Ai Drawstring Bag with Tutorial

Ai means love in Chinese and this is the Ai Drawstring Bag which I have made as a mothers' day present. Ai also happened to be my mum's name so I really couldn't find a more appropriate name than that. This isn't exactly a surprise gift as I wanted to ensure it's something she find useful. My mum does not like bags without a proper closure and requested for a long strap so she can carry it over her shoulder. She already has many formal bags so it has to be something she will use on any normal day. Her main activities outside the home includes visiting the market or supermarket, going for a facial, visiting the doctor and going for a game of mahjong. So, after some thought, I decided to make her this drawstring bag with pear prints and sweet polka dots.

The bag is pretty easy to make. I finished mine in slightly more than an hour. Love is meant to be shared so I have come up with a step by step tutorial here for the Ai drawstring bag. Hope someone else finds it useful too:)

If you intend to wash the bag from time to time, please prewash the fabric. Otherwise, it is likely that it will shrink to a baby size version.

Materials required:
Main fabric (Pear fabric on mine)- cut 2 pieces of 35cm X 32cm medium weight fabric
Top fabric (Polka dots on mine)- cut 2 pieces of 35cm X 45cm
Shoulder strap- cut 2 pieces 100cm X 5cm
Two 35cm cords
Matching thread
* If your fabric is not medium weight, please add interfacing to the main fabric. Iron the interface onto the wrong side of the main fabric.

Step 1:
Cut fabric as required

Step 2:
Main fabric right side facing, stitch the side and bottom of the fabric using a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 3:
Using a fabric marker or chalk, measure 7cm from top of the Top fabric and mark. Stitch the side and bottom of the fabric using a 1cm seam allowance but do not sew above the 7cm line.

Step 4:

Fold the bottom corner of the main fabric. Measure and ensure that it is 5cm from each side to the middle of the fabric. Stitch across. This will create the base of the bag. Repeat the same steps for the other bottom corner and for both bottom corners of the Top fabric.  

Turn main fabric right side out and it should look like this.

Step 5:

Fold and iron the remaining seams of the Top fabric twice towards the wrong side of the fabric. Stitch in place. Repeat for the other side.

Step 6:
Fold the top of the Top fabric twice and iron. Stitch in place. Repeat for the other side.

Step 7:
Strap fabric right side facing, stitch with 0.5cm seam allowance, leaving a gap for turning out the fabric. Remember to reinforce the stitches. Turn out the fabric and iron the strap. Stitch the opening.

Step 8:
Attach the strap right side to the right side of the Main fabric. Turn the main fabric to the wrong side, fold 1cm and iron.

Turn the main fabric right side out. The bag should now look like this. Do not stitch at this point.

Step 9:

Insert the right side of the top fabric into the wrong side of the main fabric. Ensure the base of both fabric match.

Now match the sides and pin the two fabric together. Stitch together with a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 10:

Using a safety pin, loop the cord into the openings of the Top fabric. Tie a knot at the end. At the other end. Insert the second cord and tie a knot at the opposite end. They should look like this.

We are done! Enjoy your Ai Drawstring Bag!