If you love quick, practical sewing projects that make great gifts, or just make everyday life a little prettier, you'll adore Sew Drawstring Bags from Zakka Workshop! This charming book includes 14 fun projects that range from simple beginner-friendly pouches to larger bags perfect for travel or everyday errands.
In addition to a book with 14 different patterns, it comes with cotton cord and a drawstring threader tool - so you can start sewing the moment you open it! (That tool alone is worth it. Makes threading cords through casings a breeze!)
About Zakka Workshop
Zakka Workshop is a creative publishing company inspired by the Japanese concept of zakka (雑貨), meaning "many things that improve your home, life, and appearance." Their books, patterns, and kits celebrate fresh, contemporary Japanese design and make it accessible to sewists, quilters, and crafters around the world. I've always loved how their projects blend simple functionality with beautiful details, exactly the kind of handmade inspiration that makes sewing so satisfying.
Sew Drawstrings Bag Review
This book has patterns for 14 different purses, pouches and bags - all with a drawstring element to close them up.
This book has something for every skill level. The smaller pouches are a great way to use up favorite fabric scraps and make sweet handmade gifts-think cosmetics, jewelry, treats, craft supplies, or little notions. They're also a good place to start building your bag making skills.
Once you've made a few, you'll be ready to move on to the larger bags that make beautiful, functional purses and totes.
The instructions are clear and approachable with detailed diagrams, just what you'd expect from Zakka Workshop.
The photography is clean and inspiring, and the finished projects have that delightful "everyday handmade" vibe that makes Japanese sewing design so adorable and inspiring.
Making a Scrappy Patchwork Pouch
I decided to try making one of the Scrappy Patchwork Pouches using my Mary Catherine collection.
TIP: Here's one of my favorite hacks for when I need to trace and use pattern templates: Freezer Paper. You can find rolls of it at your grocery store in the aisle with the aluminum foil, or you can buy printable sheets here.
Just trace the pattern template with the freezer paper (paper-side up and waxy-side down). Cut out the template pieces and then you can iron them directly onto your fabric. The waxy side of the paper lightly adheres to the fabric make it easy to accurately cut your pieces. Then just peel off the freezer paper, and reuse it with the same process for cutting the rest of your pieces.
This little pouch is perfect for carrying around sewing supplies for easy access as it stands up on it's own when open!
I used the pink cord that came with the book for my drawstrings. The color was perfect! I'm excited to have this cute little bag to corral all of my sewing bits and bobs to take on the go.
I will be honest, the bottom of the bag where the 6 patchwork pieces intersect was a little fiddly for me. This probably isn't the first bag pattern you want to attempt in this book if you're a beginner. As I mentioned, start with the first Drawstring Pouch first to build your skills.
Check out the Drawstring Bags made by other Makers
Right now Zakka is hosting a Maker Book Tour - be sure to check out the instagram accounts below to see more of the projects by these maker.
Whether you're sewing for yourself or looking for a quick weekend project, this book will inspire you to grab your favorite fabrics and start stitching. You might just find yourself making one in every size!
Book Giveaway!
Finally, I've got a copy of Sew Drawstring Bags from Zakka Workshop to giveaway to one of you! Just leave a comment telling me your favorite bag to make.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED
Winner: Jamie S November 02, 2025 at 9:57 am
I want to make the fruit bag and a strawberry one to be more specific, how super cute 🍓
If you've been looking for a simple, satisfying way to use up your fabric stash and make something both charming AND useful, Sew Drawstring Bags is a great addition to your sewing library. You can find it hopefully a copy at your favorite local sewing/quilting shop, or online from Amazon or the Zakka Workshop website.
Keep up to date with more Zakka inspiration on the Zakka Workshop Instagram page.
AND fun news! Zakka Workshop is hosting a Sew Along Dec 1-12 - perfect timing to make gifts for Christmas!
