How to make a pumpkin bag

1. Materials & tools

Materials (For the standard size (26 cm wide))

• Main fabric (orange felt or cotton) — about 60 × 55 cm (for 2 body pieces)
• Lining (optional) — about 60 × 55 cm
• Contrast fabric (green, for the stem) — about 10 × 10 cm
• Fabric for the handle, or a store-bought handle / ribbon — a little
• Optional: black felt (for eyes and mouth)
• Sewing thread

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” → “Pumpkin bag” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the width, height and handle length. Presets for child (small), standard and large. Go large for lots of candy.
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. Decide the size
   Go bigger for more candy. Cut the body as 2 pieces on the fold (front and back); add 2 lining pieces if lining.
2. Cut
   Cut 2 body pieces (+2 lining), 2 handle straps and 2 stem pieces. Felt can be left with raw edges.

4. Sewing

4-1. Prepare the face and stem

1. For a jack-o'-lantern, first attach black-felt eyes and a mouth to the front of the body.
2. Sew the stem's two pieces right sides together and turn, or use a single felt layer.

4-2. Sew the body

1. Place the two body pieces right sides together and sew around the sides, leaving the opening. Clip the curves so it rounds out neatly when turned.
2. Sew the lining the same way, then join it to the outer at the opening (catching the handle and stem). Turn through the gap.

4-3. Attach the handle and stem

1. Fold the handle in four and sew, then attach it inside the opening on each side.
2. Sandwich or sew the green stem at the center (front) of the opening. Close the gap to finish.

✏️ In felt you can skip the lining: just hold two body pieces wrong sides together and sew around (leave the opening) for a cute raw-edge bag. A store-bought handle or ribbon makes it even quicker.

5. Tips & variations

• Different faces: a smile, a scary grin, a winking eye — the black felt placement sets the expression.
• Ghost version: make it in white for a round ghost bag.
• Add a base: sew across the bottom corners for a boxed base that holds more candy.