It’s been a while since we have done a bag tutorial but this one is a good one to get back into the swing of things. The Origami bag or azuma bukuro (sometimes called the Origami Market bag) is so quick and easy to make. It’s a slouch type bag, so its soft and drapey without any solid form. This is a great one if you make bags to sell at a market as they are so quick to put together.
—You can watch the full step-by-step video at the end of this post—
Origami Bag – What You Need
To make the larger bag that we made in the video tutorial you will need
- 1pc fabric measuring 19″ x 56″ (for the front of the bag)
- 1pc fabric measuring 19″ x 56″ (for the bag lining)
- 1pc fabric lining or contrasting fabric measuring 7″ x 4″
To make the medium sized bag (that is hanging in the background of the video) you will need:
- 1 pc of fabric measuring 16½” x 48½” (for the front of the bag)
- 1 pc of fabric measuring 16½” x 48½” (for the bag lining)
- 1 piece of lining or contrasting fabric – 7″ x 4″
Bag Sizes
This is not a structured bag so the sizing is generally looked at as small, medium, large, extra large. So I can’t give you exact measurements for the finished size but here are some basic measurements:
Medium Bag (the one shown in the image above) – measures approx 22″ tall x 17″ wide when it is hanging on a hook. When I lay it flat and open it out on a table it measures 17″ tall x 21″ wide.
Large Bag (the one we made in the video) – measures approx 26″ tall x 20″ wide when it is hanging on a hook. When I lay if flat and open out on a table it measures 20″ tall x 24″ wide.
How to Adjust the Bag Size
You can adjust the size of the bag by applying the following formula:
- (width of fabric x 3) = length of fabric
- then add a half inch to the measurements
For example:
If we decide on a width of fabric of 16″ we multiply it by 3:
(16″ x 3) = 48“
We now take the 16″ and the 48″ and add a half inch to each number:
- (16 + ½) = 16½
- (48 + ½) = 48½
This now gives us our final measurement for the cutting of the two pieces of fabric. They should both measure:
- 16½ x 48½
Let’s Get Started:
- Take your two pieces of fabric and lay them right sides together.
- Sew around the edge with a ¼” seam.
- Leave a 4″ gap to turn the bag through.
- This is the gap to turn the bag through.
- Turn through and push out the corners with a skewer.
- Press the bag making sure to press in the folded edges of the opening.
- Topstitch around the bag approx an eighth of an inch from the edge. This will give the handle a nice finish plus it will catch in the opening.
Now comes the tricky bit.
- Bring the bottom edge up to form a triangle. Make sure the top edges are together
- Go to the other end of the fabric and fold up to form a triangle. Matching the edges.
- You now have a triangle at each end of the fabric that are formed in opposing directions.
- The piece in the centre looks like a square. We are going to image there is a diagonal line across the square.
- We are going to fold our fabric along that imaginary line.
- Keep bringing the piece over until the edge of the large triangle matches up with the small triangle.
- Now pin the edge of the small triangle to the edge of the large triangle.
- Once you have pinned one side, turn the bag over and pin the other side.
- Sew each side together with a ¼” seam. Remove pins as you sew so that you don’t blunt or break your needle.
Box the Corners
If you don’t want to box the corners you can skip this step.
Lay the seam line along a line on your mat. and make sure the bag is laying flat with the ‘imaginary fold line’ also lying along one of the lines on your mat. Flatten the material down so you have a smooth surface.
- For the large bag – measure across 4″ and make a chalk mark. (for the smaller bag measure 3″)
- Measure up the seam line 4″ and make a mark. (3″ for the small bag)
- Draw a line diagonally across the corner.
- This will be the sewing line.
- Back stitch at each end of the seam line.
- Cut across the corner approx ¼” from the seam line.
You can serge across the corner, zigzag across the corner or just leave it. The choice is yours.
- Turn the bag through to the right side.
Handle Cover
- Take the piece of material that measures 7′ x 4″.
- Turn under each of the short ends ¼” and press.
- Put right sides together and sew down the long edge.
- You now have a tube.
- With much huffing and puffing, turn the tube through to the right side.
- Gather the tube up and slip it over the end of one handle piece.
- Pull the handle through as far as you can.
- Overlap the handles.
- Sew a square on the handle ends and add cross stitching in the square to hold the handles secure.
- You can even go around twice if you like. This is the part where all the pressure will be when your bag is full of market goodies.
- Pull the handle cover over the joined handles.
