Drawstring Bag Fabric Calculator
Calculate fabric for drawstring bags. Small pouches to large laundry bags with cord requirements.
Drawstring Bag Sizes and Fabric Needs
I made a set of drawstring gift bags for Christmas one year and was amazed at how fast they came together — I sewed twelve small pouches in a single afternoon. The trick is chain-sewing: sew the first bag, then feed the next piece right behind it without cutting the thread. Drawstring bags are one of the simplest sewing projects — and one of the most useful. Small 6" x 8" pouches are great for jewelry, makeup, or gift bags. Medium 10" x 12" bags hold shoes or a change of clothes. Large 14" x 18" bags work as laundry bags, toy storage, or beach totes.
The fabric calculation is simple: the cutting size is the finished width plus 1 inch (for seam allowances) by twice the height plus 3 inches (for the casing at the top). A small pouch on 54" fabric takes just 0.25 yards — and you can fit seven pouches per yard of fabric!
Fabric and Cord Options
Lightweight to medium-weight cottons work best. Quilting cotton is perfect — it is easy to sew, available in endless patterns, and holds a crisp shape. For the drawstring, use cotton cord, ribbon, or even shoelaces. The cord length should be about 2.5 times the bag width so you have enough to tie. Fold the top edge over 1.5 inches to create the casing, stitch close to the bottom edge, and thread the cord through.
You Might Also Need
Drawstring bags pair well with these accessory projects:
- Tote Bag Fabric Yardage — larger bag fabric requirements
- Apron Fabric Yardage — fabric for matching apron sets
- Scarf Fabric Yardage — other small fabric projects