Damson Waxed Canvas Project Bag

I designed this pattern for By Hand Serial Issue #13: Northern California. I love working with waxed canvas, and using leather and metal rivets makes the entire project bag feel sturdy and reliable. The best part about waxed canvas is how it ages . . . the more you use it, crinkle it, and subject it to wear and tear, the better it looks!

Klumhouse stocks a great variety of waxed canvas colors, as well as leather straps and all of the metal hardware you could ever want - it’s a great store to source all of the supplies needed for this project (as well as some tools that you will never regret having on hand!)

You can line it with whatever fabric you have on hand - the perfect use for a special scrap of fabric you’re not sure what to do with. I used leftover yardage of silk noil, and it’s a beautiful accent piece.

I used a lunch bag as inspiration for this project bag because I like how it can fold down as small - or as tall - as you need. While you can make the bag compact and stuff it in a backpack, it’s really roomy inside and can hold an entire sweater knitting project. You can even fold down the top edges and create a bucket that’s easy to reach into - and knit out of. But it’s not just handy for knitting projects - we used it for painting supplies, hand sewing projects, and even a picnic lunch!