- Twist the seam line to the underside of the handles.
- There you go – bag finished. Quick and easy and ideal for markets for gifts.
Mary Ellen’s Best Press Review – What is it and Why I Love it so Much?
I have made a couple of these. Anytime I go to the store people ask about them. I actually started carrying little strips of paper with your web site on it, so I didn’t have to keep repeating myself! LOL. I modified it to 20 x 60, but then needed an extra fabric strip from each side to make it more efficient to use. With that, the bag is 10 x 22 holding size and with proper x’ing and back sticking it easily holds a whole shelf of canned goods – (if you are strong enough to carry it – the bag will) Thanks for the inspiration. The larger one folds up to a 8 x 8 size
LOL, I love how you have to take our website with you. That’s awesome!
I’m not sure what you did with those extra fabric strips to make it more efficient. If you would like to share a photo or two and what you did you can do so at our Submit Your Project page.
Here’s the link: http://www.alandacraft.com/submit-your-project/
I love this I will try and Make One hope it turns out as nice as yours 😃☺
I’m sure it will Nancy. These are so quick and easy to make – you will love it.
I would love to but one of you bags if its possible
Hi Tracey, we don’t actually sell the bags, we just create tutorials showing how easy it is for people to make bags themselves. 🙂
I awake to beauty!
I can’t wait to make it!
Let us know how you go. You can always share your finished result in our Readers Project section here: http://www.alandacraft.com/submit-your-project/
Such a great bag & so easy to make. They make great presents for any occasion & designing your own fabric colours is the best part. ☺️☺️
Or even ad colourful Pom Pom edging 😄
That’s a great idea Jun. 🙂
Ohh where would you add this is.(newbie here)
My 9 year old granddaughter is interested in sewing and has been taking lessons. So she is visiting with me for a few days and I thought your bag was perfect to do. Nice long straight lines, corners, angles to fold, making a tube. We cut the size down to 42″ x 14 1/4 ” It turned out great. We will now make her mom one for Mother’s Day since it is a pretty quick project that will last for a long time to enjoy. My granddaughter loved the video for the instructions. She totally understood it….. Thanks so much.
That’s just wonderful Jan. We love hearing about youngsters taking up sewing and quilting. This bag will make a lovely gift for her mum. We would love to see her finished bags on our Readers Project page. Here is a link if you would like to share some photos https://www.alandacraft.com/submit-your-project/.
This is an awesome tutorial. I enjoyed your work, I am definitely going to make a few of these bags. Thank you for being here 🤗
Hi, I am just wondering once you pinned the two sides… do you sew them… the pattern does not mention the pins after that… I am planning on making one soon… just love it…
Yes Helene you pin both sides then sew each of the sides together with a quarter inch seam. Make sure to remove the pins as you sew. Otherwise you may damage or blunt your needle. The video is available at the end of the post, which show the process in more detail. 🙂
Thanks… I just completed one and it looks great. Thanks for the pattern.
That’s excellent Helene. How about sharing some photos with. Here is a link if you would like to do that https://www.alandacraft.com/submit-your-project/
Love the bag,looks so easy. Looking thru my material I have 22×54. I was thinking just use same color inside and out. I played with folding not a perfect square in middle, would that effect size of handle?
I find your the second person from down under I really like your sewing ideas.
To be honest we haven’t tried it any other way so I couldn’t tell you what the final result would be if you adjusted it. It could be worth a try because at the very least it is only two lines of sewing that need to be unpicked if it doesn’t work out.
And yes, you can definitely use the same colour inside and out. This can even be done without a lining although we personally prefer it.
Well your right. I tried the medium size and it worked out. Yay! I had extra to make the small tube for handle. I do have extra.
Excellent. 🙂
You could use a little piece of ribbon or bias tape to finish that inside boxed corner…I have noticed this is popular in the the US on the insides of unlined jackets. Great project – loved your fabric choices!
Nice tip! I like that Wendy.
I really like this but would like to make the straps longer…. any ideas….
Thanks
We are working on this at the moment, but not sure how long it will be before we get a video up.
Hi Alanda,
I just watched your video and found it very simple yet functionable. Can these be sold to others or is there a copy right on it? I would love to try and sell these in the near future.
Thanks,
Diana
Yes that’s fine Diana.
Can these be sold for profit or is there a copy right on them?
You are most welcome to make them and sell them at markets or online. They should be good sellers. Good luck 🙂