Sewing a Shoe Bag

Fold 1/3 yard of fabric in half. Cut a rectangle from the folded fabric that measures 13 by 18 inches, placing the fold on one of the short sides. The fold is the bottom of your shoe bag.

Measure 2 1/2 inches from the top right corner down the right side. Make a cut parallel to the top edge through both layers of fabric that measures 1/4 inch.

Unfold the fabric and turn the fabric under between the two small cuts and their nearest corners. In other words, fold the fabric toward the back side from the corner to the cut 1/4 inch. Stitch the folded part down. These two hems will form the opening of the drawstring casing.

Fold the fabric in half again with right sides together and matching the two small hems you just made. Stitch the two long sides together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Do not stitch the two small hems closed. Now you have a bag with two stitched sides, a folded bottom and a raw edge for the top. The top right corner will have the two small hems.

Run a zigzag stitch along the edges of the stitched sides on the seam allowance to prevent raveling. Run another zigzag stitch across both layers of the top opening separately to finish the edges. Do not sew the top closed.

Fold down the top edge of the bag 1 1/4 inches to form the drawstring casing. Topstitch the bag 1 inch from the top fold all the way around. Now you have the drawstring casing.

Snip off 1 yard of twill tape for a drawstring. Tie a tight knot near each end of the tape. Hook a safety pin through the tape at one end. Insert the safety pin into the casing at one opening and work it around the bag until you can pull the tape through the other opening. Adjust the tape so equal portions hang out each side. Your shoe bag is done.