A fabric gift bag takes about an hour and uses just two pieces of cloth
A fabric gift bag is a drawstring pouch made from two rectangles of fabric sewn together on three sides, with the top left open and finished with a casing for the drawstring. You can make one with basic sewing skills—a straight stitch, a needle, and thread are all you need. The finished bag holds small gifts, jewelry, or pantry items and can be reused or given as a gift itself.
The simplest version uses two fabric pieces cut to the same size, sewn right sides together, turned inside out, and finished with a channel at the top for a cord or ribbon to pull through. No zippers, no complicated seams, no pattern required beyond measuring and cutting straight lines.
Key Takeaways
- Cut two identical rectangles of fabric—a 6-by-8-inch piece makes a small gift bag suitable for jewelry or tea.
- Sew the two pieces together on three sides with a half-inch seam allowance, leaving the top edge open.
- Turn the bag right side out through the opening, then fold the raw edges inward and sew a casing channel near the top for the drawstring.
- Thread a cord, ribbon, or fabric strip through the casing and knot the ends to complete the bag.
Measure and cut your fabric pieces
Decide how large your bag needs to be. A 6-by-8-inch finished bag holds small items like jewelry or tea bags. A 8-by-10-inch bag fits a paperback book or a scarf. A 10-by-12-inch bag works for larger gifts. Write down the finished width and height you want.
Add one inch to both the width and height to account for seam allowance and the casing. If you want a 6-by-8-inch finished bag, cut two rectangles that are 7 by 9 inches. Use a ruler and a fabric marker or chalk to draw straight lines on the back of your fabric. Cut along the lines with fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. Cut two identical pieces—one will be the front, one the back.
Sew the front and back together
Place the two fabric pieces with the right sides (the pretty sides) facing each other and the wrong sides (the dull sides) facing out. Pin along three edges: the bottom and both sides. Leave the top edge unpinned and open.
Thread your needle and tie a knot at the end. Starting at one corner of the bottom edge, sew a straight seam half an inch from the edge, moving along the bottom, up one side, and across the top of the other side. Stop half an inch from the top corner on the second side. Backstitch at the end to lock the thread. You now have a fabric tube with one open end.
Trim the corners diagonally, cutting away the fabric at the two bottom corners about a quarter inch from the seam. This reduces bulk when you turn the bag right side out. Do not cut into the seam itself.
Turn the bag right side out and press it flat
Reach into the opening at the top and grab the fabric from inside. Pull gently until the bag turns inside out and the right sides are now facing outward. Push the corners out fully with your fingers or a blunt tool like a chopstick so they form sharp points instead of rounded lumps.
Lay the bag flat on your ironing board and press it with a warm iron to remove wrinkles and set the shape. Pay special attention to the seams—press them flat so they lie smoothly against the fabric. This makes the next step easier and makes the finished bag look neater.
Create the casing for the drawstring
The casing is a channel sewn near the top of the bag that the drawstring slides through. Fold the raw edges at the opening inward by half an inch and press them flat with your iron. Fold them inward again by another half inch so the raw edges are hidden inside, and press again. Pin this folded edge in place.
Sew along the bottom of this folded edge with a straight stitch, staying close to the fold—about a quarter inch from the edge. This seam closes the opening and creates the bottom wall of the casing. Backstitch at the beginning and end.
Now sew a second line parallel to the first, about three-quarters of an inch above it. This second seam creates the top wall of the casing. The space between the two seams is the channel where the drawstring will slide. Backstitch at the beginning and end of this seam as well.
Thread the drawstring through the casing
Cut a length of cord, ribbon, or fabric strip about 24 to 30 inches long. Tie a small knot or a bead at one end so it will not slip through the casing. Attach a safety pin to the other end—the pin acts as a needle to push the cord through the channel.
Locate the opening in the casing. You created this opening when you left a gap in your seams—look for a small space where the two seam lines do not meet. Push the safety pin and cord into this opening and feed it through the entire casing channel, going all the way around the bag and coming back out through the same opening. Remove the safety pin.
Pull both ends of the cord so they are even in length. Tie the two ends together with a square knot. Trim any excess cord. When you pull the knot, the drawstring gathers the top of the bag closed.
Finish and use your bag
Inspect the bag for loose threads and trim them. Check that the drawstring pulls smoothly and closes the opening completely. If the casing feels stiff, wash and dry the bag once—this softens the fabric and makes the drawstring glide more easily.
Your bag is now ready to use. You can make the opening in the casing larger if the drawstring is hard to thread—straightforward cut a small slit in the side seam between the two casing stitches, being careful not to cut through both layers of fabric. Fold the raw edges of the slit inward and stitch them closed by hand, or leave them raw if the fabric does not fray badly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fabric works best for a gift bag?
Cotton quilting fabric, linen, and canvas are easiest to sew and hold their shape well. Avoid very stretchy fabrics like knit or very slippery fabrics like satin until you have made several bags. Lightweight cotton is forgiving and inexpensive for practice.
Can I make a bag without a sewing machine?
Yes. Hand sewing takes longer—about two to three hours instead of one—but the process is identical. Use a running stitch (in and out, in and out) instead of a machine stitch. Make your stitches small and even, about a quarter inch apart, and backstitch at the start and end of each seam.
What if I cannot find the opening in the casing to thread the drawstring?
You may have sewn the casing completely closed by accident. Cut a small horizontal slit in the side seam between your two casing stitches, being careful to cut only the top layer of fabric. Fold the raw edges inward and stitch them closed by hand. This creates the opening you need.
How do I keep the fabric from fraying at the edges?
Trim the seams close to the stitching before you turn the bag right side out. If the fabric frays badly after washing, explore a thin line of fray-check liquid along the raw edges inside the casing, or fold and stitch the edges as described in the casing section.
Can I add a label or decoration to the bag?
Yes. Sew a label or patch to one side before you sew the front and back together. Embroider a design on the front piece before assembly. Sew a ribbon or lace trim to the top edge before you fold and stitch the casing. Any decoration should be done on the individual fabric pieces before they are sewn together.