Artquiltmaker Blog

After posting about the free patterns, I started looking at the Kokka website multiple times. The site has really good bag shapes, both free and for sale. For some reason, the Round Bottom Bucket Bag got stuck in my mind. I think it is unique in that I haven’t made such a bag before. I make the Desktop Cube, which is kind of round. I can’t think of any other bags I have made that are round. I am sure the fabric also had something to do with it.

I printed the pattern and took it with me to Mary’s, but didn’t work on it. Then I took it to Sew Day and translated the metric into US customary measurements. Something seemed wrong or off to me, so I put it aside. After that I decided to make it using the metric measurements. That meant that I needed a metric rotary cutting ruler**. Do you know how hard it is to buy a metric ruler? The various sites kept insisting that US customary measurements were more usual in my location. DUH!

Finally, at a Sew Day with Tim and Cyndi, I cut it out. The pattern is a Japanese pattern and those patterns are much more basic than American patterns. A lot of knowledge is implied. I consulted with Tim and he said that when making the Japanese pattern he sewed he, basically, made up most of the steps. With that, I went for broke.

Part of going for broke meant diving down a rabbit hole of round bags to understand how they are put together. One problem I had was that most bucket bags have some sort of drawstring top. One of the things I like about the design of the Kokka bag is that it does NOT have a drawstring top.

The bag did not come out as expected. Mine looks more like a bottle bag than a bucket bag. I guess it could be used for a picnic for a bottle (wine or water or juice) and silverware in the pockets.

The short answer is that it is still usable and I plan to try again. I emailed with the support team at Kokka and they said to convert the measurements to inches. I am a bit confused as to how that would help, but I’ll think about it. 

My current plan is 2 Pi r. That means Quilt Math. Finally, I am understanding all of those stupid 8th grade math concepts that I never understood. Let’s teach kids math by teaching them to make bags!

My plan is to create my own dimensions with what I think will make the bag come out like the Kokka was supposed to look, at least in my mind. I know how to do all the steps and can use the directions provided as a guide. I haven’t done it yet, but this the current plan.

I am giving myself permission to play a little. I don’t see the above bag as a complete fail, but it isn’t really a success either. I want to try again and see if I can make it better.

Resources/Some sites I looked at in my deep dive:

• • • Jellyfish Report has a lot of sizes for round bags so you don’t have to do math.
    • Circle bag tutorial – this breezy looking tutorial shows you how to make a bag (handbag) in the shape of a circle.
    • Drafting a rounded rectangular base comment/tip – scroll down to find this tip. It’s not just all math; pictures are included to give you a good idea of what you are doing.
    • Drafting Manual: How to Draft Circular Bags. If you want to skip all the nonsense, this for-purchase manual ($10) tells you everything you need to know about drafting round bags. According to the site “When you purchase this interactive pdf, you will receive all of the tutorials and information needed to draft two styles of bag to your custom size and preferences.”
    • The Hexi Tote Project has the right exterior height compared to the height of the pockets.
    • How to sew a rounded bottom post – provides tips and tricks for sewing a circle.
    • The lined round basket project was the right ‘fatness’ for the bag I am envisioning. I thought I could use the same ratios.
    • Round Bag Calculator post – the site provides a list of sizes of circles and how big you would need to make the associated rectangle.
    • 2 Pi R
    • 9″ circle base, 10.5″ x desired height rectangle, Project example

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