Linda says
I like the pink scrappy patchwork pouch. It's so cute!
Jackie D says
I like making drawstring bags for the littles to put their cars or Lego pieces in, and fancier ones for jewelry.
Angela V says
The drawstring tote is cute
Debbie says
The cat ear pouch is adorable! I have a granddaughter who would love for me to make her one!!
Nancy Lane says
I am so excited to make the Fruit Drawstring bag. I am going to use fabric from the Delightfully Yours collection. The bag is going to look like a sweet strawberry. 🍓 I love your new book! I can’t wait to get started on these beautiful bags.
Susan Ingham says
The drawstring bag fashioned as a carrot caught my eye and would love to have a pattern to make it.
Chelsea F says
I've made only a couple small bags. One was Japanese-inspired, used two squares and a drawstring. I think it was called origami pouch? but I want to make more!
Janet L Anderson says
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Janet L Anderson says
I've usually made reusable gift bags and shopping bags, so these tote bags would be something new. I loved the hint about using freezer paper to transfer patterns to fabric. Brilliant!
Mary Glover says
Love the kitty bag.
Susan Hopson says
I haven't made any really nice ones yet, only throw together ones without a pattern. I'd love to make a stand-up one to be able to keep all the little dodads together that keep getting lost under fabric on the cutting table!
The drawstring bags seem to be a good way to keep organized.
Christie says
My favorite bag to make is a scrappy bucket bag with drawstrings of course!!!
Sharon says
I enjoy making the Weebrawbag 🩷 it comes together really quickly and is handy for keeping notions in one place at sewing retreats. I love your drawstring bag and choice of fabrics, it looks like the perfect size!
Michelle Lafayette says
I love making coin purses.
Karen McMahon says
I love the patchwork drawstring bag you made. I really like how it stands up when it’s open. It is so pretty too!
Danette Stankovich says
love these! I love to sew reusable gift bags! thank you!
Annie F says
I like making draw string bags that fit a notebook and colored penciled for a gift.
Cindy Webb says
I love making drawstring bags, especially at Christmas for special treats! The makes I’ve seen from this book are unique! I’m loving the pineapple!
Jen says
I like simple zip pouches to store all the things!
Kathleen Gansert says
I think the animal friends pouches are calling my name. They are so cute.
Linda Wellman says
I have been afraid to try pouches or bigger bags. I have made some Wee Braw bags as gifts for granddaughters and they were loved!
Elaine says
A brilliant overview Amy, I need that book in my life...😍
Scrappy patchwork pouches are my favourite ❤️
KT says
Looks like fun! I love sewing reusable gift bags.
Laura Brown says
I would love to make the drawstring tote - so handy! I have made a few project bags for knitting and love them
Lisa McCarty says
I’d like to try to make a drawstring bag. I’ve made a lot of totes and enjoy them but these look fun.
Mari Parker says
My favorite bag is usually the last one I made! A good tote bag is always handy!
Karen Wolf says
How do you choose a fav? Drawstring shoe bags make great gifts, Christmas fabric for reusable gift bags, totes for groceries or work stuff? The Dresden plate bag on the cover will be the first from this book. Those colors really spoke to me,
Rosemary Dempster says
Love the look of all these wonderful patterns. I like making jester bags with loads of embroidery and beads. Unfortunately I haven’t made one for ages. Thanks for the post.
MELODY WRIGHT says
Drawstring bags are my favorite to make. This book has beautiful illustrations with wonderful ideas. I'm always looking for simple and helpful gifts to sew. I love making small gifts for my grandkids to enjoy.
Danette Stankovich says
I love to sew drawstring bags and these are just so creative and cute! Thank you!
Jaynne Smiley says
The drawstring bucket tote is practical and just darling.
Diane Beavers says
My favorite bag is the Open Wide by Minki Kim @zeriano. Fabulous for left over blocks or QAYG . Thank you Amy for the freezer paper tip..that sound ideal. Your bag is awesome! I consider myself an intermediate bag maker so I appreciate your notation there too ref the bag bottom.
