Logo
  • Home
  • Equipment
  • Tutorials
  • Calendar
  • TPZ Staff Page
  • (Beta) Tech Ai Support
The Possible Zone
Fab Lab Website
Fab Lab Website
/
Tutorials
/
Main Tutorials Database
/
👛
Custom Drawstring Pouches
Custom Drawstring Pouches
👛

Custom Drawstring Pouches

Project

Design your own drawstring bag the perfect sized carrying pouch to keep your favorite item safe and sound :)

Status
Feedback Needed
Date Created
January 7, 2026
Author
U
Untitled
Tools & Skills
sewingbernettepattern drafting
[CoF] Careers of the Future
Advanced Manufacturing
Launch Lab Connection
Fashion Manufacturing DD
Competency
Problem SolvingContinuous Learning
  • Material List
  • Let’s talk seam finishing!
  • Seam finishing Techniques
  • Beginner!
  • Pinking shears
  • Intermediate!
  • Zig-zag stitch
  • Advanced!
  • Serger (overlock)
  • Drafting your Pouch Pattern
  • Measure first!
  • Then draft your pattern pieces from your measurements !
  • Cut your fabric to size using your pattern
  • Sewing your Pouch
  • Start with the main body!
  • Move on to the drawstring channel
  • Adding your drawstring
  • The final step

In this workshop you will learn intermediate pattern drafting techniques through making a drawstring pouch that is custom sized to fit an object of your choosing.

We will explore the math and geometry behind drafting and help deepen your understanding of what goes into creating an accurate pattern based on your own design.

You will learn more about patterns and their role in creating multiples in the manufacturing process.

At the end of this 2 hour workshop you will draft and sew a pouch to house a treasure of your own!

‣

Material List

Supplies
Quantity
URL
Mid-weight woven fabric
Ribbon or shoelace
Thread to match fabric
Drawstring Threader (Bodkin)
1 per student
https://www.amazon.com/Drawstring-Threader-Self-Locking-Sweatpants-Accessories/dp/B0D8LZLKC7/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1M9EYC1EPDXP9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MAWRNAoFXvxaNL-C5tRYdttoIHsIEuzCmOjLgUai9lInhn3mu8UusAnQO_YRdtJ1Dp2ja57pH_Dq24f1CvtNukldjcEY8Ilbbh6HMwBYGcwf-fO0HSlheBlYlDPlP3W2V-M7n2ijw1BYXAlYTswNH9CTqcAaa6IWKdhLgC1I1D5WNX6E_9h9V12tPjhGfHnQDA5ZRFkVA-FCnjG7BxCklWzaMrUdj43-MPIvXCE9kYs.HRBLZI4pMHzez-7Bx2DJygioAkO9Rz_7t_gtJmN3XdQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=bodkin%2Bsewing%2Btool&qid=1768411531&sprefix=bodkin%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-3&th=1
‣

Sewing Safety

image
image

While in operation always keep your eyes on the sewing area. Do not touch or put your hand near any moving parts such as

  • needle
  • needle clamp screw
  • thread take-up lever
  • hand-wheel
image
image

Always turn off the power switch and unplug from the power supply:

  • When leaving the machine unattended.
  • When threading the machine.
  • When attaching or removing parts like needles and presser feet.
  • When cleaning the machine.
image
image

Follow tips to avoid breaking sewing needles

  • Use the correct needle for your fabric.
  • Do not push or pull material when sewing. Allow feed dog to move material.
image
image

When operating fabric shears:

  • Do not place your hands around or near the blade
  • Do not place your hands in the way of the scissors when cutting your fabric

Let’s talk seam finishing!

All cut woven fabric will fray, threads will come off the edge making the fabric weaker.

On the edge of rolls of fabric there is a special part called the Selvage this part of the fabric is woven way tighter than the rest of the fabric, makings it so it can't fray.

image

Seam finishing Techniques

Test out a few seam finishing techniques by making a seam finishing sampler before deciding which one you would like to use on this project!

Beginner!

‣

Pinking shears

image

Pinking shears are the easiest was to control the fraying of a woven fabric. cutting a zig-zag into the edge of a fabric makes it so fabric can only fray within the width of the zig-zag.

image

Intermediate!

‣

Zig-zag stitch

image

Zig-zag machine setup. We will use our regular #5 stitch but we will change the settings.

image

While stitching make sure your needle is doing one stitch on your fabric and one stitch off the fabric as it moves left and right.

image

Advanced!

