Round Tote Bag with Drawstring Top, Handles and Pockets.

I wanted to make a large bag with a drawstring top closure. I needed handles to carry the bag and pockets both inside and out. I had a bag pattern for the basic shape (Absolute Bag), but I added all the things I just mentioned and more. 

I also had a couple of printed fabric pieces that I wanted to use for the pockets on the exterior of the bag and so I based the pocket size on the panel size of these prints. The Spider Woman spinning her web sort of looked like a woman knitting and I wanted to make this a knitting bag. It also has a Halloween feeling to it too. I chose the exterior fabric colors based on the colors in the pocket panels, and a light interior fabric print, since the exterior is dark.

I wasn't entirely sure about the measurements for the drawstring top, so I guesstimated on the cutting size and it worked out just right, whew, becuase I didn't have much more fabric left.

I could have made the handles longer, but they are fine for carrying in my hand, just not over the shoulder; however I can make an adjustable strap that I can clip onto the rings with swivel hooks if I want to carry it on my shoulder or across my body. I will wait and see if I want to add that strap or not.

I interfaced everything and added foam for the structure of the bag so it stand up nicely too.

The main fabric is batik, the handles are a grunge fabric, the pockets are printed panels.

I added strap connectors with rings and rivets for extra strength as well as bling.

 I love that full moon with the Spider Woman spinning her web. The moon just glows.

Side view look at the bag.

I quilted the bottom of the bag and added purse feet.

Looking down on the drawstring closure. I added long orange colored wooden beads at the drawstring ends.

Drawstring closure closeup.

Interior slip pocket the you look beautiful label.

Interior zipper pocket and my label.

This interior fabric is a Tim Holtz print. The zipper pocket and the slip pocket are opposite each other inside the bag and do not back up to the exterior pockets, so that way the contents of the pockets are not back to back, but spread out. 

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Japanese Rice Bags Large & Small (Komebukuro)

I made a couple of Japanese Rice Bags (called Komebukuro in Japanese). They were used to carry rice in Japan as offerings to temples or shrines. Today we make and use them to carry all kinds of things and they especially make great project bags for knitting or crochet and other things too.

There are patterns and tutorials and video tutorials online for making one and they are quite easy to make. I followed along with Stuart Hillard, a pleasant British chap as he showed how to make one on his YouTube video. They can be made in any size. 

I made a large bag by cutting my squares 9" square. I also made a small bag by cutting the squares 6" square. I am now using the rest of this Asian fabric for the exterior of 2 more bags that I cut 7 1/2" square. So that will end up as my medium size bag.

This is the large bag.

The bag is roomy inside.

Here it is with the drawstring cinched closed. I used some shoelaces and cord stops to keep it closed.

This is the small size.

Drawstring cinched closed and I used a cording I had and cord stops to keep it closed on this one too.

Just 3" difference in the cut size of the bag squares.

You can make a variety of sizes and nest them inside of each other like Matryoshka Dolls. Once I finish the medium size bag, I will place it inside the large and the small inside the medium.

These can also be made using a variety of different fabrics for the outside of the bag. Or use up smaller scraps and make the bags in patchwork, or use up some extra quilt blocks. These bags do contain batting squares in them, so you could also quilt each square before assembling them into the bag. So many creative ways to make one....or 2 or a hundred, lol!!! 

They would also make great gift bags! Place a gift inside the bag and then the recipient not only gets a gift, but the bag itself makes a wonderful gift as well. Especially useful to a knitter (or crocheter) as a project bag. In fact, what a great gift to give someone who knits (or crochets) by giving them a bag like this with some yarn inside.

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