Cindy Shelley says
I like zipper pouches. The many projects from this book are awesome. I have spotted at least 3 I want to make.
Paula A says
Thank you for sharing these great resources. I have two patterns I make time and again. The Margo handbag from Lazy Girl Designs and the open wide zippered pouch from Noodlehead.com. Both are great designs.
Dani says
I love a good crossbody bag! So cute!
Susan Posner says
The patchwork pouch is darling! I think it would work perfectly done up in holiday fabric. Thank you for ALWAYS sharing such great resources and practical ideas (that don't break my budget).
Susan says
The patchwork pouch is darling! I think it would work perfectly done up in holiday fabric. Thank you for ALWAYS sharing such great resources and practical ideas (that don't break my budget).
Teri says
I’d like to make the animal friends pouch for a couple gifts. Looks like a great resource.
Ceci says
I’m just getting started with bags so don’t have a favorite - they all look pretty cute!!!!
Donna says
The Drawstring Tote would be nice to keep a project available for long car rides!
Arlene Helms says
I love about a 6" drawstring bag too holds things like hair bands or sewing clips!! So handy when traveling for many odds and ends!! Thanks for sharing your book.
Nancy Lewis says
I love the patchwork drawstring gift bag. I always look for something cute to make for my daughter and granddaughter to put their Christmas cash in. Since buying gifts have been hard for me to do, cash has became my go to gift. Yours is adorable.
Dianne says
These bags are so beautiful and unique. I already have two other Zakka books and they are adorable projects. I love the small drawstring bag best. It so apt for many gifts to give and to use for holding gifts.
Thank Amy!!
Susan says
I like the drawstring bucket tote
Bette says
Crazy cat lady here. My favorite pouch is the Kitty Pouch. Thanks for highlighting this book and for everything else you offer on your site.
Krisner says
I have made a couple tote bags, but these drawstring bags look so fun!
Laura says
I ❤️ that fruit pouch! Adorable! 🍍 Thanks for the chance!
Lori Martinsek says
I love the scrappy pull string and cat ear bags! I have to make both!
Jamie says
I usually love zipper pouches, but I’d love to try any of these drawstring bags! They look so fun!
Amy Rivera says
Hi Amy!
Your little drawstring bag is adorable! And I love your new fabric collection!
The first bag I made about 50 years ago was a drawstring bag! And lately I have been making zipper bags and pouches and lots of tote bags! Thanks for the informative post. Happy sewing!
Amy Rivera
Deb says
I would love to try out the adorable animal friends pouches!
Donna F says
How can pick just one bag. Ok I will. I like the bucket tote bag.
debbie says
I love draw string bags as you can use for any and everything. kids can usehubby too even the dogs have them with toys,leads poo bags etc best things ever invented and any fabric will do one xx
Debra Reber says
I would make the bag that looks like a pineapple!
Carol W says
My favorite is the teddy bear pouch shown in the Meet the Makers graphic.
Kathy says
I like the patchwork pouch
Margaret LaVenia says
I would like to try the Patchwork Pouch. I have made many bags starting with Mary Mulari's when she was on Sewing With Nancy. The book has a lot of good bags!
Bridget says
I love to make all kinds of bags. I think the cat drawstring bag is adorable. Just love those ears!
Rebecca says
I’m intimidated by bag making, but want to learn.
Jane Castleman says
I like the orange drawstring bag because it will hold more items.
Deborah Ryan says
The Scrappy Patchwork Pouch is super cute! It would be a great alternative to gift wrap this holiday season. The freezer paper pattern idea is such an easy way to keep patterns accurate!
DebbieLiz says
The Ruffle Keepsake Pouch would be my first pouch to make, It looks so adorable but all the patterns would be fun to make. The pouch you made really peaks my interest and is my favorite but I think I would do a few other patterns from the book prior to making it to improve my pouch making skills.
