Handmade Style

Bucket Bag + Zip Top Tote // Handmade Style

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Stopping in to share a couple fun and functional bags from my book, Handmade Style. I was lucky enough to sample these two for Jennifer Sampou‘s new line Shimmer 2, which got featured in their beautiful lookbook. I really love Jennifer’s aesthetic and she keeps coming out with more goodness all the time. Have you seen she’s doing even more yarn dyes? They pretty much rock my world. Two of each please!

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The Zip Top Tote is a really great size bag with a zippered top (obvious I know, sorry). I’ve always wanted a go-to zippered top bag to sew using my favorite prints and I think this one is it! I’ve made a few more featuring my fabric collection, Rain Walk, which I’ll share next week hopefully! I think this one would make a great diaper bag or beach bag, too. Plus, wouldn’t it be fun to include some patchwork panels? yes!!! Be sure to check out ones made by you on Instagram using #handmadestylebook as the tag. And there are two fun hidden pockets on the exterior (see where those sunglasses are tucked in?). Gotta love a good pocket!

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My favorite part of the Bucket Bag is the two front zippered pockets. Of course you could skip them if you wanted, but I like the nice bit of detail they add. I also love the drawstring closure. Instead of a fabric drawstring (don’t get me wrong – I love a fabric one) but it would be a great spot to add leather cording or cotton cording. This is such a cute style to wear, too! Be sure to check out the pictures in the book (my friend from high school was kind enough to model for me) of this bag. I think it’s so fun and casual, easy to wear and perfect for just being out and about.

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Patterns: Zip Top Tote and Bucket Bag from Handmade Style
Fabric: Shimmer 2 by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics, also some Essex Yarn Dyed
Zippers: Zipit on Etsy


Zip Top Tote + Bucket Bag patterns from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

Handmade Style

Market Bag: Handmade Style

Market Bag pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

This Market Bag (pattern from my book Handmade Style) was a second sample for my workshop at Nido this past April. What a gorgeous fabric combination (which I can’t fully take credit for because Phiona had picked them out)! Such great spring colors. Anything green in Spring always makes my heart skip a beat. I love the way the quilting makes this bag so special and the bit of patchwork makes every version of this bag I see so unique (see #handmadestylebook on Instagram)!

Market Bag pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

Market Bag pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

My thoughts behind this design were of a classic rattan picnic type tote. I love the fun shape and wanted to replicate the casual feeling that type of bag emits. The bag is roomy and open. It has a cute little zippered pocket for securing a few little important things, plus leather handles! Don’t worry if you don’t like or can’t find leather you’d like to use, it looks just as great with fabric handles, too.

Market Bag pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

You might want to play around with the lining a bit, some of the workshop students made the lining a bit less tall after they had the exterior and linings assembled. The pattern calls for the lining to be a 1/2″ shorter overall, but definitely feel free to play around and do what works best for you. Oh, and take your time setting the base, and lots of pins help. Most of all, you can do it! And it’ll be a bag you can use and be proud of.


Pattern: Market Bag (from my book Handmade Style)
Fabric: Yarn Dyed Essex in Flax by Robert Kaufman, patchwork
and lining is Cookie Book by Kim Kight for Cotton + Steel
Leather Handles: find similar in my shop


Market Bag pattern from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

Handmade Style

Carry-all Pincushion // Handmade Style

Carry-all Pincushion from Handmade Style by Anna Graham

I taught a workshop in Vermont for Nido a few months ago. I’d never been to Vermont and it’s so beautiful. Really similar to around home here in WI, but Burlington was such a fun town. It had a great downtown area filled with lots of little shops and handmade goodies (I scored a beautiful walnut cutting board across the street from Nido at Vermont Farm Table).pincushion2

Phiona had me make a few samples of the projects we were making, this one being the Carry-all Pincushion from my book. I was so happy to make a few more samples from my book, it’s always fun mixing and matching fabrics and seeing how they all come together. Plus I can never get enough pockets – all the pockets!

I think this pincushion comes in a really handy for a swap or a little gift to tuck in for a friend who sews. It uses fairly small pieces so it’s a great one to use up your favorite fabrics.pincushion

When I was designing this project there were some questionable moments. It always takes a little more time than I like to get things looking how I want. In the end I really love how it finishes up. Hope you have fun making one too!

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Pattern: Carry-all Pincushion from Handmade Style
Fabrics: Wanderer by April Rhodes for Art Gallery Fabrics