Ian H Keith

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  • Hand Sewing a Modern Ditty or Round Bottom Bag with Sashiko

    Hand Sewing a Modern Ditty or Round Bottom Bag with Sashiko

    Introduction

    If you’ve ever read Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, you may have been enchanted by the details of naval life. I like bags (I blame Indiana Jones, macgyver, and Jack Bauer). Traditionally used by sailors to store their personal belongings, the ditty bag is a simple, utilitarian pouch that is as timeless as the ocean itself. Today, we’re going to combine this historical inspiration with sashiko stitching and boro techniques to create a modern ditty bag entirely by hand.

    What is a Ditty Bag?

    The ditty bag has a long history, often associated with sailors who carried tools, needles, thread, and other essentials in a small, durable , round bottomed bag or pouch. It’s a symbol of resourcefulness and practicality, and its simplicity makes it a perfect beginner-friendly sewing project. Often it was the first project given to a new seaman as they would learn basic sewing techniques. They can be either plain and utilitarian or be highly decorated with intricate knot-work. While the original ditty bags were made for functionality, I wanted to add a touch of personality using sashiko, a Japanese hand-stitching technique known for its geometric patterns, and boro, a style that celebrates mending and patchwork.

    By J. Henderson Welles Archives, Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA
    By Unknown author – Photo taken at the Peabody Essex Museum., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9797359

    The Pattern

    I looked at historical patterns and modern round button bags. I decided to go with a great looking one that I found on Etsy by KZStevens (you can find the pattern here; you can also find her on bluesky @kzstevens.bsky.social). The drawstring is closed by a turks head knot and the strings also form a strap that can be worn crossbody or as a backpack. While not a how-to guide, I did include a materials list. You’ll want to cut out a large enough circle from a sturdy linen, cotton, or canvas along with a liner. Then cut a rectangle (front and lining) long enough to sew around the circle. You can find the formula for this online. The short side, which will be the height of the bag, is up to you. Anywhere from 9-14 inches should do. I sewed mine with the pattern instructions of a half-inch seam allowance and increased the height for a larger bag.

    Materials You’ll Need

    • Fabric: Choose sturdy natural fabrics like cotton canvas, linen, or denim. For a boro-inspired look, gather fabric scraps to layer and patch.
    • Thread: Sashiko thread or embroidery floss works beautifully. Opt for contrasting colors to make the stitching pop.
    • Needles: Sashiko needles or any sharp hand-sewing needles.
    • Scissors: Sharp fabric scissors for clean edges.
    • Pins or Clips: For holding fabric layers together.
    • Cord or Twine: For the drawstring closure.

    Why Sashiko and Boro on a Ditty Bag?

    Sashiko and boro are rooted in the ethos of sustainability and mindfulness. They transform simple fabrics into works of art while celebrating imperfection and the stories embedded in each stitch. These techniques bring a soulfulness to your ditty bag, making it not just a functional item but a personal expression of creativity and history. While sewing, I imagined a sailor in the final days of the age of sail and gathering scraps from all over the world to patch and mend his bag. As a not-so-hidden addition, I appliqued a jolly roger on the bottom.

    Final Thoughts

    Creating your own ditty bag is more than just a sewing project—it’s a way to connect with history and tradition while adding your unique artistic touch. Whether you use it to store sewing tools, carry small essentials, or simply as a decorative piece, your hand-sewn ditty bag will be a beautiful reminder of the craftsmanship and creativity that can be found in even the simplest items.

    So, grab your needle and thread, and let the journey begin!

    Comments

    Join the conversation on Bluesky

  • Imagination and Beauty in Simple Projects

    Imagination and Beauty in Simple Projects

    Twig&Tale Storyteller Project: A Project Bag and Sewing Kit

    Tools of Imagination

    March’s theme for the 2025 Twig&Tale Storytellers is Imagination (read my Storyteller post here). I initially struggled with what to sew and write about to showcase imagination. I like to sew practical items that I or someone else will use on a regular basis. I don’t do elaborate costumes (they’re cool though and I want to try my hand at it) or beautiful embroidery. But then it hit me:  there is a beauty that flows from form and function. Using needle and thread, I find ways to turn unused or forgotten fabrics into something purposeful and beautiful. I’m fairly new to sewing building my kit. While looking through Twig&Tale’s patterns, I came across their Making E-book. There were two perfect projects for me. A drawstring project bag and a needle book. They’ve since become a daily carry for me. Whenever I have a bit of downtime I’ll take something out and working on it.

