while and I decided to use them both up during this challenge. For this one I used all strawberry prints! My friend Jacey gave me a mini charm pack of strawberry prints years ago and I'm so glad I finally used them in a project. I love strawberries so much! The accent on this bag is a thrifted quilting cotton. This is an Everything bag. I finished it with nylon paracord and beehive wooden beads.



For my second Patchwork bag, I used the leftovers of a couple different Carolyn Friedlander mini charm packs. I made another patchwork bag with her fabrics a few years ago, which you can see here: February Monthly Report. This one features a lot of wovens that coordinate with her collections. I used a bright green solid leftover from my Large Keep Turning Quilt. This is an Everything size bag, and I finished it with black ruler twill tape.



Next up, a Foundation Pieced bag! I dug into my low volume scraps for this bag, in particular my cream based fabrics. The exterior main pieces have a muslin foundation, and the possibilities in terms of design are endless! I've made a bunch of string block bags using this same technique. For this bag I did logcabin-ish piecing. This is an Everything size bag, and I pulled out my hot pink nylon paracord to finish it!



The patchwork bags are fun, but can be a bit time consuming. Enter the Easy Going bag! This bag uses only two fabrics, one for the exterior and one for the interior. I've had this purple Alice in Wonderland fabric from Kokka for ages. I'm happy that I finally used it! This is a Project size bag, and I finished it with 1/2" natural twill tape and 1" wooden beads.



This bag is even easier! This is the single fabric Easy Going Bag. You only use one fabric for the entire bag. I choose this funky stripe from a friend. This is a Snack size bag and I finished it with some yellow measuring tape twill!



This variation is super fun (in my opinion!) the Backpack bag! Turning your drawstring bag into a drawstring backpack requires only a few minor alterations. I made it using Halloween fabrics because I think it would be an excellent bag for trick-or-treat. As your bag of candy gets heavier, you get to wear it on your back instead of carrying it! This is an Artist size bag, and it's finished with black nylon paracord.



Another Halloween themed bag, this time a Quilt Block bag. I love adding quilt blocks to the exterior main on drawstring bags. I've released a new block bag (almost) every year during the lined drawstring bag sew along (this year's is going to be so cute!!). The pattern includes instructions for adding common square quilt blocks to your bags as well as instructions for adding a custom sized block to the bag front. For this bag I used a leftover spooky block. This block is a free pattern, you can find it here: Paper Pieced Coffin Quilt Block. This is a Project size bag, and I finished it with black twill tape.



Last but not least, a bag with a Centered Design! There are instructions for laying out an embroidery or appliqué design on the exterior of a bag, as well as centering an existing design. For this bag, I centered a leftover screen print that I had in my stash. I had printed it on white fabric with white ink, so I dyed it before turning it into the bag! The back of the bag is a piece of fabric that I ice dyed.I'm thinking about printing panels of this print (and the sewing version) again, maybe this Spring? We'll see! This is an Artist size bag and I finished it with black ruler twill tape.

That's a wrap! I'll be back to announce the dates for this year's sew along later this week!

Patterns: Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern, Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern
Fabrics: Stash
Notions: Cotton Twill Tape, Nylon Paracord, Round Wooden Beads, Beehive Wooden Beads

Happy Sewing!

Dried Strawflower Wreath DIY

Happy Friday! Today I want to share a recent crafting project that I finished, a small wreath made from dried strawflowers!


One of the hobbies that my grandmother enjoyed was making dried flower arrangement. She bought a lot of the dried flowers that she used (I remember going to a craft fair with her at a school to buy some!), but she liked to grow her own strawflowers. She had a great garden, and the strawflowers fascinated me. Right on the plant, they are dry and crunchy like straw. So different to most flowers!

I started growing strawflowers in my own garden five years ago. I go about this two ways. I nearly always buy a pot or two of short strawflowers from a local nursery to grow on the driveway in a pot. The bulk of what I grow I start from seed. Strawflowers need a long time to get going, so I start my seeds in very early March. They are a time investment for sure!


This has been one of my best years for strawflowers! I have a couple plants that are easily 8 feet, which is so cool. I harvest flowers a couple times a week. It can be a challenge to figure out the right time to cut them, since they continue to open after they are cut. I cut mine while they're still mostly closed. This shoe box sized tub is flowers I harvest just this season!! The seeds I grew this year came from Select Seeds and Johnny's Seeds.

I like to use simple grapevine wreath forms from the craft store. A straw form might be easier now that I think about it, maybe I'll try one of those next! This wreath is around 6".

I like to used hot glue to affix my flowers to my form. I'm using a battery operated hot glue gun (which I LOVE), but it is a little overkill for this project in terms of heat.


I started by adding flowers to the front of the wreath, and then slowly building up the sides.


It's so fun digging through all the flowers and finding just the right size/color for the spot I'm filling. I found these two while making this wreath and they might be my favorites. The colors are just so good!


All done! I don't know how many flowers I ended up using to finish this, but it did take me a few days. I am so happy with how it turned out. I've made a few of these wreaths and I can confidently say this is my best one! I bought some tiny wreath forms a few years ago, I'm excited to cover those too!


Here is a view from the side, it looks like it's encrusted with flowers. :)


Strawflowers are one of my very favorite flowers to grow and they're so fun to craft with. I highly recommend trying them out in your garden next year! Even if it's just a pot from your local nursery!

Happy Crafting!