Collapsible Bucket

A simple fabric bucket that has been designed to be rigid enough to stand on its own, yet pliable enough to be folded for easy storage.

The use of heavy-weight fabrics, rather than paper-like interfacing, allows for great recovery even after folding/storage.

Etsy Sew Useful Listing

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6215452

Duck, heavy twill, drill, canvas, denim

Choose 2 coordinating fabrics at least 45" wide.
Fabric #1 3/4 yard
Fabric #2 1/3 yard
Buttons, 2 or 3 or 4. Vintage or new. Matched or not.

(Top to bottom in photo)
Lining. 29.25" x 9.0" Cut 1
Shell A. 29.25" x 6.5" Cut 1*
Shell B. 29.25" x 3.5" Cut 1
Handle. 24" x 2.5" Cut 2
Base. 9" diameter Cut 2 (trace a pie plate or dig out that compass)
Note: Lining, handle, base, and Shell B are all the same fabric. The only contrasting fabric I use is for Shell A.
*modifications for Shell A. If you opt for a light or medium decorative fabric, interface with a layer of duck. I recommend sewing/basting decorative fabric to duck, rather than an iron-on interface. It provides an easy and informal look to the bucket. It also minimzes fold lines later after bucket has been stored.

Handle:
~1/4 inch seam allowance.
~Sew right sides together,leave one end open, turn, topstitch. I personally prefer to do the button holes last only because I generally can't pick buttons before hand.
Shell:
~1/2 inch seam allowance.
~Fold Shell A in half length-wise and sew right sides together, press open seams.
~Repeat for Shell B.
~Face (right side to right side) Shell A & B making sure that seams line up. (photo #1)
~Insert unfinished end of strap between both shell pieces assuring that it's centered.(photo #1)
~Sew together. 1/2" seam allowance. (photo #2)
~Unfold and press seams flat (photo #3)
~Topstich (photo #4)

Joining shell base to shell wall:
~Mark the quarters on the circle with pins.(photo #1)
~Do the same with the shell wall.
~Match up quarter marks on base and wall, pin together. Gently ease pieces together adding more pins. (photo #2) *note. I can about guarantee that these pieces will not fit together if you don't "pre-ease" using pins, so do this step even if you hate pinning. I strongly dislike ripping seams. lol.
~1/4 inch seam allowance.
~Sew right side to right side.
~Trim closely or snip seam allowance. (photo #3)

tips: I sew so that the base is being fed with my feed dogs. Some people are more comfortable having the dogs help the ease of the walls along. It's all a preference and I don't know that one is more correct.

Lining wall:
~1/2 inch seam allowance.
~Fold in half length-wise, right sides together, sew together but leave open at pin marks in photo. This is where you'll pull the bucket right side out later.

Adjoining lining base to lining wall:
~1/4 inch seam allowance.
~ Right sides together.
~Repeat instructions from step #5.

Joining lining and shell;
~ 1/2 inch seam allowance.
~Right side to right side, making sure handle is tucked in, sew together. (photo #1)
~Turn bucket out through the opening you left in the lining.
~Press as needed
~Top stitch where lining meets shell, catching the handle in the topstitch.
~Use a ladder stitch to close opening in interior. (photo #2)

Buttons and buttonholes: Decide size and placement. I like to have the end of the handle rest right at the top of the bottom of exterior.

I'm leaving this up to artistic expression, maybe you want to run 6 buttons up the side.

~Unbutton handle
~Collapse one half into the other half with handle on top. (photo #1)
~ Fold bottom up flat (photo #2)
~Fold in each side to the center and fold the handle down over folds, flip, and button. (Photos # 3 and 4)
~Stuff in your back pocket and head to the garden or yarn shop to lug out your bounty.