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

18 thoughts on “Market Bag: Handmade Style

  1. Cassandra says:

    I just got the book and can’t wait to try this pattern. I love the green floral for the lining. The whole book is great; so many projects I want to try. Thanks so much! Gorgeous!

  2. liz n. says:

    My mother was looking through the book and keyed in on this bag right away, saying, “If you were going to sew anything for me, this bag would be perfect.” She’s so subtle! My first order of Rain Walk fabric arrived yesterday, and as soon as the second order arrives (the canvases), I’ll be stitching up this bag for Mom. Awhile ago, I deconstructed a yellow, faux-ostrich skin, leather handbag that I love but has seen better days, to re-purpose the leather at a later time. That yellow exactly matches the yellows in Rain Walk, so I’m going to use the leather for the handles. If I have enough, I also want to use it for piping to border the decorative band on the exterior.

    Speaking of Rain Walk: I fell in love with the collection when you posted the preview of it months ago, but when I opened the package yesterday and saw the cottons and held them in my own hands, oh, gosh! (Quoting husband: “You know you’re hugging and petting that fabric like it’s a cat, right?”) They are just beautiful! The drape and the colors…SO worth the wait!! I hope you are very, very proud of this collection…and I hope there will be more fabric collections from you!

  3. Sona Jacob says:

    you are really rockin’ the leather handles!!

  4. Love your new bag! Your book is on my wish list. Currently 3/4 finished with the Campfire Messenger, but had cataract surgery this morning, so need to take a break for a couple days. I am really pleased with how the Campfire Messenger is coming together. Will blog about it in a couple weeks.

  5. LeAnn Frobom says:

    Great bag!! And I love your close quilting. The handles are great, too.

  6. Janice says:

    I love this bag. Ordered your book but I am still waiting for it. I hope it arrives soon. This will be one of the first things I will make.

  7. Carla says:

    That does it. I want the book! ; )

  8. kristin says:

    Gah it’s so pretty. Love the fabric combo, the quilting, the leather handles. I saw your book in the window of Bolt tonight (actually the husband noticed it!) while walking by there eating ice cream. 😀

  9. This is beautiful. Perfect for a market bag, too. I think I need to go buy this book right now 🙂

  10. Reece says:

    I just received my copy of the book today and it is so gorgeous! All the projects look great! I can’t wait to get started

  11. Jen says:

    Anna, does the pocket, when attached, get sewn through all layers (leaving an outline on the outside of the bag)? Just making sure. I got the book a few days ago and this is going to be my first bag I make. I made your cargo duffle pattern for my mom for Christmas and now I’m a believer in your designs 🙂

    1. Anna says:

      Hi Jen,
      Thanks for the comment. The pocket is a hang down style that only gets attached at the top edge of the back of the bag. 🙂
      Hope that helps! 🙂

  12. Marie Lussier says:

    When do you quilt the bag. I cannot seem to find those directions in the book?

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Hi Marie, it’s page 84 step 6. 🙂 After you apply the patchwork strips to each exterior, etc.

  13. Marian Capper says:

    Ive made several of these market bags as gifts for friends each one admired. It’s a great bag Beware the lining comes up a bit big

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Oh that’s so great Marian! I’m so glad your friends enjoyed them. Yes, the lining on this one gets finicky. I wish I could go back and add notes to the book. But yes, trimming off the top edge of the lining and tapering in the seam allowances are some fixes if you decide to make more. 🙂

  14. Farida Abdul Halim says:

    Hi Anna,
    How I wish your book is available on ebook. Could you do that please?

    1. Anna Graham says:

      Hi Farida, I wish, too! However, due to the contract with my publisher, there won’t be a digital version.

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