DIY Foldable, pleated, spacious and very easy to make - fabric shopping bag

Some bags are just too useful not to have! This pleated foldable shopping bag is one of those projects that you'll wonder how you ever managed without. It's surprisingly easy to make, incredibly versatile, and can hold so much more than you might expect.

Use it for grocery shopping, carrying your crafting supplies, keeping your everyday essentials, or as an extra bag whenever you need one. And the best part? When you're finished using it, simply pull it together, fold it into a compact bundle, and tuck it into your handbag. You'll always have an extra shopping bag ready when you need it!

You can make it using almost any yard of fabric you like. For this version, I'm using my beloved AGF Sgraffito – Carved Essence Clay for the main body and Artisan Relief – Warm for the handles. 

I particularly recommend slightly heavier fabrics, such as linen or linen-blend substrates, as they give the bag a lovely structure and help the pleats hold their shape. However, quilting cotton can also work beautifully. If you prefer a more substantial bag, you can even add a lining using another or the same fabric, spliting it in two (with a gap in the center left for flipping it out-basically the same kind of process used HERE).

Materials and supplies

• ¾ yard 27" × 42" (70 x 110 cm) of AGF Sgraffito – Carved Essence Clay

• ¼ yard Artisan Relief – Warm (27" × 9") for the handles (you can even avoid using fabric for handles and opt to using ribbon instead)

• One 28" zipper with two sliders

• One 8" (20 cm) elastic band

• Sewing machine and matching thread

• Iron and ironing board

• Fabric clips or pins

• Ruler and fabric marking tool

Step 1 – Prepare your fabric

Start by cutting your main fabric to 27" × 42".

For the handles, take your 27" × 9" piece of Artisan Relief – Warm or any fabric prepared for handles and divide it into two equal strips, each measuring 27" × 4½". You can avoid this by using any sort of ribbon around 1-11/2" wide by 27" long for each handle.

Fold each strip lengthwise, bringing the raw edges towards the centre, and then fold it in half again. Press well and stitch along both long edges. You will end up with two sturdy handles measuring approximately 1¼" × 27".

Set the handles aside for now.

Step 2 – Prepare and attach the zipper

Take your 28" zipper and separate the two zipper tapes.

Position one zipper tape along each of the two 27" sides of the main fabric, right sides inside with the zipper fabric facing the fabric edge. Sew the zipper tapes in place, using an appropriate zipper foot. Top stitch the zippers.

Once the zipper is attached, insert one slider from each end. Having two sliders makes the opening much easier to manage and gives you more flexibility when using the bag.

Step 3 – Attach the handles

Position the two handles symmetrically on the main fabric, placing them parallel to and approximately ¼"–½" away from the zipper.

Measure 7" in from each end of the fabric and mark the points where the handles will be attached. Sew each handle section in place, leaving the middle 13" of each handle unstitched. This free central section will form the handles of your bag, while the two secured ends will keep them firmly attached.

Make sure both handles are evenly positioned and aligned before stitching. Attach the little elastic band on the top of any handle, folded in half, forming a loop, so it can wrap around the folded bag and keep everything neatly secured.

Step 4 – Mark and prepare the pleats

Now comes the least fun part, as you should use some math and iron!

Measure the distance from the zipper edge towards the halfway point of the main fabric. This measurement should be approximately 20".Divide this section into four equal parts. These divisions will help you establish the accordion-style pleats.

Use fabric clips or pins to hold each fold in place. You'll notice that the clips should line up along every fold, helping you maintain consistent pleats.

Start by folding the fabric in half and pressing the fold. Then fold each section into quarters, pressing again to establish the main creases.

You can use these pressed lines as a reference for creating the smaller accordion pleats.

A little tip: If you want perfectly even pleats, you can make a simple paper template.

Take a paper and mark it into equal sections, which you will then fold back and forth, accordion-style. I used 2" sections, based on the distance between the centre zipper teeth and the first crease in my fabric. This way, the paper template will match the spacing of your initial folds and serve as a guide for creating evenly spaced pleats.

Fold it back and forth, alternating the direction of each fold, just like an accordion. This will give you a handy guide for marking and arranging your fabric pleats. The bottom section should be approximately the same length as the front section, measuring around 4".

Continue working across the fabric until all the pleats are formed and nicely pressed. Take your time with this step, making sure that the folds are even and neatly aligned. Give everything a good press with your iron. Repeat the process on the opposite side.

Step 5 – Sew the short edges

Once all the pleats are secured, it's time to close the two shorter ends of the bag.

Sew along both ends using approximately a 1 cm (⅜") seam allowance.

Trim away any excess fabric and carefully clip the corners and bulky areas, removing small imperfections and reducing bulk. Be careful not to cut through your stitching. You can even avoid next step if you prefer using the visible binding tape to mask those edges from the outside!

Step 6 – Turn and finish the bag

Turn the bag right side out, pushing the corners gently into shape.

