I’m using up all the leftover fabric from the dresses to make drawstring pouches for all the girl cousins.   This is just a simple bag pattern but I use a buttonhole for the drawstring opening.   This is totally customizable.  In fact, I haven’t measured for a single one.  I’ve just been cutting out what I can from the scraps.  This would actually be a great project to use up some fat quarters and it takes all of about 15 minutes to make.

Here are the step by step instructions.

Supplies:  two coordinating fabrics (approximately two fat quarters)

Ribbon or cord for the drawstring

Cut out four pieces of fabric.  The ones shown here are approximately 6″ x 9″ each.  You’ll want two of each type of fabric.  Two of the pieces will be for the outside and the other will be for the lining.

Place right sides together of matching fabrics.  Sew along three sides of the outside fabric (leaving the side you want to be the top unsewn).  Do the same for the lining but leave an opening about 2 inches wide on the bottom.   On this picture you can see I left he opening and then I used the pinking shears to trim around the seams.  This is optional.  You could also just press the seams open (or not–it is just a little easier to sew it together later if you do a little ironing).

Using the buttonhole feature on your sewing machine, place a buttonhole approximate 1 1/4″ from the top of the outer fabric.

Now you will place your outer piece inside the lining.  Make sure the right sides of the fabric are together.   See image below.

Sew around the top of the bag.  I use a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Once the bag is sewn all the way around, you will want to pull the bag through the hole you left in the bottom of the lining.

Fold the lining inside the bag and press along the top.  You are now ready to top stitch and make the casing for the ribbon.

As you can see in this picture, I stitched 1/4″ above and below the buttonhole.   You will stitch all the way around the bag.

Now all that is left is the drawstring.  Cut a length of ribbon.  Make sure it is long enough to tie.

Use a safety pin to help guide the ribbon through the casing.  Once it is all the way around and through the other side, trim your ribbon to the size you like and tie a knot at the end.

Your little girl will love to put all of her treasures in this simple pouch!