Giddy-Up Drawstring Bag

To get started, will prepare the fabric for one side of the bottom portion. Using an air-erase pen, draw a 17" x 12" rectangle on the denim fabric. Measure and mark 3 1/2" up along each side edge starting at each bottom corner. Draw a line connecting the marks.

Then, measure and mark 3 1/2" in along both side edges starting at the top and bottom corners. Draw lines connecting the marks (the areas outside of the lines will be folded later on). The center top area is the embroidered area.

When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are embroidery files, and others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the marks. Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together and align the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so the needle is directly aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, hoop the second design and embroider it just as you did the first. The first design may be hooped and that's ok -- the design will not be harmed or damaged by the hoop.

When all the designs have finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery. Cut out the shape using the outer lines.

Prepare a second side pocket piece just as you did for the first piece. Align the two pieces, right sides together, pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the side and bottom edges only. Leave the top edge open for turning.

To square off the fabric to create the bottom of the pocket portion, align the side and bottom seams together and pin in place. Measure and mark 3 1/2" up from the outer point of the corner. Draw a line at this mark perpendicular to the seam. Sew a seam along the line you just drew.

Trim off the corners leaving 1/2" excess fabric behind. Turn the fabric right side out -- the outer shell of the bottom pocket portion is now complete.

To create the inner lining of the bottom pocket portion, cut two pieces of denim to 17" x 12". Assemble the inner lining just as you did for the outer shell. Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together, align the side seams and the top raw edges together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving about 5" open along one side.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Press the seams with an iron. Turn the opening in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge. Set this portion aside for now.

To prepare the fabric for the inner bag portion, cut two pieces of the print lightweight canvas to 17" x 14 1/2" (these are the bottom pieces) and two pieces of the bandana print fabric to 17" x 7" (these are the top pieces). Align one top piece with one bottom piece, right sides together. Pin in place along the 17" side and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only. Press and top stitch along the seam. Repeat with the remaining top and bottom piece.

Align the seams of the two assembled pieces, right sides together. Pin in place, and sew new 1/2" seams starting at each top corner. Sew down 1 1/2" and stop. Then, skip down one inch and start to sew again, continuing down the side edge, along the bottom edge, and back up the other side stopping one inch from the top seam. Doing this leaves one inch openings along each side of the fabric for the drawstring to be added later. Sew the top 1 1/2" on this side as well.

Add a drop of fabric glue to the backside of the seam allowance on both sides of both drawstring openings and press in place. This holds the seam allowance in place so that the fabric will not fray. Turn the fabric right side out. The outer shell of the inner bag portion is now complete.

Square off the bottom edges of the outer shell just as you did for the bottom pocket portion earlier. To prepare the inner lining of the inner bag portion, cut two pieces of fabric to 17" x 20 1/2". Assemble the inner lining just as you did for the bottom pocket portion. Insert the outer shell inside the inner lining, right sides together. Align the side seams and the raw top edges, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the top edge leaving 5" open along one side. Turn the fabric right side out, press the seams, turn the fabric of the opening in 1/2" and press.

To add the loop hanger, cut a 12" long piece of one inch wide ribbon, into a loop, and insert the raw ends of the loops about one inch into the opening in-between the layers of fabric. Pin in place, and top stitch a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge of the fabric.

To add the drawstring itself, sew a seam around the entire top edge of the bag starting at the top edge of the 1" drawstring pocket openings. Then, sew another seam around the entire bag starting at the bottom edge of the drawstring pocket openings. To add the drawstring, add a safety pin to the end of the cord and work it through the drawstring pockets, threading it all the way around the bag and through the pockets on both sides.

Thread the drawstring through the pocket (on the side you started on) one more time -- this creates a loop so that when both sides of the cord are pulled, it will cinch the bag closed. Tie knots at each end of the cord large enough so that the ends of the cord cannot be easily pulled back through the pockets.

To finish the bag, insert the inner portion inside the bottom pocket portion -- align the seams and bottom corners together. With needle and thread, tack the two portions together by sewing a few stitches at each bottom corner and along the side seams.