How To… – SewThankful Blog

Make Fast & Easy Drawstring Cords from a T-shirt

If you need a fabulous soft drawstring for small to mid-size projects, this could be just the ticket for you!

When I designed my Got Sudz Soap Scrubby Bags, I wrote the pattern to include instructions for making a woven fabric drawstring. This year, when I was making a bunch for gifts, I decided to give the t-shirt yarn method a try and it is AAAAAMMMAAAZING!!!

I have posted a quick Facebook video that you can watch on facebook by clicking here.

If you’re not on Facebook or you’d just prefer the written tutorial, here it is:

You can use virtually any cotton or cotton/poly t-shirt, even if it has a side seam. The t-shirt can be new, used, a thrift store find, swiped from your spouse’s/partner’s/kid’s closet or drawer…whatever works for you.

Lay the t-shirt out on your cutting mat and smooth it out well, lining up shoulder and arm hole seams. Make it as wrinkle free and smooth as possible and cut off the bottom, hemmed edge.

After removing the bottom hemmed edge, measure and cut a 1 inch strip, making sure you have nice clean edges on both sides of the strip. *NOTE: You can make wider strips if you need a thicker drawstring.*

Pick up the strip and separate the t-shirt layers to see the large loop of fabric you now have.

Insert both hands into the loop. Using both hands, grasp each end and pull outward, stretching the loop. You have now formed a rolled, knit cord loop.

Now all you need to do is cut the length of cord you need for your project.

Since the t-shirt fabric won’t fray, once the drawstring is inserted into your project, simply tie off the ends, as was done with this Got Sudz bag.

Have you ever used this method for making a drawstring? If you have needs for a drawstring in your future, I hope you’ll give it a try and let me know what you think!

I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

Discovery Day Sewing — Adding a Carry Strap/Handle to Glamsy

Glamsy vinyl mesh Spa Bag with Carry Strap

On Thursday last week (9/24/17), I did some Discovery Day Sewing. I wanted to add a carry handle/strap to the Glamsy Spa Gift Bag (pictured here). She’s for my brand new StandZa Zip Bags sewing pattern.

I filled Glamsy with delightful bath/spa items chosen specifically to pamper and please, including: lavender scented Epsom salt soak, body wash, buff pad, spa eye mask, lip balm, shower brush, lotion and more. I *loved* that she could hold so much so beautifully; but then I decided that I really wanted an attractive and easy way to carry and present her.

Sew…I decided on adding a single carry strap as a quick, easy and inexpensive solution. After making this, I do believe the method should not be limited to this project. I think it would be great for adding single or double straps/handles of any desired length to a multitude of different bags types and styles. Why spend a bunch of money on designer pre-made straps or handles when you can easily make your own custom straps?

What do you think? Would you like to know how I did it?

If I get at least 200 unique and positive responses combined I will make a 1-page, step-by-step tutorial full of pictures and provide it as a FREE PDF in NEXT Sunday’s eNews (10/1/17).

My time is super limited, so I need your feedback if you would like me to do this for FREE.

There are four easy ways to let me know:

Make a comment on the pinned post on our SewThankful Inc. Facebook page.
Email me directly.
Follow us on Instagram and like the Glamsy with Straps picture.
Make a comment below, on this blog post.

How to make & add a hanging loop to your project in 3 easy steps!

Do you have a small project–like the Double-sided Button Rick Rack Flower used here as a decorative zipper pull–that you’d like to hang as a decorative zipper pull or wall ornament or tree ornament or attach to something like a gift/package, etc. but you need a way to do so?

Adding a hanging loop is a super simple way to solve that problem and here’s how to do it in 3 easy steps:

1. CUT a length of string, yarn, narrow ribbon, bakers twine, etc. I usually go with about a 6 – 8 inch length unless I need a longer dangle. If longer dangle is necessary, then cut a longer piece.

Remember, the length of dangle will be 1/2 the length you cut MINUS about 1 inch give or take depending on how close to the end you tie your knot AND whether you are looping around a button (or similar) or through a hole.

2. KNOT the ends. Make the knot as close to the ends as possible.

3. ATTACH to your project. Loop the string around (or through–if there is a hole to insert through), then insert the “folded” end of your loop through the strings of the knotted end.

Click image to enlarge picture and view detail. Pull the “folded” end so that the knot disappears behind the button (or on the back side of your flat item if inserting through a hole.)

If you have a small fabric item that you need to add a hanging hole to, you could use an awl to pierce a hole.

Want the pattern for how to make the Double-sided Button Rick Rack Flower shown here? It’s included as a bonus in my StandZa Zip Bags sewing pattern.

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