This is a bucket-style bag that has soooo much room for creativity. We made about 12 for Christmas, & each person got different handles & paintings. The grandfathers got shoe bags instead of mats...Even though I went to Japanese schools, I do have to say that I call this baon (ba-own) instead of bento. That would be bento in Pilipino. As in, "Eat! Eat more! Pack a baon!"
It takes about an hour each for the bag & the mat. If you want you can paint the mat fabric first so the utensil pockets can be sewed a bit over the painting like "famous ducks on the pond," above. It was painted with acrylics. For napkins we just cut some matching denim & frayed it the wash. This is a beginner sewing project, with the 7 year-old helping with every procedure. Lake (3) & Kai (11 months) helped with the painting & pedal work.
Our handles were fingerknit from various decorative strings of cotton. If you want the handles to act like drawstrings, you might use a lighter cotton than denim, or, you can make the casings an inch thick. These casings are 1/2". The boys wanted them to look more like buckets, so this pattern has a drawstring effect, while still being wide open for grazing.
Bucket-Style Bento Bag
Materials:
(2) each fabric: 14 1/2" x 11" - these are the walls
(1) piece fabric: 8 1/2" x 6 1/2" - bottom
(2) lengths ribbon or icord: 35" - handles
Tools:
Sewing Machine, Scissors, Ruler
Assembling the Walls
1.) Take 1 piece of 14 1/2" x 11" fabric. Fold over the sides 1/4" & iron.
2.) Fold the top down 1/2". Iron. Fold down another 1/2" & iron.
3.) This will be your casing. Fold the sides in as you fold over that top. Like this:
4.) Do the other rectangle. With top folded over twice, stitch along bottom edge of casing. Backstitch at beginning & end. Grab your other rectangle & just keep stitching through without cutting the thread. It's much faster.
5.) With right sides together, line up the edges of the two rectangles. Sew along that 1/4" line you creased with the iron. The foot should stop about 1/2" below the casing. Backstitch. Do other side.
6.) Now you have a tube for the walls. Grab the bottom piece & turn it upside down. Line up the edges with the tube bottom, making sure to place the corners along those side seams. Use a 1/4" stitch. When you come within 1/4" of each edge, just put your needle down into the fabric, lift the foot & pivot the fabric. Backstitch the beginning & end.
7.) Using a large drawstring needle or a safety pin, pull one handle length through one casing, out the other end. Put it into other casing & pull through to other side. Tie two knots, one above the other. You can also pull the knot through & hide it in the casing. Take the other length of ribbon & insert it into the other side of the bag, & pull through entire bag. Tie off.
8.) Pull each side a bit & even out the gathers. Insert your bento boxes, mat & napkins!
I'll show you guys how to make the mat tomorrow. My mind is just buzzing with the possibilities of this set. If you try it, please send pictures! I love sewing & I love food, & I happen to know many of you do, too. And there's nothing more inspiring than seeing all your projects. Thanks!
Filipino is spelled with an F, but thank you for the tutorial!
Posted by: Danielle | February 17, 2011 at 04:17 PM
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Posted by: Business Coach | February 22, 2011 at 10:43 PM