Teresa Ayars says
I haven't made a tote in many years. That is how I got started quilting 15 or so years ago.
I like the looks of the bucket tote you have in this book. Looks like it would be a great size for many Friends and for myself.
Carla Toppass says
As a beginning quilter, I've not attempted to sew any bags yet. They seem difficult for a fairly new sewer such as myself.
Deb says
Oh my goodness!! Exactly what I have been looking for. It’s a terribly long story, but I want to make a friend’s grandchildren small bags for a gift.
Thanks Amy❤️❤️❤️❤️ you always have great ideas and links.
Monika Openshaw says
Hi Amy. I do enjoy your blog posts. I think the drawstring bucket bag looks like fun to make! Great to hold a knitting or crochet project.
Carol Olszewski says
I just made a small drawstring bag in a pre-Christmas workshop today, and I would like to make more and varied ones. Carol
Tamie Herin says
The simpler the better for me. I have made a Noodlehead tote that I love! This looks like fun.
Patti says
I like the denim bag with the Dresden plate design. It would be a good project for me to try out a new (to me) block!
Jan Jess says
Bags are a quick, easy and satisfying way to quell the sewing urge, particularly when in the midst of a larger project. This year my favourite were small drawstring bags with bunny ears and a bunny face to hold eggs found during the Easter egg hunt.
Lydia says
Drawstring pouches are always a good choice!!
Marie Hills says
the cat ear pouch is my favourite - I can make one for a friend who likes cats and adjust it to make a french bulldog bag for me. 😀
Monica B Campbell says
I love bags of all kinds! Maybe that's why my family calls me the 'bag lady' 🙂 My favorite bag is one that is easy to sew and cute too!! Any will do!
Eileen says
Love the drawstring bag with the hexagons, it's the first one I would make!
Pia Bogh says
The ‘kitty’ bag is SOO sweet - the ears are just irresistible! My best friend loves cats and would just adore this bag 😻
Karen says
My favorite bags to make are probably the open wide zipper bags, but I also love to make patchwork drawstring bags with mini charm packs.
Ginabeth Young says
I have always wanted to make a drawstring bag. Your fabric is beautifully designed!
Ruth says
Those all look interesting. Currently I have been making snap bags using metal measuring tapes inside the top casings.
Theresea C. says
I just love the cat bag.
. Truly adorable..
MaryAnn Guappone says
I like making Christmas drawstring bags to use instead of wrapping paper.
Cheryl Jaeger says
I love the rounded shape of the bag you made! I’ve never tried that design.
Janet says
I like making little felt bags to hold post it notes. I've made them at Christmas time out of green felt with a cute snowflake or tree button on them. So cute. Bags can be so fun when you see the outcome. Thank you for all your inspriation.
Anita says
Hi, I’ve made a few bags here and there, but don’t have a favorite. The drawstring bucket bag looks so handy. That would probably be my first pick if I had this book in my collection.
Kathy E. says
Scrappy bags are my favorite to make! I've made several drawstring bags to help me replace the non-recyclable gift wrap we've used forever. It seems people really appreciate them and then can use them again for whatever they need. I'd like to try the pattern in this book for the small drawstring bags...using my scraps of course!
Nancy says
my favorite bag to make is a large tote for gift wrap, groceries and library runs! thx!
Jane H says
I’ve made the floral appliqué purse to use as gift bags for friends. Definitely a gift by itself! The plus side is that I’m using my scraps in a quick way.
vallie greenfield says
I love the scrappy parchwork pouch wirh Nary Catherine fabric.
Nis says
Wonderful! I’m a knitter too so always in need of a project bag or three.
Amber Davis says
I have not wandered into bag making yet!… this might be a perfect opportunity to do so!
Jo Ann H. says
I love making simple drawstring bags at the holidays to fill with goodies for my friends and relatives.
