Today I'd like to share this cute  drawstring bag project with you. This bag is pretty spacious yet lightweight and so much fun to wear.  Great project bag for a knitter or crocheter, also great for your daily errands, grocery, or as a spare bag when traveling. 

The finished measurements of this bag is approx. 12" wide (bottom), 13" tall, 5" deep, the widest point when the top is expanded is about 15". This bag comes with a zipper pocket, 2 slip pockets, and magnetic snap closure. 

I posted the full video tutorial on my Youtube channel, you can go ahead and watch it here, or keep reading for the written instructions.

Let's get started !

Fabric 1,2,3,4 : 4x Jelly Roll Strips (2.5" wide strips cut from the width of fabric)
Fabric 5 (accent fabric) : 1 Fat Quarter or 1/4 yard of fabric
Fabric 6 (straps, casing, drawstring): 1/3 yard of fabric
Fabric 7 (lining) 1/2 yard of fabric
Fusible fleece (thermolam) / batting : 17" x 33"
Fusible Woven interfacing : 1/6 yard
1 set of Magnetic Snap closure
1 all purpose zipper (at least 7" long)
​Basic sewing and quilting notions

Note:
-Feel free to mix and match your fabric in more or less variations.
-If using one solid fabric for the exterior (no patchwork), you will need 5/6 yard of fabric

1. Sew all the jelly roll strips together with 1/4" of seam allowance. Press.

2. Trim the selvage ends, measure 17" and cut (make 2x) you should end up with 2 panels measuring 17" x 8.5" 

3. Lay out the front exterior panels as shown in the picture below, sew with 1/4" of seam allowance, press.

4. Lay out the back exterior just like shown in the picture below, sew with 1/4" of seam allowance, press.

5. Layer the front and back exterior pieces with batting, quilt. If using fusible fleece, fuse it to the wrong side of your fabric

6. Cut 2.5" square notches on both bottom corners to box the bottom of the bag.

7. Lay the front and back exterior pieces right side together, sew the sides and the bottom with 1/2" seam allowance.

8. Open the bottom corner, match the seams, sew with 1/2" seam allowance, repeat the same with the opposite side.

9. Apply fusible woven interfacing on the wrong side of the strap pieces.
10. Fold the short ends of the straps the wrong side 1/2" , press, fold the strap in half, press, fold the side edges towards the center fold, press, then fold everything in half, press. Sew all around with 1/8" of seam allowance, repeat the same with the other one.

11. Position the strap as shown below, draw the stitch line, then sew. Repeat the same with the opposite side.

12. Fold the short end of the casing 1/4", press. Fold one more time 1/4", press. Repeat the same with the opposite end, sew with 1/8" seam allowance.

13. Fold the casing in half, press. Repeat the same with the other one.

14. Place the casing on the right side of the front exterior piece, aligning the raw edges, center the position of the casing. Secure them in place with some sewing clips, then sew along the edges with 1/4" of seam allowance.  Repeat the same for the back exterior.

15. Fold the drawstring strip in half, press. Fold the edges towards the center fold, press. Fold everything in half, press. Sew all around with 1/8" of seam allowance, repeat the same with the other strip.

16. Prepare the lining pieces, cut the 2.5" corner notches the same way as you did the exterior pieces.

17. Lay the slip pockets pieces right side together, sew all around with 1/4" seam allowance leaving about 3" of opening to turn the pocket inside out.

18. Clip the corners (be careful not to cut through the stitches),Turn the pocket inside out, fold the raw edges from the opening towards the inside 1/4", press, then topstitch along the top edges. 

19. Position you pocket on the right side of one of the lining, about 3.5" down from the top, center the position. Pin them in place. Divide the pocket in to two slots by drawing a straight line mark on the center point of the pocket, then sew on the center point mark, the sides and the bottom of the pocket.

20. Sew the zipper pocket. Follow the exact same steps as in this video 
21. Install the magnetic snap closure

22. Assemble the lining exactly the same way as the exterior, leaving about 5" opening at the bottom.

23. Turn the exterior shell wrong side out, turn the lining right side out; Insert the lining into the exterior shell (the right sides of the lining should be touching the right sides of the exterior.

24. Secure them in place with some sewing clips, sew with 1/2" seam allowance.

25. Turn the bag inside out through the opening hole, press along the top edges, then top stitch. Sew the opening hole close.

26. Attach one of the end of the drawstring with a safety pin, then thread the drawstring into the casing using the safety pin to guide it through. Repeat the same with the other side.

