A drawstring backpack is one of the most practical and beginner-friendly sewing projects you can make. Lightweight, versatile, and endlessly customizable with your choice of fabric, it's a great project for using up bold prints or precut yardage. Here's a step-by-step guide to sewing your own.
Materials You'll Need
- ¾ yard outer fabric (quilting cotton, canvas, or cotton-linen blend)
- ¾ yard lining fabric (quilting cotton or lightweight canvas)
- 2 yards of ½"-wide nylon cord, ribbon, or cotton rope (cut into two equal lengths)
- 2 small cord stops (optional)
- Coordinating thread
- Rotary cutter, cutting mat, and ruler
- Sewing machine
- Iron and pressing surface
- Safety pin (for threading cord)
Cutting Instructions
- Outer fabric: cut 2 pieces, each 14" × 16"
- Lining fabric: cut 2 pieces, each 14" × 16"
These dimensions yield a finished backpack of approximately 13" × 15" — a great size for gym gear, a library bag, or a kids' school bag. Scale up or down as needed.
Step 1 — Prepare the Cord Channels
On each outer fabric piece, fold the top edge down 1½" toward the wrong side and press. Fold down another 1½" and press again to create a double-fold channel for the drawstring cord. Pin in place but do not sew yet.
Step 2 — Add Cord Openings
On each outer fabric piece, measure 1" in from each side edge along the folded channel. Mark and stitch a small reinforced rectangle opening (¾" wide) through both layers of the fold at each mark — these are the openings through which you'll thread the cord.
Step 3 — Sew the Cord Channels
Stitch along the bottom edge of each double-fold channel (approximately 1¼" from the top edge) to secure the channel in place. Stitch a second line along the top folded edge for a clean, professional finish.
Step 4 — Assemble the Outer Bag
Place the two outer fabric pieces right sides together, aligning all edges. Sew down both side seams and across the bottom using a ½" seam allowance, leaving the top open. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam. Trim corners diagonally to reduce bulk, then press seams open.
Step 5 — Box the Bottom Corners (Optional)
For a bag with a flat base and more interior volume, box the bottom corners: pinch each bottom corner so the side seam aligns with the bottom seam, creating a triangle point. Sew across the triangle 1½" from the point. Trim and repeat on the other corner.
Step 6 — Assemble the Lining
Repeat Steps 4 and 5 with the lining fabric pieces, but leave a 4" gap in the bottom seam for turning. This gap is how you'll turn the whole bag right-side out at the end.
Step 7 — Join Outer and Lining
Turn the outer bag right-side out. Leave the lining wrong-side out. Drop the outer bag inside the lining so the right sides are facing each other and the top raw edges are aligned. Pin around the top edge. Stitch around the entire top opening using a ½" seam allowance.
Step 8 — Turn and Close
Pull the outer bag through the gap in the lining bottom. Push the lining down inside the outer bag and press the top edge flat, rolling the seam slightly toward the lining so it doesn't show from the outside. Press well. Slip stitch or machine stitch the gap in the lining closed.
Step 9 — Thread the Drawstring Cord
Attach a safety pin to one end of your first cord length. Starting from the left opening on the front panel, thread the cord all the way around through both channels (front and back) and back out the left opening. Knot the ends together or attach a cord stop.
Repeat with the second cord length, starting from the right opening on the front panel and threading it all the way around in the opposite direction, exiting from the right opening. Knot the ends. When you pull both cords outward simultaneously, the bag closes evenly from both sides.
Fabric Tips for a Great Drawstring Backpack
- Use a bold novelty print or fabric panel for the outer fabric to make it a statement piece
- Canvas or a cotton-linen blend adds durability for everyday use
- Use a contrasting or coordinating print for the lining — a fun detail that shows when the bag opens
- Pre-wash all fabric before cutting to prevent shrinkage after the bag is finished
Shop Fabric for Your Drawstring Backpack at My Fabric Villa
Find the perfect fabric for your next bag project at My Fabric Villa. We carry a wide range of quilting cottons, bold prints, and novelty fabrics ideal for bags, backpacks, and accessories. Contact us anytime for fabric recommendations.
