Easy Sew Laundry Drawstring Bag

Have you ever had a family member put the wash on and shrink your favourite wool jumper? I have a few items in my wardrobe that need a gentle 30-degree cycle, and I’m always a little nervous about putting them in the wash basket — my husband doesn’t always notice!

So I designed this simple drawstring laundry bag to keep the delicates separate. It sits in our laundry basket, ready to gather everything that needs a more careful wash. Fingers crossed for no disasters.

I thought it was too good not to share, so here’s the free tutorial. Even if you don’t need it for the laundry, it makes a lovely easy sewing project in a pretty fabric.

Cutting Instructions:

• Cut (2) 14” x 18” rectangles for the main bag.
• Cut a 30” length of elastic or ribbon.

I chose a plain white solid fabric for my laundry bag which you can get here.

You Will Need:

• A fabric scrap for the water symbol and one for the numbers.
• A small piece of fusible Bonda-web or similar adhesive web.
• If you are using elastic for your drawstring I suggest using a toggle with it.

Download the template for the 30-degree washing symbol.

RST = Right sides together.
All seam allowances are ¼”.

Start by tracing the applique symbol and numbers onto the paper side of the fusible Bonda-web. Cut around the pieces as shown in the photo above.

Iron the Bonda-web onto the wrong-side of your fabric scraps, by placing the paper side up and the adhesive side on to the fabric. I use a medium iron heat with no steam.

Cut around the shapes.

Find the centre of the front panel of the drawstring bag, it is 14” wide and 18” long. Remove the paper backing of the water symbol and put it in the centre of the panel. Iron in place. Then do the same for the numbers, placing them in the centre of the water symbol. As show in the photo above.

Stitch around the applique shapes adding a decorative stitch. You want to make sure that the stitching secures the raw edges. Also add a line of stitching at the top of the water symbol as shown above.

On the top edge of both bag panels, fold down 3” and press to create a fold line, then open out.

Place both bag panels RST. Line up the fold lines and pin at that point, then all the way around and back up to the fold line on the opposite side. Sew all the way around as shown by the red dotted line in the photo above.

Open out the side edges to create a V shape as seen in the photo and fold back a ¼” seam, and press in place. Sew along the seam starting at one end and finishing at the other (as shown by the red dotted lines in the photo above). Repeat for the other side.

Fold back a ¼” seam along both top edges, press and sew in place.

Fold the top seam that you have just created so that it lines up with your fold line. Sew in place and repeat for the other side.

Thread your ribbon or elastic through the front drawstring channel.

Then thread it back through to the other side. If you are using elastic, thread both ends through a toggle.  Knot the ends together.

Your drawstring laundry bag is now complete and ready to be used.

I keep mine sitting in the laundry basket, so I can drop any delicates straight in as I go. It might just save your favourite cashmere from an accidental hot wash.