    Use What You Got – Or, the Joy of Up-cycling

    Up-cycling plays an important role in my sewing process. I love taking fabric that might otherwise be discarded and consider its potential for new projects. It also jives with with my interests in sustainability, thrift, and up-cycling. I had bought a maroon linen tunic at the resale shop along with some wool suiting some time ago. And in my pile they waited.

    I decided to use the linen for the bag. It can serve as a project bag and would be perfect for my eventual ren-fest costume. The needle book I envisioned as a classic looking pocketbook. I lined the book with scrap from my pile and added in a flap to baste in buttons.

    Linen tunic, sashiko thread, and needle.

    The Joy of Hand Stitching

    After a rough year and the election, I needed to step back and slow down. Instead of rushing through the project and finishing it in a day with my sewing machine, I decided to hand sew them. I found it very relaxing and meditative. Each stitch, wobbly or not, was an act of intention.  It took a couple of days as it was sewn in stolen moments or a few minutes of relaxation at the end of the day, but it was not stressful at all. It brought joy and contentment. These small acts of creativity remind me that imagination is not just about grand ideas—it’s about discovering the potential in what’s right in front of us.

        

    Disclaimer: As a member of Twig and Tale Storytellers, I receive free patterns in exchange for sharing my creative projects. I don’t receive any commission on links.

  • Embrace Imperfection With Visible Mending

    Embrace Imperfection With Visible Mending

    When my father passed away a year ago, I had to sift through years of living, deciding what to keep, what to sell, what to give away, and what to leave behind. Tucked way at the bottom of a hall closet, I found a ripped and stained quilt that I had never seen before. It was obviously handmade and had a maple leaf motif. I asked my aunts and uncles if they knew anything about the quilt, but none did. Anybody else looking at this quilt would through it away. Its batting was motley and it had not fared well the years. But I took it home.

    I was fairly new in my sewing journey (and still am), but I wanted to honor that quilt and bring it back into use using my poor skills. I didn’t know anything about quilting and it looked pretty hard. But I could do a straight (mostly) running stitch and patch on scrap pieces of fabric. I had seen Japanese boro and Bengali kantha and loved utilitarian simplicity of it. I started with a few pieces of my father’s jeans, some colorful bits from my mom’s fabric stash that I was able to recover, and went from there.

    The thing that I love about slow stitching and visible mending is that it embraces imperfection. It’s done by hand usually, and does not confirm to any deadline. You can work on it when you can and put it away when you can. It sits there until you are ready. The act of cutting thread, threading it on the needle, and working it back and forth over the patches brought me a sense of peace that helped me to process and mourn. It took me out, sometimes only a minute at a time, of the bustle and noise, the duties of being an executor, dealing with family infighting over very little things. It helped with bouts of anxiety and depression.

    Is it the prettiest quilt? No. But I like it and it keeps me warm on the couch.

    Is it done yet? No. It never will be. Hopefully my son will take it up after me and continue to add patches and warmth to it.

    As I mend, patch, and darn it, there will always be new holes. And in a family with a young child, two dogs, and a cat, there will always be stains. Slap on another scrap from the pile and get to work. And in that work, know peace, even if it’s not perfect.

    RESOURCES

    Visible Mending on NPR

    Kantha Quilts

    Boro – visible mending with sashiko

  • Be Welcome Here

    Be Welcome Here

    Howdy Y’all and be welcome to my site. I plan on writing an old-school weblog that documents my hobbies, thoughts, and whatever else I find interesting. Hopefully you’ll find it interesting too! So, sit down, grab a coffee or tea, and let’s hang out.