Origami Bento Bag Pattern and Tutorial: Quick Tote Bag

You can use a wide range of different fabrics for this bag, I have made it with a former duvet cover, but you could easily use squares of fabric stitched together (such as fat quarters) , furnishing fabric, old sari fabric or even tea towels. I have made up the bento bag in different shades of denim embellished with some hand stitching, this makes a much sturdier bag. After all I love making bags out of denim!

If you are tempted to make an upcycled denim origami bag I suggest making one out of scrap fabric first so you can see how the bag is constructed, where the diagonal lines fold etc.

You can adjust the size of the bag by using the formula:

• (width of fabric x 3) = length of fabric

My first bag is (see you tube video):

If we decide on a width of fabric of 16″ we multiply it by 3 (16″ x 3) = 48“ to provide the length of the rectangle

Materials:

• Two rectangles of fabric (one exterior fabric, one lining fabric)
• Bag handle rectangle of fabric or leather 7 by 4″

Place the two pieces of fabric right sides together. Stitch with a small seam allowance – I use the edge of my sewing machine foot so approx quarter of an inch, leaving a good turning gap of 6 ” along one of the raw edges. Personally, I prefer to do this along one of the short sides, unless I am adding a button with a loop of thread (see How to add a closure to your bag).

Trim the corners within the seam allowance, taking care not to snip any of the machine stitching by accident.

Turn your fabric right side out, fold in your raw edges and press, so you have one rectangular piece of fabric. I suggest using a chopstick to help with the corner points.

On the left-hand side fold the bottom corner up to the top edge of the fabric creating a triangle (Fold A).

On the right-hand side take the bottom corner and fold it up to the top edge, creating a second triangle (Fold B).

Now down that middle square visualize a diagonal line running the right corner to the left corner. Fold along this imaginary line (Fold C).

Pin the two triangles together, straight stitch along the diagonal line taking care not to catch the opposite side of the bag. Repeat for the second side of the origami bag.

Top stitch the top of the bag – if you are upcycling denim I suggest using a denim needle and a walking foot for this. This not only gives a professional finish but closes the turning gap.

Let’s box the corners of the bag, turn the bag so the lining is facing you. Fold the bottom edge of the bag to meet the sides of the bag. I place a pin on the side of the bag and one of the base of the bag and then aign these.

Draw a line diagonally across the corner. If you would like a 4″ bag depth sew a 4″ line. Stitch with a straight line ensuring you backstitch at each end. Repeat for the second corner of the bag. Boxing the corners gives the bag shape.

Finally, let’s add a handle to the origami bag. If you are using fabric turn under each short end by 1/4″ and press. Fold the fabric in half so the right sides face each other and stitch along the edge, backstitching at each end. Turn the tube right sides out (this is a little fiddly but doable).

Slide the tube (bag handle) onto one of the triangular parts of the bag ushing it down as far as you can.

Gather the two triangular parts, overlap and machine stitch the pieces together securely (this is a stress point of the bag, so you may wish to stitch a square and diagonally across the square from each corner).

Finally, pull the handle back over this join, you may wish to slip stitch in place but I think it is unlikely to shift around too much!

Please note you need to add the pocket before you sew up the bag. Firstly stitch up your slip pocket using a piece of lining fabric measuring 5 1/2″ by 12″. Next work out the placement of the pocket, fold your lining fabric as you would when making the bag. Position your pocket in place and pin. Unfold your fabric and stitch the pocket in place then continue with making your bag.

I have two suggestions for you:-

Firstly a button with either a button hole or a loop of thread. If you decide to use a loop of thread (or elastic thread I suggest your turning gap is a third of the way along the long edge. Once you have the folded rectangle you will be able to see where to insert the loop before topstitching the turning gap closed.

Secondly, insert a magnetic snap at the v closure point. Note as this is on a seam I suggest inserting a magnetic snap on a rectangle of fabric, turning in the edges of the fabric, place on the lining of the bag, and stitching to secure through the layers of the bag. Use a toning thread for the exterior fabric.

My old jeans tote bag has been up from various old jeans and some fabric scraps. I started by cutting the lining, using it as a size guide. I then visualized three squares in a row of denim scraps.

The central square is denim pieces I had started with a different project in mind with hand embroidery.

I then worked on the block to the right, thinking about the balance of texture and colours.

Followed by the block to the left.

Next I joined them all up to create one long panel.

I then folded the fabric as it would be for the finished bag and decoded which panels to add further hand stitching to.

If you decide to make an upcycled denim version yourself do ensure you use a denim needle and a bulky seam aid is a very handy tool when stitching the bag together.

Today I am taking part in an Upcycling Blog Hop.

Now let’s take a look at the other Upcycle Challenge Blog Hop Participants and see what they’ve been upcycling.

Beverly | Across the Blvd

Gail | Purple Hues and Me

T’onna | Sew Crafty Crochet

Marci | Stone Cottage Adventures

Vicky | Vicky Myers Creations

Julie | Sum of their Stories

Upcycled Wooden Pineapple into a Bookend

Trash to Treasure Twisted Cord Basket

Upcycled Frayed Denim Scarf

Jumping into Spring Like…

Origami Bento Bag

Candle Jar into a Cute Pincushion

• 
  

  Two rectangles of fabric (one exterior fabric, one lining fabric), 17 1/2 by 53 1/2"

• 
  

  Bag handle rectangle of fabric or leather 7 by 4"

Step 1 - Cut out your fabric

Step 2 - Place the fabric's rights sides together, stitch all around leaving a turning gap of 6"

Step 3 - Trim the four corners, taking care not to snip the stitching by accident.

Step 4 - Turn the fabric right sides out, fold in the raw edges, and press. Use a chopstick to help the corner points.

Step 5 - Place the fabric so the wrong side is facing you.

Step 6 - Fold the bottom left corner up to the top edge of the long rectangle, creating a triangle (Fold A).

Step 7 - Fold the bottom right corner to the top edge of the long rectangle, creating a second triangle (Fold B).

Step 8 - Fold the right-hand side of your fabric over, creating a new diagonal fold from right to bottom of the central square (Fold C)

Step 9 - Pin the two triangles together and stitch to close, for both sides of the bag.

Step 10 - Turn the origami bag wrong side out.

Step 11 - Fold the bottom edge of the bag to meet the side edge of the bag.

Step 12 - Mark a triangle to create the boxed corner. Machine stitch, backstitching at each end. Repeat for the second side of the bag.

Step 13 - Press under 1/4 of both short edges of bag handle (skip this step if using leather).

Step 14 - Fold the bag handle in half, right sides of fabric facing each other, Machine stitch along the long raw edge.

Step 15 - Turn the tube of fabric right side out,

Step 16 - Thread one of the triangles of the bag fabric through the tube, pushing it down as far down as possible

Step 17 - Overlap the two triangles of fabric and securely machine stitch the two together.

Step 18 - Pull the handle across the join, so the join is enclosed inside the handle.