DIY tutorial: floral bag

My most recently completed project is this fun floral bag.  I think it's from an old sheet that my sister got from my grandma, and I love the print!

This project was super easy.  Cut a rectangle of fabric.  The piece I found was 46 in x 18 in, so I just used that amount, and I think it ended up in a nice size.  Fold all four sides towards the center 5/8 in, making sure to fold the right side in, and pin.

The short ends will fold over the top of the long ends.  Sew directly down the middle of all four seams.  (This is one of those projects that is all straight seams, so you can put the "pedal to the metal!":)

 Fold both short ends up 3 inches and pin.

Mark a line 1.25 in down from the first stitches.

 Pin between the stitches and the marked line (this way you don't have to move the pins:).  Sew along the marked line, and then sew over the top of the original stitches.  This will create a casing for the ribbon.  Repeat on the other side.

Fold the material in half so that both casings match up.  Pin along both sides.

Sew down both sides, along the top of the original stitches.  Start on the bottom row of stitches of the casing.

For the drawstring, I used to wide ribbons (the kind that is the handle for Ann Taylor bags?  Love!)  Both ends were already knotted, so I just used that to pull them through the casings.  But if you use a cord or some other material, put a safety pin through the end and use that to thread them through the casing.  Put the ribbon through one side of the casing and then turn and put it through the other side.  Repeat with the second ribbon.  Tie the ribbons together.

And your bag is finished!  I love the combination of the floral print and the grey ribbon.  I hope to show you soon what I'll be putting into this bag:)

Happy Monday!