The Gardening Tool Bag – Great Project For Father’s Day

The gardening tool bag is a great gift for Father's Day –whether he's already in the garden or aspiring to be.

I developed this new spring sewing project thinking of my Dad.  After my father had a terrible bicycle accident, he stopped working and retired.  But, he is not the type to sit around doing nothing and stayed active by growing organic vegetables.  My father cannot bend down easily or carry heavy things anymore, so the gardening tool bag needs to be able to hang from his walker.

For this project, I am using the scraps left over from my iPad backpack, so it will be very inexpensive to make.  However, if you want to splurge, use some wax canvas fabric for the ideal result, this will also increase the toughness and longevity of the bag.

 

Materials

• 1 yard of wax canvas or fabric of your choice. (psst.. there are some beautiful recommendations below from Fabric.com)
• 1 yard of fabric for lining
• 5/8″ Bias tape
• 2 yards of 1 1/2″ elastic
• Thread to match
• 1 yard of nylon webbing
• 1/2 yard of Ultra firm Pellon Peltex 71F

Tools

• Sewing machine
• Clover quilting clips

Experience Level: Advanced Intermediate

Pattern Layout

Fabric Suggestions From Fabric.com

How To Download The Gardening Tool Bag Pattern

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Just put the amount you would like to contribute above the “Buy Now” box before pushing the button.  Thanks so much in advance for helping us out.

Get Pattern HERE

Step One: Sew The Outside Pockets

Sew the elastic without stretching it or bias tape at the top of the pocket.  Make sure to sew the elastic or tape without changing the size of the pocket.  Fold the tape in half and sew both sides front and back.

Make the pleats of the pocket.  The pleats are marked in your pattern.

For the pleats, you will need to reduce the size of the pocket to the width of the gusset. Pin one of the pockets to the front of the bag and the other to the back.  Topstitch around the pockets.

Sew in between the box pleats to make three pockets.

Step Two:  Sew The Side Pockets

Cut a piece of elastic to the size of the gusset.

Stretch the elastic and sew on the top of the pocket.

Stretch the elastic while you are sewing.

Place the pocket on the gusset.

Place the front of the bag and the gusset side by side, then pin the 5/8″ elastic – making sure the side pocket and the 5/8″ elastic are at the same height.

Step Three:  Sew The Gussets To The Front And Back

Print sides together then sew the gussets to the front at 3/8″. Repeat with the back.

Step Four:  Sew The Bottom

Pint the bottom to the bag aided by the notches and sew at 3/8.

Sew the bottom twice.

Step Five:  Sew The Lining

Repeat the sewing instructions on steps two, three and four. Except for the pocket of the lining do not add elastic to the top of the pocket, instead, fold 3/8″ twice and sew.

Make the pins at the bottom to make the pocket as wide as the gusset.

Sew the gusset to the front and back of the lining.

Sew the bottom at 3/8″.

Step Six: Adding A Hard Bottom To The Gardening Tool Bag

Cut the bottom of the gardening tool bag 1/2″ smaller than the pattern, and fuse at the bottom of the outer fabric. I am using a new product made by Clover.  However,  I do not know the name in English, I picked it up in a store in Singapore called Sing Mui Heng, if anyone knows the name in English please let me know.

Update:  Found it HERE!

Step Seven: Join The Two Outer Layers And Lining Together

Open the seams to reduce bulk and insert the lining inside the gardening tool bag matching the seams.

Starting on one of the sides, pin the elastic all around the top.

Start sewing the elastic at 1/8″ stretching slightly around the curves.

Fold the end and sew covering the beginning of the elastic.

Step Eight: Making The Bag Straps

Cut the yard of webbing in half.  Fold 1″ on either side.  Leaving 4″ on either side fold the webbing in half and sew 8″.  Place at the top of the bag 1  5/8″ from the top.

Double stitch the handle to the bag.

I hope you have found success in this gardening tool bag project.  I highly encourage you to share the wonderful gift of gardening with your father.  There isn't a healthier hobby out there and the only one that can feed you better than the store.  Plus, with a bag like this, even people with limited mobility can partake.

Comment down below your thoughts!  Would you do anything differently? How did your tool bag turn out?

Have a great Fathers day, and until then, Happy sewing!

P.S.

Want to do some gardening yourself? Make sure you have some comfortable and functional shorts for the coming summer heat. Check it out here: https://so-sew-easy.com/walking-shorts-pattern-tutorial-sew-along/

Walking Shorts Pattern & Sew-Along – Part One