For a first simple bag, start with Merchant & Mills’ free Drawstring Bag instructions. For a lined gift or project bag, choose Jeni Baker’s free tutorial or paid multi-size pattern. If you want a paper envelope with a shoulder-bag or backpack design, shortlist Simplicity S3256; McCall’s M8307 view A is the casual tote-style alternative.
These recommendations follow the designers’ project descriptions and instructions, checked in September 2026. Sewing Made Clear has not sewn every pattern or timed the projects. We compare construction features and formats, rather than promising the fastest result.
Choose by construction and format
| Pattern or tutorial | Format | What you practice | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant & Mills Drawstring Bag | Free PDF instructions | Straight seams and a contrasting cord channel | Dimensions depend on fabric width; it is not a fitted backpack |
| Jeni Baker Lined Drawstring Bag | Free one-size tutorial; paid eight-size pattern | Lining, boxed corners and two ties | More assembly than a plain unlined sack; paid pattern uses cutting measurements rather than templates |
| Bampton Drawstring Bag | Free three-size PDF and video | Sewing a curved base and threading two drawstrings | Printing pattern pieces and sewing curves add different skills |
| Simplicity S3256 | Paper or publisher PDF pattern | Drawstring shoulder straps, pockets and bias-tape finishing | More details than a basic storage bag |
| McCall’s M8307, view A | Paper pattern | A soft bag with handles, an inside pocket and drawstring closure | Other views use different closures |
Merchant & Mills: first plain drawstring construction
The designer’s Drawstring Bag PDF identifies the project as beginner level and uses a contrasting cord channel. It specifies a 1 cm seam allowance unless stated otherwise and offers optional embroidery. Leave that decoration out if your first goal is understanding the bag and casing.
Choose this for soft storage, gifts or a simple bag that does not need carrying straps. The cutting formula uses the width of the fabric in the bag’s length calculation, so it is not one fixed finished size for every bolt. This is an actual reason to check the dimensions before cutting, rather than assuming a PDF always supplies a full-size paper template.
Jeni Baker: a lined bag, then more sizes
Jeni Baker’s free tutorial makes a bag approximately 10 inches tall, 7 inches wide and 3 inches deep. It combines a lining, contrasting top section and boxed corners. Choose it for a small project bag or gift wrapping when you want a finished interior.
The paid Lined Drawstring Bag pattern adds eight sizes and custom-size instructions. It uses rotary-cut measurements and contains no cutting templates. Buy that version if you need repeated bags in several sizes; the free tutorial is sufficient to try the method first. Lining and corner shaping add steps, so it should not be described as simpler than every unlined option.
Bampton: free pattern pieces and a video
Sew Simple Bags’ Bampton pattern provides three sizes with a curved base, two drawstrings, photo instructions and a video. It is a digital download to print at home. The published sizes range from 9.75 by 6.5 inches to 15 by 10 inches.
Choose it if you want actual curved pattern pieces and video guidance. It differs from a rectangle-based bag: the curved bottom asks you to guide the seam around a shape. It is a useful first project for that skill, rather than an automatic speed winner. Print only the size you need and follow its printing instructions before cutting fabric.
Simplicity S3256: a real backpack and drawstring-bag pattern
The publisher’s S3256 description identifies easy-to-sew backpack and tote designs with contrasting pockets and bias-tape finishing. Drawstrings run through contrast casings to form shoulder straps; the backpack uses webbing drawstrings. Fabric suggestions include cotton types, canvas and twill, with lining and medium-weight fusible interfacing.
Choose it when carrying style, pockets and an envelope pattern matter. These details make it a step beyond a plain gift bag even though the publisher rates it Easy. The Amazon card searches for the exact S3256 pattern. Purchase the view and format you intend to sew; a PDF and a mailed paper envelope are different products.
McCall’s M8307: drawstring closure in view A
McCall’s M8307 contains soft casual bags and totes with contrasting handles and an inside pocket. Only view A is described with a drawstring closure; B has inside ties, C a magnetic closure and D a tassel closure.
Choose A if you want handles and a drawstring opening in a casual carry bag. Do not buy on the assumption that all views teach the same casing.
Prepare the casing so the bag actually closes
A drawstring bag teaches a small number of useful tasks: accurate cutting, consistent seams, pressing and keeping the entry openings clear. Preserve openings exactly where the chosen instructions place them. A gap for the cord is different from the opening used to turn a lined bag; accidentally closing either creates avoidable unpicking.
Stable woven cotton is a practical learning fabric for a design that permits it. For a washable bag, prepare the fabric according to its care needs before cutting. Very thick cloth makes the folded channel bulkier; slippery cloth adds handling difficulty. Directional prints also need attention: a bag made from one folded panel may place the print upside down on one face.
Try a short casing sample with the planned cord or tape and the actual layers. The finished channel needs enough clearance for the tie to slide. A thick rope in a narrow folded channel can catch even when every seam is straight. Secure fraying tie ends before threading, and use a safety pin or bodkin that fits through the channel.
For a two-tie closure, route each tie as the pattern directs rather than improvising backpack anchors. Ties that gather a gift bag are not necessarily load-bearing straps. A basic pouch is useful for soft goods; heavy books or fragile equipment need a design and materials intended to support them.
Choose Merchant & Mills for the plain method, Jeni Baker for a lined project bag, Bampton for curved pieces and video, S3256 for carrying designs, or M8307 A for a handled casual bag. The useful purchase is the pattern whose actual construction matches the bag you want.
Questions before buying
What is the easiest drawstring bag option for a beginner?
Merchant & Mills provides a beginner-level plain bag with a contrast cord channel. Jeni Baker adds lining and boxed corners, while Bampton introduces a curved base. Choose the construction skill you want to learn rather than assuming a timed winner.
Is a drawstring bag easier than a tote?
It depends on the design. A plain sack can use few seams, but a lined drawstring bag with boxed corners may involve more steps than a simple tote. S3256 and M8307 A also add carrying details.
What fabric should a beginner use?
Stable woven cotton is a practical starting point when the chosen pattern allows it. Use the pattern’s specified fabric and interfacing needs; thick folds or slippery material can make a casing harder to handle.
Does the bag need a lining?
Not every design does. Merchant & Mills offers a plain bag method; Jeni Baker’s design deliberately includes a lining. Follow the construction you choose rather than removing a lining without accounting for its finished edges.