How to make a bucket tote

1. Materials & tools

Materials (standard size)

• Main fabric (8–11 oz canvas) — about 110 cm wide × 70 cm (44 × 28 in)
• Lining fabric (sheeting or heavy cotton) — the same amount
• Heavy fusible interfacing — for the base and body
• Optional: a plastic base insert

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Bags” → “Bucket tote” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the base diameter, bag height, handle length and cut width, and the opening fold. Presets cover small, standard and large.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the base (a circle), the body and the handles. Trace the circle accurately or the base will not fit.
2. Cut
   Cut the base in main and lining, the body in main and lining (two panels each), and two handles.
3. Apply interfacing
   Fuse heavy interfacing to the main base and body if you want it to stand up.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the handles

1. Fold each handle in quarters lengthwise, press, and topstitch 3 mm from both edges. Two parallel lines of stitching is what makes them look shop-bought.

4-2. Sew the body into a tube

1. Sew the two main body panels together at both sides. Press the seams open.
2. Do the same with the lining, leaving a 12 cm (5 in) gap in one seam.

4-3. Attach the base

1. Pin the base to the lower edge of the tube, right sides together. Pin at four points — the two side seams and the midpoints between them — then fill in.
2. Sew with the circle uppermost, turning the work gradually.
3. Clip the allowance every 1 cm so the base sits round rather than faceted.
4. Attach the lining base the same way.

4-4. Join and finish

1. Turn the main bag right side out and slip it inside the lining, right sides together.
2. Catch the handle ends at even positions front and back as you sew around the opening. Check they are not twisted.
3. Turn through the gap in the lining, close it, push the lining in and topstitch around the opening.

✏️ Setting the circular base is the only real skill here. Pin at four points and halve the gaps. If the circle seems to be running short or long, add pins and spread the difference — pulling it distorts the base and the bag leans.

5. Tips & variations

• Base insert: a piece of plastic board cut to the base size stops it sagging when loaded.
• Inner pocket: sew it to the lining before you make the lining into a tube. It cannot be done afterwards.
• No corner gussets: a round base means no triangle-pinching step at all — this is simpler than a square tote.