27. Even out the drawstring, then secure them together by tying a tight knot.

Give your bag a final pressing, enjoy!

This cellphone wristlet is a cute yet functional little pouch for you to make. Great to take with you for errands, out for a walk, coffee date, pretty much anywhere you wish to go without having to take an entire purse with you. 

Features : 
Zipper Closure
Front zipper pocket
Front Slip Pocket
Wristlet Strap

The finished measurements of this pouch are approximately 4.5" x 8" , the zipper closure opening measures 4" wide, I can fit my iPhone XR (with chunky casing that makes the phone bigger) with a little extra room. This pouch should fit most smartphones (except of the super large ones) - if needed, you can increase the width measurement to suit yours.

You may watch the full video tutorial on my Youtube channel. 

Let's Get Started!
​

2x Fat eight, or use any fabric that you might have in your stash (Fabric A,B)

Fusible fleece (thermolam) 16" x 5.5" 
Fusible woven interfacing 5" x 19"
Lining fabric 5.5" x 17" 
2x all purpose zipper 1" wide (at least 6" long)  
1/2" d-ring
1/2" swivel hook  
​Basic sewing notions

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Thank you for your support!

~Front and back exterior~
From Fabric B : 5.5" x 8.5" (cut 2x)
​From Fusible Fleece : 5.5" x 8" (cut 2x)
​

~Front Zipper & Slip Pockets~ 
Cut From Fabric A 
Panel 1 : 5.5" x 2" (cut 1x) 
Panel 2 & 3 : 5.5" x 5" (cut 1x each)
​ Panel 4 & 5 : 5.5" x 7" (cut 1x each)

From Fusible woven interfacing
For Panel 1 : 5.5" x 2"
For Panel 2 : 5.5" x 5"

~Lining~
From lining fabric 5.5" x 8.5" (cut 2x)

~Strap anchor tab~
From fabric A : 2.5" x 2" (cut 1x)

~Wristlet strap~
From fabric A : 13" x 2" (cut 1x)
From fusible woven interfacing : 12" x 1" (cut 1x)

1. Apply Fusible Fleece on the wrong side of the exterior pieces.
2. Apply fusible woven interfacing on zipper pocket panel 1&2.
3. Lay the zipper right side up, lay panel 1 right side down, aligning the upper edges of the zipper tape with the lower edges of panel 1. Secure with some sewing clips/pin, then sew with 1/4" seam allowance.

4. Press the seams, then top stitch.

5. Lay panel 2 right side up, lay the zipper right side down, then lay panel 3 right side down, aligning the top and side edges off all the fabrics, secure them in place with some sewing clips then sew with 1/4" seam allowance.

6. Press the seams (both the front and the back) , then topstitch.

7. Trim excess zipper.
8. Lay panel 3 right side up, lay the zipper panel right side up, pin them in place, then sew all around with 1/4" of seam allowance. 

9. Lay panel 4 right side up, lay the zipper pocket panel right side down, sew the top edges with 1/4" of seam allowance.

10. Press the seams open, then topstitch along the top edges.

11. Lay the front exterior piece, right side up, lay the pocket panel right side down, aligning the sides and the bottom edges, secure them in place with some sewing clips, then sew along the edges with 1/4" of seam allowance.

12. Sew the strap anchor tab
13. Feed the strap anchor through the hole of the d-ring
14. Position the strap anchor 1" down from the top edge of the front exterior piece, secure in place with a sewing clip, then sew with 1/4" seam allowance

15. Sew the wristlet strap.
16. Lay the front exterior piece right side up, lay the zipper right side down, lay the lining right side down, secure them with some sewing clips, then sew with 1/4" seam allowance.

17. Separate the fabric from the zipper, press the seams, topstitch.

18. Lay the back exterior right side up, lay the zipper right side down, lay the second lining piece right side down, secure them in place with some sewing clips then sew with 1/4" of seam allowance.

19. Separate the fabrics from the zipper, press the seams, then topstitch.

20. Trim off any excess zipper.
21. Separate the exterior pieces from the lining pieces (with the right sides touching each other), secure them in place with some sewing clips (matching the zipper seams) then sew with 3/8" seam allowance, leaving about 3" of opening at the bottom edge of the lining. 

22. Cut all the corners, be careful not to cut through the stitches, turn the pouch inside out through the opening hole. Tip : Poke the corners with a knitting needle or chopstick, or skewer.

