Recently I came across the idea to use bandanas to make a drawstring bag; I love how simple, inexpensive and versatile the project was. These would be great for so many uses. My two favorite ideas would be either to use western colors and give them as party favor bags for a cowboy birthday party, or to use them to store individual meals for a picnic.
The only supplies required are two bandanas and coordinating ribbon. My color choices remind me of a watermelon - so bright and summery.
After layering them over each other, I pinned them together wrong side to wrong side.
I hope that you appreciate my diagramming skills. I'm sure that Simplicity or McCall's will be contacting me shortly to start illustrating for them.
The dashed lines represent where I sewed; the inner circle is complete, and the outer circle has two open areas opposite each other to insert the drawstring. Each circle is about 1" away from the other.
Also, I would recommend sewing the outer circle closer to the bandana hemline than it looks in the diagram (I sketched this by hand, because while I am sure that my computer is capable of such feats, I am not capable of using those capabilities. I used lids from jars to draw the circles, and couldn't find a larger one to draw my outer circle. Hopefully when Simplicity hires me, they will provide me with adequate drawing tools, or at least bigger jars.)
I cut my ribbon in two 36" lengths, and inserted them into the openings. In the above diagram I highlighted each ribbon by using blue and red so that you could see how it should be inserted so that it will pull closed correctly.
Do you remember playing with flipbooks as a kid? You could flip through the pages really fast and the illustrations would look like they were moving? This is when a flipbook would come in handy. Perhaps if you scroll down really fast you can catch my drawstring action.
Can you believe how simple that was? And I forgot to mention - the bag is reversible. Imagine the possibilities!
How would you use this little bag?
23 comments:
That is so simple, but so cute! I love these kind of projects! If you used red and green you could give away Christmas goodies in them.
These are too cute...love the pink and green color combo! Would be so cute like you said for party favor bags. It also reminds me of a jewelry pouch my grandmother once made for me...I used it for rings and earrings and bracelets that wouldn't tangle while traveling. Also, you could use them for travel snack bags...pop in some cereal or dry snacks for the kids for in the car (have to admit, this idea came from my favorite t.v. show..."Jon and Kate Plus 8").
I would totally use this to wrap gifts up in... I am gonna have to remember that for birthday gifts! totally cool!
I have one that I use for jewelry when I travel! Love the pink and green together! I like the idea of using it as giftwrap for small items.
What a cute idea! And I did scroll really fast so I could see them in action! Thanks for sharing it!
i love this idea. so cute. cute wrapping for little presents - then it's a double gift!
When I first saw the picture, the colors looked red and green and my first thought was it was a poinsettia, so maybe you could do something for Christmas gifts with them by using red and green bandanas.
So cute!! I am going to attempt to make one for my niece as part of her birthday gift. I need a little something extra for her.
thanks for the great idea.
My daughter wants a picnic birthday party... perfect favor bags. I found a pattern on Martha Stewart to make a table cloth out of bandanas, so now it will all go great together! Thanks for sharing!
This is adorable, my DD loves her bags. Now if only I could sew!
Just stumbled onto your blog today. Looks like you've got something great here. Love the drawstring bag. I'll be back!
Libby
LOVE THIS! that is so darn cute. i know i've said this before but i love love your blog!
wow this is so cute...thankyou for the idea :o)
~simply~
Pink & Green..my favorite colors! This is such a cute idea.
I really like. The gift wrap idea is a good one. I would also work as an audacious doo rag or bonnet.
This looks like the coolest project for my girls! Thanks so much for posting the directions. I'm going to go buy some bandanas this week.
so pretty and surprisingly easy to make!
I have a bag similiar to this that I use for sunscreens for beach trips! Thanks for the tutorial!
i'm so going to use this idea to make reusable snack bags for my girls (for goldfish/teddy grahams/cheez its/raisins/whatever on the go). i'm so sick of wasting ziploc bags, but i also don't want them eating loose threads off of any little pouchy bag i would sew (i'm not an accomplished sewer and i don't have a serger). this looks considerably easier. thanks for the idea -- they're beyond adorable for birthday party bags, too!
To give to my children when they threaten to run away to the circus? I can offer them a handmade bandana bag to remember "Mom" with!!!.....
I love them and the fact that they are reversable!
Terisa
Just found your blog. So cute. And simple, which is key for me and my limited abilities. Thanks!
Looks fabulous!! What size are the bandanas you used?
My 3 yo grandson is going "to the mountains" in NC tomorrow for a week. I made him a green/blue truck pattern bandana bag for his traveling goodies,raisins, snacks, some candies to share, books, little animals and still room for his magnetic people, animals and letters. I also gave him a tin tray that fits over his car seat. Mom has never traveled long distances with a little one before. I also made 3 others as Christmas gifts, a black and white paisley/checkerboard for the "CARS" fan, a purple tie dye/purple paisley for my little princess and a hot pink/lite pink for the baby and filled each with appropiate toys from the dollar store. The kids won't "do" their santa gifts til afternoon, so this will keep them busy for a while. Joann's had the bandanas for $1.04 and about 40 different colors. And I found co ordinating ribbon at 2/$1. Great project for a nana with a lot of grandkids and limited funds. Might make them for the older kids w/PJs for a trip to nana or for the mom's for a "snack bag" for work or a "spa" bag with items for a mani/pedi cure, shower gel, candle, trimmed in lace. The ideas just keep coming! GREAT IDEA. THANKS.
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