Sewing: Bucket Bag

Bucket bag – it’s the perfect little tote for spring. And look at those colours? Don’t they just show so much excitement for spring time? Yes! Okay, let’s get sewing.

What You Need

1/2 yard of coordinating fabric
matching thread
serger
sewing machine
scissors
iron / board

First, check out the post for the 20 minute bag – this bag follows a very similar pattern, except the size is a tad different.

Get your fabric ready.

You’ll need two pieces that measure 16 inches wide and 17 inches long. Then, two pieces for the handles that measure 3 inches wide by 23 inches long.

I used a box design on the bottom and if you do this, just be sure you match your seams up well. Otherwise, it’ll look sloppy.

Sew the box bottom, or the coordinating fabric for the bottom if you’re going that direction. Also, I put a pocket on the front – serge all 4 sides and iron inward and topstitch, then put on the front of the bag and pin in place, following the topstitch lines on the sides and the bottom.

Once you’ve got both sides ready, pin right sides together and serge along the sides and the bottom. Then, serge the single layer at the top. Press the top serged edge inward and fold 1/4 an inch and then 1 inch and topstitch in place – making sure you catch that serged edge.

For the handles, fold them in half lengthwise, right sides together and serge the ends and about 3 inches along the length, then turn right side out and fold inward. Press and topstitch.

Pin the handles in place – this is a personal preference as to where to put them, yet usually at least 2 inches inward from the side seam and 2 inches from the top of the bag.

Last step, to make it a bucket, you need to serge the bottom corners on the bias like the big zip bag – these boxed corners are the last step!

Done!