Adding a drawstring closure to a tote bag?

Hello all...I hope that you can help me think through something.  I am making the Crestwood bag, from Indygo Junction. 

Pattern link here:  http://www.indygojunctioninc.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=769

As written, the bag is wide open except for a tie closure in the middle.  I am making it for my grandma, who is constantly concerned about things falling out of her purse.  So I want to add a drawstring type closure, so that the entire inside of the bag can be drawn shut-but without affecting the shape of the bag and top band.  Does that make sense? 

Since the outside of the bag is gathered, my thought is to cut 2 long pieces and 2 short pieces the same length as the outer front, back, and side pieces (19.5" for the long side) and and inch larger than the depth of the bag, or if like me, you don't understand what depth means, it would be an inch larger than the bottom piece of the bag (6").  I'd create a casing at the top of these pieces for the drawstring with an opening in the middle of one of the long sides.  These pieces would be sewn between the lining and the band of the bag.   

Since the bag finishes to 12" wide, I'm thinking that would give me plenty of extra fabric to gather shut across the opening of the bag, but would kind of fold inside the bag and give full access when opened up.  But, since I am TERRIBLE with things like this, I wanted to run it past all of you on the forum. 

I am sure there is a name for the type of bag I'm thinking of, but I guess the best way I can think of to describe the look I want is if you took a basic drawstring bag and plopped it inside a structured tote bag, and then sewed the two together.  So on the outside, you'd have the look of a structured tote bag, but you'd have the option to fully close up the contents.

Would this plan give me that type of effect?

littlefish-

I think that would work, although a zipper or maybe even two snaps might be easier to accomplish.  Is there any way to piece the lining so that the drawstring portion sits down a bit in the pocket of the bag?

The dimensions you describe should give you what you want though (if anything, they may be a little big if I understand your plan correctly).  You might try making a trial verson of the drawstring portion and pinning it inside an existing bag before you put the whole thing together for your grandma and figure out that it won't work.

Trina

I agree that a zipper would be a whole lot easier, but I think the drawstring plan will be easier for HER to handle.

I'm going to make up the bag as directed and cut a sample drawstring piece out of muslin to pin inside and test when I get to that part.  I think it might be a little "tall" at 6", as you said, so I will have to test it out.

If this works the way I want it to, it will be attached to the bag below the top band, so it will sit about 5" down from the top of the bag, I believe.

(And if it doesn't work the way I want it to, I'll be off to the store to pick up a matching zipper!)

I am going to try it today and post pics if it works.   Thanks for your thoughts...sometimes all you need to move forward is someone to agree with you!   

sounds good, can't wait to see it!

Okay, so here's an update: decided to go with the zipper as my husband declared it would be more convenient to open/close for Grandma.

All was going well and the purse turning out cute, but I am to the very last part where I'm attaching the lining to the main body, and it seems the top band of the purse is several inches too large.  I think it is a pattern problem and not the way I was sewing, as everything else is matching up just fine.

So I am giving up for today but will have to completely take the purse apart tomorrow, cut pieces to match, and reassemble.  It will be a LOT of work, and to be honest, I'm not sure how it could have been prevented.  Will have to take another look and see if I made a mistake tomorrow.

In retrospect, the drawstring closure I was originally thinking of would have made it a MILLION times easier to sew the pieces together.

Ah, well.  Live and learn.  Will post pics if I EVER get this thing done!   

If you're still having trouble, I saw these pictures on Flickr today...may give you some inspiration

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewspoiled/3807524493/in/pool-sewmamagroup/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewspoiled/3807526497/in/pool-sewmamagroup/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewspoiled/3808343778/in/pool-sewmamagroup/

That is EXACTLY the kind of closure I wanted to do, Amatrcis! 

So here's what happened:  I put the zipper in, and it worked okay, but not great.  I put in a recessed zipper with tabs on either end, so it was about 2 inches shorter than the length of the purse.  That made it really difficult to attached the top band to the body of the bag.  And by really difficult, I mean, I almost scrapped the whole project. 

I really love how the bag turned out-the handles are a great length and the gathering is adorable.  It's a good size, too.  I want to make it again for myself, but with a different closure.  I'm going to check out the blog to see if she has any tips on creating that drawstring closure, because I think that would be ideal for both convenience and the style of the bag.

I think the only way a zipper could work is if you used a separating zipper and only attached it to the long sides of the bag, so it would fold down flat while you were attaching the two part of the bag together.

Okay well, based on the picture, I think you need to make the drawstring portion (which is basically making a drawstring bag and then chopping off the bottom) and insert it the way you would insert purse straps.  So when assembling the bag, you'd have something like this (from outside layer in):

1) lining, wrong side out
2) drawstring insert inside the lining (basted might be good)
3) purse straps (basted well)
4) exterior of bag wrong side out

Then assemble the bag, leaving a gap for flipping.  Once you flip, it should be what you're trying to get.  Top stitch very carefully.  The only catch is I'm not sure how big to make the drawstring insert.