Enormous Drawstring Bag.

Problem: How to wrap or where to find a bag big enough to place the handmade crock I got my Aunt for Christmas.

Solution: Sew up an Enormous Drawstring Bag out of leftover Christmas fabric from last year.

Here's how:
You need 2 pieces of fabric, one for the outside of the bag and one for the lining, or inside of the bag. I cut mine to 18x22''.

Since I was using this for a breakable crock I cut two pieces of medium weight fusible interfacing, measuring 18x18''. (Since this is going to be a drawstring bag I didn't find it necessary to cut the interfacing the same length as my outer fabric. Interfacing would make the drawstring part of the bag fold up too bulky.)

One string or rope, or yarn, or ribbon, or whatever you'd like to tie your bag with, cut 40'' long.

Now we're ready.

For the lining of the bag, with right sides together, sew along the two long sides and one short side. Turn right side out.

Apply interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabric, line it up with the bottom edge of your fabric on one of the 18'' sides. Below is a picture of my outer fabric, wrong side facing up with the interfacing ironed on. Pin right sides together and sew along both long sides, MAKE SURE you DO NOT sew the edges of the outer fabric that is above the interfacing. I'll explain why in just a second.

Turn your outer bag right side out. Now for those edges we left unsewn. Fold in about 1/4'' of the outer edges and top stitch each side, DO NOT sew these sides together!!!! This is going to create the part of the drawstring bag, so you need the top of this outer fabric open.

Now fold down 1/4'' or a wee bit more along the top edge of your fabric and press in place. Pin and then sew.

 You should have two large pouches right now, one with interfacing (turned wrong side out), one just a fabric sack (turned right side out).

Here's the tricky part, it's just a little tricky so keep reading, you can do this no problem. With the outer fabric of your bag still turned inside out, stick it down into the lining fabric of your bag that's turned right side out. See the picture below? That's what you're after. (I hate I used the same fabric for the outside and inside, I think it makes it a little harder to picture this way, sorry about that.)

Line the top edge of your lining fabric to the top edge of the fusible interfacing.

Turn the top edge of the outer fabric down over the top edge of the lining fabric and interfacing. Pin everything in place. You're going to sew the lining fabric to the top of the interfacing at the same time finishing off the drawstring part of your bag in one nice sewn line. Make sense? I hope soooooo!!!!

All that's left is to thread your rope/string/ribbon thru the top edges of your bag all the way around and tie in a knot at the end. If you want you can add a second rope/string/ribbon for the other side, just start threading the second rope/string/ribbon thru the other end first. Viola an Enormous Drawstring Bag.

It fit the crock I got for my Aunt perfectly and it had enough padding inside that I didn't have to worry about it breaking while being handled and moved around.

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