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How to Make a Shirt Into a Drawstring Backpack

Drawstring backpacks can be used for many different purposes, from carrying essential items like your wallet and checkbook to holding things as a carry on during travel. You can purchase a drawstring backpack, but you may not find the right one that suits your personality or style. If you make your own drawstring backpack from a shirt, you can find preprinted designs that you like or you can design your own to suit your taste.

Things You'll Need

Shirt
2 cording pieces, 12½ inches each or longer
Sewing needle
Sewing thread
Scissors
Cutting mat (premeasured)
Fabric pencil
Ruler
Fabric pins
Safety pin

Instructions

- 1
  Lay out the shirt on the cutting mat.
- 2
  Use the scissors and cut off the sleeves and collar at the seams.
- 3
  Use the ruler and fabric pencil to mark straight lines along the shoulder area of the shirt and next to each of the arm holes, then cut straight down the side seams The goal is to create two rectangular pieces.
- 4
  Flip over one piece and fold down the top about ¾ inch. Pin into place.
- 5
  Use the needle and thread to sew along the bottom of the fold, at the cut portion. You should now have a casing for the drawstring.
- 6
  Flip over the second piece, fold and sew in the same manner as the first piece.
- 7
  Place your two pieces together, faces together (right-side in). Pin along the bottom and sides, making sure to start below your casing seam. Seams of ½ inch or ¾ inch are fine.
- 8
  Use the needle and thread to sew the pieces together, staying straight and in the middle between your pins and the edge of the shirt fabric.
- 9
  Tie the cord into a small knot around the coil part of the safety pin. Push the safety pin through one side and out the other. Tie a double knot into each end of the cord.
- 10
  Repeat the cord threading and knot tying for the other side.
- 11
  Turn your new shirt drawstring backpack inside out and inspect your seams to make sure you didn't miss anything.

Sewing