The seams you have just sewn will now be enclosed on the inside, giving the bag a clean and neat finish. Give the edges and pleats one final press and stitch over. Turn it to the right side and enjoy using it!

 

Katarina

Sgraffito fabric collection

Some collections begin with a sketch, others with a color palette or a particular idea. Sgraffito is an artistic technique used in etching, pottery, painting, and decorative arts. It involves scratching through a top layer to reveal the contrasting layer underneath, creating lines, patterns, and textures in the process.

I was drawn to the idea of revealing what lies beneath – the marks left by the hand, the irregularities, and the unexpected beauty of an imperfect surface.

To translate this technique into fabric, I experimented with thick layers of acrylic paint, scratching, carving, drawing and making impressions into the surface. I wanted the resulting designs to retain that tactile, handmade quality, almost as if the marks had been carved directly into clay. Some designs developed into bold, graphic patterns, while others became more delicate, with subtle marks and organic details. The palette brings together dusty pinks and blues, warm clay shades, soft neutrals, and deep graphite tones. There is a lovely balance between warm and cool colors, between quieter prints and those that make a stronger statement.

I wanted these fabrics to work beautifully together, but also to be versatile enough to mix with other collections and favorite basics.

One of my favorite things about Sgraffito is that many of the prints can act almost like textured blenders. They add depth and interest without necessarily competing with larger prints.

Sgraffito includes 16 premium cotton prints, a coordinating binding print, and two linen-cotton blend fabrics.

A few of my personal favorites deserve a special mention:

Gilded Ginko Pink – SGF-50300

A soft, dusky pink with an elegant feel. I love the balance between its delicate character and the slightly more graphic personality of the collection.

Floral Imprint Carbon – SGF-50309

This is the print that inspired the entire collection. It began with a thick layer of acrylic paint, which I scratched and marked to imitate the sgraffito technique used in pottery and the expressive quality of etching. It was one of those experiments that eventually grew into something much bigger.

Herringbone Etch Graphite – L-SGF-50305a

A simple arrangement of scratches on one of my favorite Art Gallery Fabrics substrates: their beautiful linen-cotton blend. And graphite? Probably my favorite non-color!

The collection also includes a coordinating binding print, Imprint Bound, and two beautiful linen-cotton designs that bring an extra dimension of texture to the range. Although Sgraffito has a strong artistic identity, I designed it with makers in mind. The prints can be combined for a more layered, eclectic look or used individually as subtle statement fabrics.

I can imagine them in quilts, patchwork projects, bags, pouches, cushions, and all sorts of little sewing adventures. The linen-cotton fabrics are especially lovely for projects where you want to bring in a different texture and a slightly more relaxed feel.

And if you prefer a quieter combination, try mixing the prints with coordinating Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids. Sometimes a little contrast is all a quilt needs.

Nomad Star – a quilt to go with the collection

To accompany Sgraffito, I also designed the Nomad Star quilt pattern. It measures 64.5" × 95.5" and brings together the collection's colors and contrasting prints in a bold star-inspired design.It is a lovely way to explore the different fabrics and see how their textures and colors work together. 

I hope these fabrics inspire you to experiment, combine unexpected prints, play with texture, and, most importantly, enjoy making something of your own.

Happy sewing!

Katarina

Enshadow Collection - fabrics and ribbons

My newest fabric collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Enshadow arrived this May. And I can not believe it took me so long to make a blog post about it.

Enshadow is a collection filled with vintage charm, painterly florals, graceful Halloween creatures, pumpkins, and subtle celestial details—all brought together in a rich palette of black, charcoal, pink, purple and orange.

a mix of Boneyard ditsy prints from Eerie + Enshadow

Every print was created to mix effortlessly with the others, making it easy to create quilts that feel layered, timeless, and full of personality. Whether sewing for Halloween or simply loving the moody florals and dramatic color palettes, Enshadow is designed to be enjoyed well beyond the season. It also matches great with my first Halloween collection from 2 yrs ago-Eerie.

A Perfect Match: Renaissance Ribbons

One of my favorite parts of this release is seeing Enshadow transformed into woven ribbon through my collaboration with Renaissance Ribbons.

The coordinating ribbon collection features ten beautiful ribbon designs in a variety of widths, along with a carefully curated ribbon bundle that makes it easy to add decorative details to every project. From quilt bindings and bag straps to garment accents, zipper pulls, bookmarks, gift wrapping, and home décor, these ribbons bring another layer of texture and charm any handmade creations.

I always think of ribbon as the finishing touch—the little detail that turns a beautiful project into something truly unforgettable.

Meet the Trick or Sweet Quilt

To celebrate the collection, I designed a brand-new quilt pattern: Trick or Sweet.

This playful quilt captures everything I love about Halloween with three charming quilt blocks—a smiling pumpkin, a friendly ghost, and sweet wrapped candies—all arranged into a cheerful sampler that is as fun to sew as it is to display.