Anne M Haun says
I love to make reusable gift bags.
Sharon Coleman says
I’d love to try that drawstring tote.
Liz says
I love making tote bags, even though I have enough already!
JoAnne Hawks says
I like to make quilted bags.
Lisa K says
The Animal Friends bag is my favorite! So great for party favors, a gift card holder, or just because!
Joyce says
Like them all. I made quilted Halloween bags my grandchildren and these drawstring bags will make a nice gifts for my daughter😊
Debbie Miller says
My favorite bag to make is a shopper's tote bag that fits inside it's own attached pocket.
Mary B says
Hmmm, a favorite one is tough! Just excited to start with the basic drawstring bag. My 10 year granddaughter went to sewing camp this past summer and we will be working on these bags together ❤️
Jamie S says
I want to make the fruit bag and a strawberry one to be more specific, how super cute 🍓
Patt Bryant says
I would love to make the bag by Amy Sinibali. I can't find the name. Maybe it's the fruit pouch? It's on the front cover at the upper right corner. Thanks!
Kathryn Webber says
I would like to make gift bags of.various sizes. I have so much fabric, and making gift bags would save me from purchasing paper gift bags instead.
Susan Stanton says
The draw string bucket bag looks super cute!
Jan says
My favorite bags I have made were diaper bags for my Granddaughters. I would love to make patchwork drawstring bags.
Nancy says
I love making all types of bags especially tote bags and pouches. I want to move on to the drawstring bags. Thank you for this giveaway.
Sandra Navarrete says
My favorite bag to make is the Alma bag by Pam Damour. I can't show a picture because I gave it away.
Boneta Hollis says
I would make the cute ones that look like a Pineapple Crown!!
Carole Holmberg says
There are many great bags here. The bag that I most need right now is one for my walker. I would love to be able to carry things like papers or clothes around the house. I think it would have to be one of the larger bags in the book. I love that they all have a drawstring closure, so things would not fall out of them, yet there is no expensive hardware to buy.
Linda Haan says
My favorite bag to make is a tote that I can take to the beach.
Teresa B. says
The red tote on the front of the book is super cute...I would like to try that one!
Lisa England says
I like to try new bag patterns so my "favorite" is always changing. Recently I have made a few sling bags that I like. I made one for each of my sisters and they also thought they were handy. This book looks like a fun source of new ideas.
Pam Rock says
I love the drawstring tote! I like bigger bags, but it’s nice to be able to close them up easily so carrying your stuff around doesn’t look so junkie. The other drawstring totes are great, I saw with young children once a week and I think that they would find these bags fun to make.
L Partin says
Love drawstring bags!
Karen Jones says
I make a lot of drawstring backpacks for Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Easy to make in bulk!
Arlene Osborn says
All of the bags are so cute but I have some little nieces who would adore the little kitten bag!
Connie Frith says
I love the Scrappy Patchwork Pouch
Pascale Giard Philippe says
I would love to win the book. I love Zakka sewing, the result is always stunning.
Peggy Terzian says
I sure do love the tote with the drawstring closure! A nice change from zippers. Thanks for the opportunity!
Katie Hammer says
I love making holiday themed drawsting bags for the grandkids. So much nicer than store bought bags or baskets.
Michelle Thompson says
Am I too late for the free book? I am planning on getting one. I love the big bag and the cute pouches.
Mary Molinari says
I have never made a drawstring bag, but these photos inspire me to give it a try. I have recently taken a class for 'slow-stitching. I think the ride and white striped bag with the flower garden hexies would be fun to try using slow-stitch embroidery.
I have made tote bags with both cotton and vinyl.
Mary Payne says
I really like the drawstring bag that looks as if petals are sprouting from the top!
Yolanda C. says
The drawstring bucket tote would be an aspiration for me to work toward! So cute!
Martha says
muy lindo el bolsito, gracias.