Easy DIY Drawstring Toy Bag ~ Free-Tutorial.net

Drawstring Toy Sack Tutorial | Toy bag sewing pattern, Drawstring lego play mat diy, Toy storage.

The advantage is that the toy bag consists of a large circular piece of fabric. It can be spread out perfectly on the floor, allowing the Lego bricks to be scattered about so that children can rummage, search, and build to their hearts' content.

A storage box, by contrast, is much more cramped and makes it harder to see everything. And if you’re just a little bit careful to keep the small pieces within the bounds of the fabric circle, you can gather everything up and pack it all away again in just a couple of quick, simple motions.

Do you know this situation? After a lovely afternoon of play, featuring the most amazing Lego landscapes, the evening calls for a cleanup. Unfortunately, this meant that—once again—every single box had to be emptied and its contents spread across the floor, just to make sure every last Lego brick was found.

Materials List:

• The toy sack can be sewn in any size you like. Consider beforehand how many Lego bricks you intend to store in it. An old duvet cover, a bed sheet, or any nice piece of fabric works perfectly. Keep in mind, however, that colorful or heavily patterned fabrics may make it harder to find individual Lego pieces later on.

• A cord, rope, or similar item for the drawstring channel. You can calculate the required length as follows: Circumference = Diameter × 3.1415.
For example, if your toy sack has a diameter of 90 cm, the required cord length would be: Circumference = 90 × 3.1415 = 282 cm.
Therefore, the cord should be approximately 2.80 meters long.

Tools:
• Sewing machine
• Pencil, ruler, string
• Fabric scissors
• Straight pins
• Large safety pin
• Sewing thread

Materials List:
The ideal size for the toy sack depends on the quantity of Lego bricks you want to store inside. As a rough guide, here are suggestions for three different sizes—though you are, of course, free to determine the size yourself:

The drawstring casing for the toy sack should ultimately have four openings, allowing the cord to be gripped and pulled tight from multiple points. This is particularly useful for the large and medium-sized sacks.

If you are sewing the small version, you can opt for just two openings in the drawstring casing. In that case, you will only need two strips of fabric instead of four for the subsequent steps.

Let's go....

Use a pencil and a piece of string to draw a perfect circle in the desired size for the toy sack. You can do this either on a paper template— which will later serve as a sewing pattern—or directly onto the fabric.

The latter is a bit more challenging, however, as the fabric can easily slip. Tie the string to the pencil. Measure out from the pencil a distance equal to exactly half of the desired circle diameter (= the radius) and tie a knot in the string at that point.

It’s best to get some help with the drawing. One person holds the string in place at the knot in the center of the circle, while the other uses the pencil and the taut string to trace the circumference all the way around.

If the circle doesn’t turn out 100% round, that’s not such a big deal! ;-)

Once you have created a paper pattern, transfer it onto your fabric. Cut out your fabric circle along the marking.

If you are sewing the small version of the toy sack, you only need two openings in the drawstring casing. In this case, you will only need two fabric strips instead of four for the subsequent steps (please refer to the cutting chart).

Cut out the two or four fabric strips. It will be easier during the sewing process if you cut the strips on the bias (diagonally to the grain). This allows the fabric strips to stretch slightly, making it easier for them to follow the circular shape. However, you can also use strips cut straight along the grain.

Fold a strip of fabric in half lengthwise and press it with an iron. Unfold the strip, then fold the top and bottom edges inward by about 1 cm (seam allowance).

Fold the fabric strip in half again along the previously pressed crease and press it once more. You will now have three pressed creases in your fabric strip—similar to bias tape—which will make the sewing process easier.

Fold and press all 4 (or 2) fabric strips.

Now fold a seam allowance of approximately 1 cm inward on both short sides of the fabric strips.

Secure the seam allowance on the short sides using a zigzag stitch.

Pin the first strip of fabric with its right side facing the wrong side of your fabric circle—that is, right side to wrong side.

Pin the remaining 3 strips of fabric onto the fabric circle as well. Space the fabric strips out evenly so that there is a gap of a few centimeters between each one.

Sew the fabric strips in place within the seam allowance using a zigzag stitch. This also finishes the edges in the gaps between them.

Fold the fabric strips outward (toward the right side of the fabric) along the pressed center seam. Fold the pre-pressed seam allowance inward and pin the fabric strip in place, positioning the pins close to the edge on the right side of the fabric.

Caution: Unlike with bias tape, the fabric strip should NOT end flush with the edge; instead, space must be left for a cord!

Using a zigzag stitch, sew the fabric strips all the way around the circle on the right side of the fabric. Don’t forget to sew a few stitches back and forth at the end to secure the seam. Your drawstring casing is now complete— great job! :-)

Now, all you need to do is use a large safety pin to pull the cord through the casing, then tie the ends together. You’re all done – your toy sack is finished! :-)