Zero-ish Waste Tote is a fully-lined bag with an exaggerated bucket silhouette. It is a minimal or “zero-ish” waste design, constructed from two rectangular pieces of fabric, one lining and one self, leaving less than 5% as scrap.
The cowbell-shaped body rises from an oval base. Its exaggerated proportions make it a statement, but not at the sacrifice of functionality.
All seams are topstitched for elegance and strength. The sturdy straps are over-the-shoulder length. The interior lining features a pocket and, optionally, a key ring and magnetic closure.
PDF Details
Instructions full of diagrams and text, thoroughly outlining the process of making your own ZWish Tote bag
Minimal waste pattern: a one-page pattern piece (Letter/A4, print-at-home friendly!)
Material Requirements
Self Fabric: a 22-1/4” x 36-1/4” (56.5x92 cm) piece becomes the bag’s exterior and strap. It is best suited in structural and heavy-weight woven fabrics at 12-14oz (400-475gsm). Stiff canvas and denim work particular well.
Lining Fabric: a 16” x 41-3/4” (40.5x106 cm) piece becomes the interior lining, pocket, and optional key ring strap. It is best suited in a dimensionally stable, light-to-medium-weight woven fabric.
Interfacing: about half a yard/meter of medium-weight fusible interfacing gives the bag structure and the ability to stand on its own.
Thread: polyester for strength and color-matched to the fabric.
Material Recommendations (Optional)
Stiffener: a 5-1/2” x 10” (14x25 cm) piece reinforces the oval base, helping it keep its shape. The stiffener should be dimensionally stable and resistant to bending, like the bill of a baseball cap. Suitable products are Vlieseline Decovil, Tandy Leather’s Bontex Bag Stiffener, or similar.
Magnet: a magnet closure set, i.e. an outie and innie magnet, plus two reinforcement washers, can be used. It should have a diameter of roughly 3/4” (18 mm).
Ring: a round, square, or half-round ring with an inside diameter of roughly 5/8” (16mm) for an interior key ring.
Difficulty Level
This pattern is Intermediate to Advanced Level. The bag’s construction requires interfacing fabric, sewing straight seams, sewing curved seams, topstiching, edgestitching, inserting a lining, and hand sewing. Optionally, there are steps which include inserting a stiffener and a magnetic closure.
