Pattern Description:
This bucket bag pattern is designed for intermediate sewers who want to experiment with different materials, such as upholstery fabric or thick canvas.
The completed bag measures 15 inches wide and 11 inches tall and features seven pockets inside. It can be carried cross body or as a pail (by hand).
The instructions cover joining the interior and exterior, making handles, and optionally adding a small zippered pocket or magnetic clasp.
Materials Needed & Measurements:
Bag Dimensions
- The dimensions of the finished bag are 15 inches wide and 11 inches tall.
- The fusible interfacing is 2″ shorter than the outside of the bag.
Required Materials
- Upholstery fabric or thick canvas: 1/2 yard, 54″ wide. Other suitable fabrics include oilcloth, faux leather, vinyl, or quilting cotton (if batting is added to make it thicker to about 2mm).
- Lining fabric: 1/2 yard, 54″ wide.
- Bias tape: 1/2″ Bias tape, one roll (approximately 2 yards).
- Grommets: 17 mm Grommets.
- Thread: Polyester Thread for sewing canvas.
- Double-sided tape: 3/8″ wide.
- Tassel bead: One large bead for the tassel with a 10mm hole.
- Stabilizer: Pellon Peltex.
Optional Materials
- Magnetic bag clasp (optional, recommended as a sew-on magnet for ease of application).
- Materials for additional zippered pocket (optional):
- Lining fabric rectangle: 12.5″ X 6.5″.
- Zipper: 4.5″ metal zipper.
Key Seam Allowances and Placement
- Sewing the bottom of the pocket (long edges): 3/8″.
- Sewing the narrow edge of the pockets together: 5/8″.
- Sewing the lining (one side): 5/8″.
- Sewing the bottom of the bag (lining and outside): 1/4″ first, then 3/8″.
- The bottom of the pockets must be at 1/2″ from the bottom of the lining.
- Stitching lines used to divide the pockets are five inches apart.
Instructions for Making the Bucket Tote Bag Pattern:
Part One: Constructing the Interior and Exterior
Step One: Fusing the Lining
Apply the fusible interfacing to both the lining and the outside fabric. The interfacing should be a type that is not too stiff to maintain the soft bucket bag design.
Check the pattern; the interfacing is 2″ shorter than the outside fabric to prevent the rim from becoming too thick when it is folded over and when the grommets are applied.
Step Two: Making the Pockets
Use the fashion fabric for one side of the pocket and the lining fabric for the other, although using both lining or both fashion fabric is acceptable depending on the material thickness.
- Place the lining and the fashion fabric right sides together.
- Sew the bottom (one of the long edges) at 3/8″ and iron the seam allowance open.
- Repeat this process with the second pocket.
- Bring these two pockets right sides together and sew the narrow edge at 5/8″ to create a long rectangle. Iron all the seams open.
- Apply bias tape to the raw side of the pockets. Place the right side of the tape on the right side of the fabric and sew on the crease (using thread that matches the bias tape).
- Trim the fashion fabric 1/8″, avoiding cutting the bias tape.
- Fold the tape over to the lining side and topstitch very close to the edge on the right side of the fashion fabric.
Step Three: Sewing the Lining and Lining the Pockets
- Place the lining pieces right sides together and sew only one side at 5/8″. Iron the seam open.
- Place the lining right side up and pin the pockets according to the pattern. The bottom of the pockets should be positioned 1/2″ from the bottom of the lining.
- Align the seam of the pocket with the seam of the lining and sew the pocket down to the lining.
- Make two stitching lines from the top of each side of the pockets, five inches apart from each other, to divide the pockets into a total of six.
- Sew the bottom of the pockets 1/8″ from the edge, ensuring the bottom remains 1/2″ from the bottom of the lining.
- Optional: An additional internal pocket with a zipper can be added at this stage.
Step Four: Sewing the Bottom (Lining and Outside)
These instructions apply to both the lining and the outside of the bag.
- Pin the bottom of the bag at both side seams first.
- Pin from the side where the pocket was topstitched to the lining (Step Three) and work toward the other side (working from the seam to the right, and then the seam to the left).
- Sew at 1/4″ first, and then sew again at 3/8″. Use a zipper foot for better navigation around the rounded corners.
- Trim the seam allowance to reduce the bulk.
- Topstitch on the side to keep the seam allowance open. Trim the upholstery fabric to reduce bulk.
Step Five: Sewing the Outside
- Place the right sides of the outside fabric together and sew at 5/8″.
- Apply bias tape to the top, similar to how it was applied to the pocket.
- Attach the bottom to the bucket by pinning at the seam first, then working right and left.
- Sew at 3/8″, then reduce the seam allowance to 1/4″.
- Turn the bag right side out.
Part Two: Assembly and Finishing
Step Six: Joining the Lining with the Outside
Insert the lining into the bucket bag. Turn the top of the bag inside by two inches. Optional: If using a magnetic clasp, use a sew-on magnet centered with each part on opposite sides of the bag.
Optional Step: Adding a Zippered Pocket
If making the optional zippered pocket, use a 12.5″ x 6.5″ lining fabric rectangle and a 4.5″ metal zipper.
Construct the pouch by sewing the zipper to the top of the rectangle, turning it, and topstitching. Sew the pouch sides at 1/4″ and trim, turn it, and sew the sides again at 1/2″.
Pin the finished pouch to the main fabric and stitch it down, aligning it in the middle of the bag, using the space between the bias tape and the fabric.
Step Seven: Attaching the Grommets
Use the pattern to mark the bag for the placement of the 17 mm Grommets.
Step Eight: Making the Handles
- Place 3/8″ wide double-sided tape on both sides of the handle strips.
- Peel the paper off and fold the sides in, then fold the strip again.
- Sew down the middle of the strip. Repeat these steps to create a second strap.
- Take the small rectangle and use double-sided tape to turn the sides in.
- Place the strap ends on either side of the handle.
- Sew the rectangle around at 1/8″.
Final Decoration
A tassel can be created and used for decoration. To attach the tassel without a lobster claw, thread the strap through the tassel, and then lace the strap into the front grommets of the bag before attaching the next set of rectangles to join the straps together.
