Weddingbee Blog

Dun, Dun, Dun… and now, the final chapter in the epic bag-blitz!

We printed, we sewed, and now it’s time for drawstrings - so grab your materials and let’s go!

In addition to the assembled bag, we’ll need string

and some eyelets/eyelet-setter.

(I’ll be using a Crop-A-Dile, which I looove)

Now remember how I said we’d stick the eyelets in before sewing the bag all the way around? Well, if we didn’t do it that way, I wouldn’t be able to fit the Crop-o-dile in to punch the holes! So start with the unsewn bag, and mark off where you want to put your eyelets. They should be towards the bottom of the bag, on either edge of the side that rests against your back. We’ll be using two eyelets per side, since these particular eyelets are too small to fit two strands of string in one.

We measured down 18″ to the point where the ruler hit the curved line we drew.

Then we went 1.5″ up from that point and made our first position marking.

Repeat on the other side, then lay the ruler between the two points.

Measure 3/8″ (3 ticks on a inch ruler) inwards, and make second position marks on each side.

Now we’re ready for eyelet setting.

Punch out holes where you made your position markings. Make sure you only punch through one layer of the fabric!

Insert an eyelet to the hole, with the finished side facing the “right-side” of the bag.

Now Squash the eyelet down with your setter. (a.k.a., the “fun” part!)

Here’s what it should look like on the “wrong-side” (inside) of the bag.

And again, on the “right-side” (outside)

Now put the bag down for a moment and grab your string. You’ll need two equal length pieces of your size preference. We used 72″ pieces that we bought from Home Depot. Melt down the ends of the string to prevent fraying (only if you’re using synthetic ropes! Natural fibers will go up in flames!)

We used a piece of wire to help guide the strings through the flaps.

With the bag right-side out, thread the strings through the eyelet holes.

Tie an overhand knot to secure the strings.

And D O N E spells done!

Logistics -
163 bags total - 157 good bags, and 6 fail-bags, so that’s a yield of about 96%.

Cost Breakdown
fabric = $1.84/bag
eyelets = $0.15/bag
string = $1.04/bag
Emulsion and ink: $0.21/bag
Capital cost for Crop-A-Dile, YUDU, screens: $283
Total Project Cost (material + capital) = $810.52 total, $5.16 per good bag.
Total Project Cost (material only) = $527.52 total, $3.36 per good bag.

…Which, if we ignore any operating costs (free labor!), falls below the $5/chair I was quoted for chair cover rentals. Huzzah!

We took these to Hawaii, a total of about 70 pounds of luggage! They are now safe and sound in the Sewing-family storage unit!

What’s the first thing you did after finishing a major project? Take a relaxation break, or jump right into something else?