Stitch Lab Pattern Friday – Bucket Bag by Keyka Lou

Project Name:  Keyka Lou Bucket Bag Downloadable Pattern
Dimensions: 12″ wide x 14″ high x 5″ deep (front to back) with a 22″ strap
Sewist: Carrie

Carrie made this darling bag with fabrics from Echo by Lotta Jansdotter. She loves all the wonderful designs in the Echo collection and had a great time combining multiple prints on the Bucket Bag.

A roomy front pocket is the showcase detail. Two fabrics and a vintage button add charm.

A contrasting Catalina Green lining makes it fun to peek inside! Carrie made her bag per the pattern. The lining does not have a pocket. Next time she will add a small pocket for keys and little things. Carrie is going to make a couple of matching Dumplings to go inside her bag for the little stuff.

Keyka Lou has a great technique for turning the bag. At the start of the opening you first do a back stitch to secure the seam. The stitch is then lengthened to a basting length as you stitch across the opening. You then back stitch again at the end of the desired opening size. This creates a guide to iron the seam open. The basting stitches are then removed. The creased seam makes it easy to close the opening after turning.

The bag has a wonderfully elongated, ellipse-shaped, sturdy base that makes the bag stand up when set on its bottom. Keyka Lou’s diagram for sewing the base to the bag makes this an easy step. Be sure to begin and end your sewing 1/4″ from each side as instructed.

The bag back is a great place to show the main fabric on its own. The large scale print fits this bag nicely. Carrie likes to carry her handbag cross body style. The strap was lengthened by piecing together 3 fabrics. Beginning and ending the strap with the same fabric as the bag body gives it a nice tie-in.

This fun shadow showed up on the photo. Carrie saw it as the perfect way to finish her thoughts…she loves her new bag!