How to construct the draw string bag

Some things you’ll need to make a bag

A nylon or thick canvas twill is

ideal for this bag

STEP 1 Joining the two sections together

1. Select your fabric . This should be in contrasting/ complimenting colours depending on the effect you want.

The two pieces of fabric should be the same width

Thispiece

should be longer

2. One piece of fabric should be longer thanthe other this is to create either the top or bottom of the drawstring bag.

Flip/place the base of the bag on the top section - right side facing – do you know why?

STEP 2 Joining the two sections together

Place the two fabric pieces on top of each other. The ‘right sides together’.

Make sure that the fabric lines up together to create a neat seam.

The top and the base of the bag need to be held together. To do this seams are used. A seam is two pieces of fabric stitched

together.

Pin the two fabrics together – why do the pin heads face away from the edges?

STEP 3 Joining the two sections together

Pins

Tacking stitch

Needle

Using a running or tacking stitch. Tack down both pieces of fabric to hold them together. A running stitch is a simple in and out stitch

Place the side of the machine foot on the edge of the fabric and straight stitch.

STEP 4 Stitching the bag together

Pins remove these before sewing

Look at where the sewing machine foot is placed.You are then straight stitching the pieces together.

Before machine sewing down the two pieces remove the pins.

The straight stitch will now make a seam. This will secure the fabric together and flat.

Tacking stitch

While the material is still folded (right sides together) zigzag the this edge to neaten the raw edges.-

STEP 5 Neatening raw edges

Zig zag top edge to neaten

Look at where the sewing machine foot is placed.You are then zig zagging the edges of the fabric together.

Why do we neaten the raw edges?

Zigzag the top of the bag to neaten that edge.

STEP 6

Once you have zig zagged the edges. Open up the fabric and iron. Be careful not to have the iron to hot on some fabrics (such as Nylon) as it will melt.

Ask the teacher to sew button holes into the fabric

Right side of the fabric

Ready to attach the drawstrings

Ask your teacher to help sew on button holes/ attach eyelets for the draw string to go through

Remember the iron is hot

You must work carefully

STEP 7

Select pocket – place in the middle on base

Pin the pocket both sides

Pin down these tapesMesh pocket. look at it’s position!!

Attaching the pocket

Cut strips of tape/ ribbon to use to attachment the

pocket

STEP 8

Take a needle and thread and begin to run a tacking stitch on both sides of the tape. This fastens down the tape ready to sew . Once you have sewn the tacking stitch remove your pins to machine

stitch.

Attaching the pocket

STEP 9

With the removed pins you can machine stitch using straight stitch in a U shape. (Look at the diagram.)

1. Bottom to top – STOP & TURN 2. Along the top – STOP to TURN

3. Down the side

Attaching the pocket

Look at where the machine foot is placed

Remove the tacking stitches.- Why do we tack the strips down?

A quick recap!

STEP 10

Turn under 4cms of the top edge. Just below above the eyelets/button holes. Fold over the top edge on the wrong side of the fabric.

Making a casing

Turn the bag over to the wrong side

Fold over 4cm

Wrong side

On the next page there is a Safety Alert – something is wrong and it is an unsafe way to work

– see if you can spot it!

STEP 11

Turn under 4cms of the top edge

Add pins – which way are the pins heads placed ?

Straight stitch on the edge of the edge of the fabric – where should the edge of the machine foot be placed ?

Making a casing

Your stitching should be under the eyelets

Remove pins.

pinsAre these pins the right way round?

The wrong side

Machine sewing foot

Did you stop the

unsafe practice. Yes, your right the pins are facing the wrong

way. Well done.

Logo’s Designing a logo for the bag

Because we will be using a hand scanner to create our logo. You will need to remember a number of things:

1. The maximum size of the logo must be:

50mm2. You can only use black ink – why?

3. You must think about how detailed your designs are – the scanner is not able to cope with very fine lines or writing.

Which one of these designs will scan in the best ?

50mm

Applying the logo design to the bag Logo’s1. Draw/print the design with plenty of space around it

Consider the position of the logo on the bag – Why?

•check the size of your design before you print it to avoid wasting resources.• print two sizes of the design on one page – one slightly bigger but apart in the middle of the page.

If you are using the computer to design you will need to think about the following aspects: • making sure your designs are not on the very edge of the page. The scanner will pick up the edge of the page and register it as a line and spoil your design.

STEP 12

While the bag is still flat it is easier to apply a logo/decorative feature. The logo is represented by the circle in the picture and can be placed anywhere on the bag. A few ideas are represented here. The logo/ decorative feature can be in contrasting or complimentary colours. It must enhance your bag!!

Applying a logo

Logo can go here. Remember the idea of a logo is to be seen!!

Other ideas for logo placement

Click here for logo ideas

STEP 13 Stitching the bag together

1. Fold the bag in half – right sides together & pin – remember the pinning rule

2. Straight stitch – place the side of foot on the edge of the fabric.

3. There is a raw edge to the fabric? What do you think the

next step is ?

Straight stitch

Machine foot

pins

seam

Bag inside out

Fold this bag so that it is inside out

STEP 14

1. Place back seam in the middle of the bag & ask your teacher to place the cord in position.

2. Pin & straight stitch the seam again neaten the raw

edge with zig-zag stitch.

Stitching the bag together

3. Remove the pins and turn the bag the right way round.

Machine foot

Cord to go into bag to attach the drawstring this goes here

Pin and straight stitch along this edge then neaten with zig zag stitch

STEP 15 Threading the cord

1. Take a length of cord and using a safety pin – carefully thread the cord through the buttonholes/eyelets and tie a knot that the base.

A long piece Cord pulled through the casing, through button holes and then tied at the bottom

knot

Give the bag a quick iron to improve presentation. Be careful of heat don’t melt the bag

Your finished bag

2. Cut off all excess threads to improve presentation.

3. You have then completed your bag- Well done!

Remember the iron is hot

You must work carefully