Embroidered Drawstring Toy Bag

Take your solid color fabric and cut out a piece at least 14”x18” in size. This will be what the design is embroidered on. Feel free to cut it slightly larger than the suggested size if you’re using a larger hoop size.

Using a ruler and a marking pen of your choice, draw out a 9”x13” rectangle in the center of the fabric. Be sure to have a few inches on all sides of the rectangle to make sure it can be hooped easily.

Place the ruler on the top horizontal line and measure to find the center of the line and make a mark. This should be at approximately 6.5”. Repeat on the bottom horizontal line. Connect the two dots vertically to create a center line.

Take the printout of your file and place it centered vertically on the line drawn in Step 3. Figure out placement and tape in place. Keep in mind that the seam allowance will be ½” on the top and bottom, so try to keep designs at least 1” from the top or bottom if possible.

Mark the horizontal lines with a marking pen and ruler. Remove the printout and extend the lines so they meet up in the center.

Place cutaway stabilizer on the back of the fabric, and hoop. Be sure to line up the drawn guidelines with the marks on the hoop to have it centered.

Load the file onto the embroidery machine and place the hoop on the machine. Center the design in the hoop using the drawn guidelines. 

Embroider the file and complete any thread changes. Some files may have a final stop that sews a box around them, you can skip this stop if you wish.

Unhoop the completed embroidery and use a pair of scissors to remove the excess stabilizer from the back of the piece.

Use the previously drawn rectangle and then either a pair of scissors or a rotary cutter and ruler, to trim the finished embroidery to 9”x13”. You may also need to remove your guidelines after trimming out with a method that works best for the pen or marker used.

Cut one piece of the main body fabric to 3.5”x13”. This will be the top piece of the bag. If you are worried about grabbing the wrong sized piece during assembly, place removeable tape with the size written on it on the fabric or use a removeable marking pen to write the size on the back.

Cut one piece of the main body fabric to 4.5”x13”. This will be the bottom piece of the bag. Like the top piece, you can label the piece with removable tape or a removable marking pen to identify what it is.

Using the main body fabric once again, cut out a piece that measures 13”x15”. This will be the backside of the bag.

Clip or pin the top piece (3.5”x13”) to the top of the embroidered center piece.

Stitch them together with a ½” seam allowance.

Press open the seam using an iron and keep it covered with a pressing cloth.

Attach the bottom piece (4.5”x13”) to the bottom of the center embroidered piece and repeat the process.

Top stitch the seams on the front down in matching colored thread.

Cut two pieces of the main body fabric at 3.5”x13.5”. These will be the pieces that the drawstring runs through at the top of the bag.

Using a ruler, measure and fold the fabric ½” over on one of the short sides of the 3.5”X13.5” drawstring guide piece. Pin or clip it in place.

Iron the pinned hem using an iron and pressing cloth. This will make the following step easier.

Fold the fabric over again ½” to enclose the raw edge of the hem. You can either use a ruler or use the ironed hem as a guide. Clip or pin in place.

Press the entire hem again using an iron and a pressing cloth.

Repeat this process on the other short side of the same piece, and on both short sides of the other 3.5”x13.5” drawstring guide piece.

Top stitch in a matching thread on your sewing machine close to the inner edge to secure the hem.

Top stitch the other three hems as well so they all match and are secured.

Take one of the hemmed drawstring guide pieces and fold in half lengthwise. Make sure that the folded hem is to the inside, and that the outside just has the top stitch line. Press it with an iron and pressing cloth.

Cut two pieces of the lining fabric to 15”X13”.

With the front assembled piece face up, place one of the folded top drawstring guide pieces on top. Center it so it is approximately ¾” in from the edge on either side. The raw edge of the top piece should be at the top. Clip or pin it in place.

Place one of the lining pieces on top of the front piece/drawstring guide piece. Make sure it is right side down. Clip or pin it in place.

Stitch all 3 pieces together with a ½” seam allowance.

Press open the seam using an iron and a pressing cloth. You can place the drawstring guide to one side while ironing the seam open.

Repeat the assembly process using the 15”x13” back piece, the other drawstring guide, and the other lining piece.

Lay one of the assembled pieces open with the right side facing up. Place the other assembled piece on top, matching lining pieces and matching exterior pieces. Try to have the drawstring guides laying opposite directions to have less bulk when it comes time to sew. Pin or clip around the perimeter, leaving a 3-4” opening in the bottom of the lining.

Stitch around the entire perimeter with a ½” seam allowance. You may have to take extra care when sewing past the drawstring guides and go a little slower. Be sure not to stitch the opening that was left at the bottom of the lining.

Clip the corners of the lining and the exterior with scissors.

Flip the bag right side out through the opening in the lining.

Poke out the corners of the exterior using a tool or method of your choosing.

Stitch the hole in the lining shut using a ladder stitch and a needle and thread. Alternatively, you can also use a sewing machine to stitch the opening shut.

Topstitch around the entire top of the drawstring bag to match the topstitching on the front. Be sure to use the same matching thread like before.

Measure out and cut two pieces of ribbon or drawstring cord 40” long.

Secure one piece of the ribbon or drawstring cord on a large safety pin. Place the safety pin in one of the openings in the drawstring guide. Thread the safety pin and ribbon all the way through the drawstring guide, coming out on the same side that you started from. Both holes on the same side should have a ribbon or drawstring cord hanging out. You can also use a bodkin or tool of your choice for this.

Secure one piece of the ribbon or drawstring cord on a large safety pin. Place the safety pin in one of the openings in the drawstring guide. Thread the safety pin and ribbon all the way through the drawstring guide, coming out on the same side that you started from. Both holes on the same side should have a ribbon or drawstring cord hanging out. You can also use a bodkin or tool of your choice for this.

Repeat this process with the second piece of ribbon or drawstring cord, but go the opposite way from the first drawstring. Each side should have a knot that can be easily pulled.

Fill the drawstring toy bag with a handmade toy or two (like this memory game or tic-tac-toe) and give to the recipient. You can personalize it by adding names, embroider designs for other holidays or special interests, and then reuse it year after year.