Laura's Drawstring Bag With Boxed Bottom Calculator

So, we're at it again today!  I want to make a drawstring bag lined with Insulbrite and ironing board fabric to carry my hot iron after I'm done sewing at quilt club.

Laura created a calculator so that I can plug in the finished dimensions of the bag I want to sew and her calculator will tell me what my fabric dimensions need to be.

Laura's Drawstring Bag With Boxed Bottom Calculator


You will need to cut two pieces of each piece of fabric to these dimensions to create one bag.

In our example we would like our finished bag to be 5"H X 6"W X 4"D
The calculator tells us that for these dimensions, we will need to cut 2 pieces each of main fabric, cotton batting, Insulbrite, and ironing board fabric, measuring 10.5" W X 7.5" H
We will cut out 2" squares from each side of the bottom of the pieces, which will result in a 4" boxed bottom.
We will also need 2 pieces cut from main fabric at 10"H X 2.5" W.  These will be folded in 0.25" from each side and sewn down before folded in half the long way for each drawstring casing.

This is not a tutorial for making this bag, this just assumes you already know how to  make one and need to customize your sizing.  There are many boxed bag tutorials on YouTube.  Find one you like and follow it with your customized measurements in hand!  Good luck!

Here are pictures of my finished bag for my mini iron:

Laura's Boxy Pouch Calculator

So, my friend, Laura, did this thing.  She created a calculator to create any sized zippered boxy pouch you want.  All you have to do is enter some measurements and it will tell you what sized fabric to start with.

Laura's Boxy Pouch Calculator

L = Length of desired pouch
H = Height of desired pouch
W = Width of desired pouch
Box corners = 1/2H - seam allowance

The resultant measurements are for the cut of fabric you'll need to make your pouch.

The box corner cut outs to create the height of the pouch are equal to 1/2H - the seam allowance.  This means that if your pouch height measures 3", you will cut a square from each corner that equals
1.25" (1/2 of 3"=1.5"- 0.25")

For example:  I want a pouch that finishes 7" L x 4" W x 3" H.  I'll sew using a 0.25" seam

allowance.

According to the calculator, I will need to start with fabric measuring L=10.5" x W=14.0".  My box corners will equal 1.25".  The zipper is ALWAYS sewn to the length side of the fabric!


You will need to know how to create a zippered boxy pouch.  There are many tutorials on the web.  This calculator just gives you measurements to make the pouch to your exact specifications.  Creating the pouch from there is the same no matter what size you make.