‣

Serger (overlock)

Drafting your Pouch Pattern

Find something that you would like to make a fabric pouch for so we can get going!

‣

Measure first!

Take your object and measure the Height, Width, & Depth.

💡

It’s okay if your object isn't a perfect rectangle. Try and measure your object as accurately as you can but if it's not exact it will still work out.

image
Image shows picture of the database of Equipment in a grid view. The grid shows the image and name of the equipment.
Figure 1: Equipment Database
💡
These measurements will be turned into our pattern pieces for the main body of our pouch.
image
‣

Then draft your pattern pieces from your measurements !

image

This pattern is only two separate pieces, one for the main body and one for the channel that our drawstring runs through.

image
image
‣

Cut your fabric to size using your pattern

Main Body of Bag

The main body of the bag needs two pieces the size of your pattern piece. An easy way to cut two pieces at once is to fold your fabric in half so you can cut through two layers at once.

Image shows picture of the database of Equipment in a grid view. The grid shows the image and name of the equipment.
Main body cutting with rotary cutter.
💡
Whenever cutting fabric you want to think about not creating waste. NEVER CUT A PIECE FROM THE MIDDLE OF YOUR FABRIC!!! Squash your pattern piece into a corner so you can have a nice big piece to make something else out of later.

Drawstring Channel of Bag

The drawstring channel needs to be cut on the fold. You will only cut the 2 long sides and 1 short side leaving one short side butted up against the fold so when you unfold it the piece is double as long.

image

Sewing your Pouch

Now that we have measured, drafted our pattern, and cut everything out we are ready to sew.

‣

Start with the main body!

First, we need to sew three sides of our bag leaving one side open using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Pivot in the corners by leaving the needle in the fabric after finishing one side so you can turn the fabric to start the next side without loosing your spot.

Image shows picture of the database of Equipment in a grid view. The grid shows the image and name of the equipment.
🧵
It is best to finish your seams as you go! Once you sew your first three seams it’s time to select which seam finishing technique you would like to use and finish all three!
image
‣

Is your object’s depth bigger than 1 inch?

It might be a good idea to box the corners of your bag.

This will make it so instead of just having a front and back it also has sides and a bottom.

Measure, mark, and cut squares of the bottom corners of your bag that are….

1/2 of Depth - 1/2 inch

image
image

After cutting and pinning you will sew across those corners @ 1/2 inch seam allowance and finish the raw edges the same way.

🧵

Finish your seams after you sew your straight stitches!

‣

Move on to the drawstring channel

‣

1. Drawstring Channel Prep

Before attaching our drawstring channel we have to do some ironing and hemming to prepare it.

Image shows picture of the database of Equipment in a grid view. The grid shows the image and name of the equipment.
Fold the short ends back twice each by 1/2 inch. Iron after each fold. The crisper your folds the easier to sew.
Sew as close to the fold as possible.
Sew as close to the fold as possible.
After sewing, fold the whole piece of fabric in half long way.
After sewing, fold the whole piece of fabric in half long way.
💡
This is added as a break to help you visualize that there is a separation here, how ever you are able to add additional info

This is an example of the 2 columns being copied and pasted under the first instructions.

In the photo to the right you can see an example of what this will look like on the phone. Notice that the text appears and then the photo instead of all texts and then all photos.

image
‣

2. Connecting Drawstring Channel & Bag

Once you have prepped your channel you are ready to combine the body of your bag with the channel. YIPPEEEE WE ARE ALMOST DONE!!!

Flip the main body of your bag right side out so you can see the beautiful outside.

Begin to line up the hemmed short edges of your channel with one of the side seams of your bag, It doesn't matter which one.

Line up the raw edge of the main body of the bag with the raw edges of the drawstring channel. Pin these edges together all the way around the bag.

🧵

There is a chance your drawstring channel and bag don't perfectly match up…

That is okay! if there has to be a gap between the ends of the drawstring channel or if they overlap slightly your bag will still work!

image
image
image

Adding your drawstring

‣

The final step

You can use many different things as a draw string, ribbon, elastic, rope, string, or you can even sew your own drawstring to match your project.

In order to get your drawstring into the channel we have made we will use a bodkin. This tool acts as a needle for our drawstring helping us to have something to hold on to as we move our drawstring through the channel.

Image shows picture of the database of Equipment in a grid view. The grid shows the image and name of the equipment.