The pattern is fat quarter friendly, making it an excellent choice for showcasing the full Enshadow collection, and includes both Lap and Throw size options. Whether you're making it for cozy autumn decorating, gifting to a Halloween-loving friend, or starting a new family tradition, Trick or Sweet is designed to bring smiles year after year.

Even if Halloween isn't your favorite holiday, the blocks are wonderfully versatile and can be mixed into pillows, table runners, wall hangings, or smaller seasonal projects.

I cannot wait to see what you create with Enshadow. Whether you choose to make the Trick or Sweet quilt, sew a bag adorned with coordinating ribbons, or simply add these fabrics to your growing fabric collection, I hope they inspire you to embrace the beauty found in the shadows.

Happy sewing!

Katarina

Patchwork, But Make It Fashion: A Quilted Zipper Hoodie

It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since I made that Botanist patchwork hoodie for my son — and, well, it’s definitely running a bit small now! I couldn’t wait to make a new one with fabrics that felt more him — and with the Soar fabric collection, here it is!

He even helped me while I was sewing, which made the process magical… until the moment of truth: assembling everything and realizing it’s a bit tight in the upper arms. Argghhh — I should have measured him before cutting!

The good news? The pattern is the same Burda/Simplicity Man Hoodie 6718, but I added a zipper. That meant I made the front as one piece, then split it in two to insert the zipper — as shown in this convenient video. Honestly, without that zipper, getting it on him would’ve required both strategy and negotiation. 

But on the positive side — I will wear it with pleasure, so I officially have a new statement piece in my wardrobe!! Cozy, colorful, quilted, and with a zipper — what’s not to love?

So, lets start with the process!

I started with cutting the fleece as a base, but using batting or flannel is perfect too (you could even recycle an old thinner blanket for this — it adds beautiful loft and sustainability to the project). This base acts as both your stabilizer and your quilting layer, so there’s no separate quilting step at the end.

image courtesy of Art Gallery Fabrics

It’s always so satisfying turning simple strips into dynamic patchwork panels. Of course, there's a handy strip roll with already pre-cut 2.5" strips, so it's perfect for this project!

I started by cutting all my Soar fabrics (all 16 prints) and some new and old Seedling prints into 2.5" x 21" strips. 

From older Seedling colors, I used Licorice, Sage, Shitake, Copper, Clay and Pewter. So 16 Soar prints and 10 total of Seedling colors (4 new + 6 old colors). 

I have cut 2 (two)- WOF (2.5" x 42") strips from each of these these 26 fabrics and then subcut all the strips in half for easier strip-sets making. 

It's like 130" x 42" total of fabrics used for the patchwork. I had some leftovers, though...

From there, I created strip sets of varying widths, from 3 to 8 strips per set. The process is straightforward, but a few little tips make all the difference: change your sewing direction as you stitch the strips together. This helps prevent bowing or curving of the strip sets, keeping everything nice and straight. After stitching each set, I pressed the seams — careful open seams pressing is key for smooth, flat sets.

Once pressed, it was time for my secret weapon: the Stripology squared ruler. Using this handy tool, I cut the strip sets into new, perfectly even patchwork strips — ready to assemble into the larger design.

This technique is perfect for creating structured, versatile patchwork, and it’s especially fun when mixing fabrics of different colors, textures, or patterns. Every set feels like a mini quilt in itself, and the possibilities are endless!

Instead of sewing patchwork blocks first and quilting later, each fabric strip is added directly onto the batting base. I began from the bottom — placing the first strip right side up and stitching it down with a simple straight stitch at the bottom.

From there, I added the next strip right sides together, just like traditional patchwork. After stitching the seam, I flip the new piece open and press it flat. Because it’s attached to the batting underneath, it’s already quilted in place.

Piece by piece, adding strips in rows, going up, trying to maintain good alignment, until you reach the upper edge of the base.

 

Beside fabrics for the patchwork strips and flannel or fleece for the base or lining, (calculate at least 2-3 yds  for the patchwork and the same for the base) you will need around 1.5-2 yds of the trimming for wrist cuffs and waistline or some kind of jersey fabric that can be cut in strip, folded and used as ribbing. And a zipper. I used the 60 cm one.

You can also add the eyelets and a cord within the hoodie part- as the pattern provides. I didn't, as I lined the hoodie part with the Seedling Forest print. 

The first thing I did was the smallest - the front pocket. 

Here are all the hoodie pieces before adding the zipper and final assembling.

Again, you can watch this convenient video for adding the zipper.

I made a following video while sewing my first hoodie, it could be helpful to watch. 

The patchwork method is the same, only that this time I used only 2.5" strips while in the first video/hoodie, I used different strip widths. 

I really hope that you may find this inspiring and I really think that this is amazing way to use some loved fabric scraps and quilt blocks and leftovers! And I think that it's easier than making a jacket or coat, so maybe worth trying before sewing something a bit more delicate.

Happy sewing, Katarina