23. Sew the opening hole close.
24. Give your pouch a final pressing.
25. Attach the wristlet strap, Enjoy!

Here's a new bag for you to sew to use up some of your fat quarters collection. The Dahlia bag is a charming bag to be added to your bag collection.
Some of the features that this bag has :
Front Zipper pocket
Recessed Zipper closure
3 internal slip pockets 
8" drop Handle straps 
 Adjustable strap

The finished measurements of this bag is approx. 12.5" (wide) x 10" (tall) x 5" (deep). The use of foam stabilizer (soft and stable), gives this bag a great structure without being too rigid.
I posted the full video tutorial on my Youtube channel, that you can watch here, you may scroll down below for the list of supplies, cutting instruction, and written instruction.

1. Sew the front and back exterior pieces with 1/4" of seam allowance, press.
2. Apply the fusible woven interfacing on both the front and back exterior pieces.
3. Apply the fusible woven interfacing on the upper top part of the front zipper pocket.

4. Draw the zipper template on the wrong side of the front pocket piece.

5.Lay the pocket piece, on the right side of the front exterior piece, 1" down from the top (centered the position), sew along the perimeter of the zipper template.

6. Cut the center line and the corner triangles of the zipper template (be careful not to cut through the stitches)

7. Turn the pocket piece to the wrong side, press.
8. Apply basting tape on the edges of the zipper tape, peel the top layer off.

9. Position the zipper template on the zipper, sew all around the edges.

10. Trim the excess zipper off, fold the pocket in half, sew along the sides and top with 3/8" of seam allowance.

11. Place the foam stabilizer on the wrong side of the exterior pieces, (you can baste with spray basting, then sew the sides and bottom edges with 1/4" seam allowance.

12. Draw and cut 2.5" squares on both bottom corners of your exterior pieces.

13. Lay the front and back exterior right sides together, sew with 1/2" seam allowance.

14. Box the corners

15. Apply the fusible fleece on the wrong side of the handle straps pieces (center the position)

16. Fold the strap in half, press, fold the edges towards the centerfold, press, fold everything in half, press (you should end up with 1" strap) repeat the same with the other piece.

17. Sew along the side edges with 1/8" of seam allowance, starting from the open edge.

18. Mark 1" from both ends of the strap, pinch the strap in half, and sew with 1/8" seam allowance, starting and stopping at the 1" mark.

19. Mark 3.5" from the side seams of the bag, place the strap right by the mark, secure with some sewing clips, then sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat the same with the other side.

20. Prepare the strap anchors. Fold the shorter sides of the strap anchors towards the wrong side 1/2", press, fold the longer side in half, press, fold the edges towards the center fold, press.
Fold everything in half, press. Your strap anchor should end up measuring 5" x 1"

21. Sew all around the edges with 1/8" seam allowance
22. Feed the strap anchor through the d-ring, sew as close as you can to the d-ring.

23. Measure 1" down at the side seams, place the strap anchor aligning the highest point of the d ring with the 1" point. Secure in place with a pin or basting glue, then sew 3 straight lines to secure the strap anchor in place. Repeat the same with the other one.

24. If making your own strap, this is the time to do it.
​25. Sew and apply the zipper tabs to the end of the zipper.

26. Fold and press the zipper panels the same way as the strap anchors. Your zipper panels should end up measuring  11" x 1" (make sure both panels are the same size).

27. Apply basting tape on the edges of the zipper tape, both wrong side and right side.

28. Insert the zipper tape to the fold of the zipper panel, sew the sides and the bottom edges with 1/8" of seam allowance 

29. Repeat the same with the other side.

30. Fold the slip pocket piece in half right side together, sew with 1/4" seam allowance, press the seams open, turn the pocket piece inside out, press, and top stitch along the upper top.
31. Divide the pocket piece into 3 slots, mark with disappearing fabric marker.

32.Lay the slip pocket on the right side of one of the lining, 4" down from the top. Sew on the marking lines, the sides, and the bottom as well.

33. Lay the zipper panel on the right side of the lining 1.5" down from the top, aligning the center point of the zipper panel with the center point of the lining. Sew with 1/8" seam allowance.

34. Repeat the same with the other side.

35. Assemble the lining exactly the same way as the exterior shell, leaving about 5' of opening at the bottom.
36. Turn the lining piece right side out, and turn the exterior piece wrong side out.
37. Insert the lining into the exterior shell, secure them in place with some sewing clips, then sew with 1/2" seam allowance.

38. Turn the bag inside out, top stitch along the edges.
39. Sew the opening hole close.
40. Give the bag a good final pressing, attach the adjustable straps, and you are done!