Turn the Mini Fabric Basket into a Tool Bag

Do you have the Mini Fabric Basket pattern? This little bag is super cute and today I’m going to share with you a few simple changes to make this itty bitty basket into a larger tool bag for storing your scissors and other sewing tools.

But before getting started here, I wanted to point out that there is also a tool bag mod for the Basket Bags pattern. The difference between these two bags—besides the sizes—is they have different bottoms.

Tools get heavy so if you have some denim, canvas, twill, Oxford, home dec, or other medium weight utility type fabric consider using one of these heavier fabrics to make it nice and sturdy.

You can also skip the interfacing if you use a heavier fabric. I made four of these bags using denim (10 ounce) this week and didn’t use fusible interfacing in any of them. I backed the lining B fabric pieces with muslin, backed lining A with flannel, and used cotton batting for the D piece and placed it under lining C.

If you want to use a pretty print from your stash instead, quilting cotton is going to be fine too and you can follow the instructions in the pattern and interface all pieces.

Here are the changes to make to the Mini Fabric Basket pattern:

1. Use a 3/8” SA for the 1/4” seams.

2. Make the A piece larger by printing page 7 at 160%.

3. Cut 1” off the end of the A piece that is placed on the fold.

4. Cut out the A pieces using your new handle piece A.

5. Then cut the rest of the pieces using these dimensions:

B - 6.5” high x 16” wide

C - 5” high x 15.5” wide

D - 4” high x 15.25” wide

6. Use 4” as the measurement for the box bottom corners. You’ll be able to feel/see where this goes so just find the edge and draw a straight line across the corner right next to the edge.

7. When basting the handle to the center of the bag body, measure 5” from one side seam to the edge of one side of the handle. Or find the center by folding the pieces in half and pinching in a crease.

8. The opening for turning can be made between one side seam and the edge of one end of the handle.