Drawstring Bucket Project Bag

I’ve been thinking about this bag a lot lately. I have this beautiful autumn fabric that I picked out a long time ago in hopes of getting to this (I think last fall?). So when the weather got crisper and the leaves started to fall, I bumped this to the top of the list so I could work with these beautiful fabrics. Choosing fabrics online can be quite tricky. That’s why I like using Stash Fabrics. They manage to take the photos of the fabric in just the right light and I’ve never gotten the fabric in the mail and had it not match the others I picked out to go with it. They always look great together, just like they did in the online design board when I paired them up. And when I started putting together this bag, they just looked perfect together!

I decided to make the larger bag from the pattern in the hopes that this would be big enough to hold a knit sweater or blanket project. I have plenty of patterns that will work for smaller projects but this is something I’m missing from my repertoire. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out as large as I was hoping. But it’s still a super cute bag! I decided to do the drawstring out of the same fabric as the bag but I did change the handle and bottom to cork after watching Jess’s tutorial video. It just looked like that would be sturdier in the long run. I also decided to do the single handle. That made it a little harder to sew as it didn’t lay flat and also the single handle makes it harder to open the drawstring and fully get into the bag. I can see how if you had two handles you could let them hang down and then even fold the drawstring panel over so that you could work with your yarn straight from the bag.

I made the pockets out of the accent fabric and kept the darker, birch tree fabric in the lining. I’m glad I did that because, although the acorn fabric looked nice against the trees, the trees were just too busy and detracted from what I wanted to be the main focal point. I think this is a very cute looking bag and I can see how the smaller one would even make a nice purse. I used fusible fleece and that gave the sides plenty of stiffness because I also put a set of pockets on both sides. I’m definitely going to keep this one for myself!

The Details:
Pattern: Drawstring Bucket Bag by Kandou Crafts, large version
Drawstring: Suede cording in dark magenta
Interfacing: SF101 and Fusible Fleece
Finished bag size: 13.5”w x 9.5”h x 8.5”diameter at opening

Full bag tutorial by Jess at Oklaroots

Fabrics:
Exterior: Acorns and Pinecones in Mint by Art Gallery Fabrics and Saffron by Kona Cotton
Lining: Foresta Fusion Timber by Art Gallery Fabrics
Accents: Natural Cork