Start Sewing Bags with Confidence

Start Sewing Bags with Confidence

Join the Be Mandy Things community and grab your free zipper pouch pattern—plus bagmaking tips, resources & subscriber-only perks!

🍁 Stitch into fall! Shop beginner-friendly patterns perfect for cozy autumn sewing! Click here to shop 👉

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  • Country

  • Home
  • HANDCRAFTED BAGS 
    • ALL PRODUCTS
    • EVERYDAY TOTES
    • WRISTLETS, POUCHES & HANDBAGS
    • GIFT IDEAS
    • READY TO SHIP
    • LAST CHANCE DEALS
  • PDF SEWING PATTERNS 
    • ALL PATTERNS
    • BAGMAKING GUIDES & EBOOKS
    • TOTE BAGS
    • POUCHES & ZIPPERED BAGS
    • WINE & GIFT TOTES
    • QUILT BLOCKS
    • PILLOWS & HOME DECOR
    • GIFTABLE SEWING PROJECTS
    • BEGINNER-FRIENDLY PATTERNS
    • BESTSELLERS
    • FREE PATTERNS
    • FREE SEWING TUTORIALS
  • BRANDS I'VE SEWN WITH 
    • BRAND PARTNERSHIPS 
      • ART GALLERY FABRICS
      • POPPIE COTTON
      • SALLIE TOMATO
      • MEANDER & MAKE
    • LOOKBOOK FEATURES
    • PAST BRAND AMBASSADORSHIPS 
      • Benartex
      • Maywood Studio
      • Maureen Maker & StudioE Fabrics
    • PATTERN HIGHLIGHTS
  • WORK WITH ME 
    • COLLABORATE WITH ME
    • PATTERN COLLABORATIONS
    • PRESS & FEATURES
  • MY FAVORITE SEWING TOOLS 
    • AMAZON SEWING TOOLS PICKS 
      • BAGMAKING TOOLS ON AMAZON
      • QUILTING TOOLS ON AMAZON
      • PILLOW SEWING TOOLS ON AMAZON
    • BAGMAKING SUPPLY GUIDE
    • BAGMAKING WITH SALLIE TOMATO 
      • SALLIE TOMATO FAVES
    • AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
  • BAG MAKER’S BLOG 
    • BE MANDY THINGS ORIGIN STORY
    • BAG MAKING TIP BLOGS
    • SEWING TUTORIAL BLOGS
    • PATTERN RELEASE BLOGS
    • FABRIC COLLABORATION BLOGS
  • MEET AMANDA 
    • MY STORY
    • WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT BAGMAKING
  • FREEBIES 
    • FREE SEWING TUTORIALS
    • GET THE SUNSET ZIPPER POUCH PATTERN
    • READING PILLOW PATTERN
    • DIY PLACEMAT TUTORIAL
    • BINDING PILLOW TUTORIAL
  • Country

Sewing Patterns & Updates

Red, White & Sew: 3 Bag Patterns That Bring the Fireworks to Every BBQ

by Amanda Whisman June 29, 2025

Red, White & Sew: 3 Bag Patterns That Bring the Fireworks to Every BBQ

Summer is made for backyard BBQs, Fourth of July fireworks, and good food shared with great friends. And nothing says “I’ve got this” quite like showing up with handmade bags that are both functional and festive. Whether you're toting drinks, organizing condiments, or gifting a homemade touch—these three bag patterns deliver serious star-spangled style.

Made with patriotic fabrics, the Grapeful Tote, Gifted Stitches Basket, and Starry Tote are more than just beautiful—they're practical, reusable, and sure to turn heads. Scroll down to see why these three bags belong at your next summer gathering.



🧵 The Grapeful Tote

Perfect For: Gifting wine, lemonade, or a summer-ready sparkling rosé

The Grapeful Tote is your go-to when you want to bring a bottle to the party—but make it cute. Designed to hold wine, olive oil, or any glass bottle securely, it’s the kind of handmade gift bag your host will reuse again and again.

Made with Poppie Cotton’s Elise collection, this version of the Grapeful Tote brings vintage charm and fresh florals into your patriotic palette. Whether you're hosting or gifting, it’s a crowd-pleaser.

Why you’ll love it:

  • Fully lined and padded for protection
  • Easy to carry with sturdy handles
  • Reusable, giftable, and totally adorable

👉 SHOP THE GRAPEFUL TOTE PATTERN


🧵 The Gifted Stitches Basket

Perfect For: Condiment corral, utensil holder, or a sweet summer hostess gift

The Gifted Stitches Basket isn’t just cute—it’s wildly useful. Keep your ketchup, mustard, napkins, and flatware organized and easy to grab at your picnic table. Or fill it with goodies like jam, s’mores supplies, or baked treats for a gift that feels personal and purposeful.

Crafted in the same Poppie Cotton Elise collection, the basket’s soft florals and red-white-blue combo are like a mini quilt for your table.

Why you’ll love it:

  • Structured enough to stand up on its own
  • Customizable size (it’s easier than you think!)
  • A total stash buster for your favorite fabrics

👉 SHOP THE GIFTED STITCHES BASKET


🧵 The Starry Tote

Perfect For: Carrying all the essentials to the BBQ—from side dishes to sunscreen

The Starry Tote is a showstopper. Combining bag-making and quilting, this tote features a bold patchwork star design that looks complicated but is surprisingly doable—even for confident beginners.

In Breezeway by Maywood Studio, the high-contrast blocks and crisp red, white, and navy tones turn this bag into a statement piece you’ll use all summer long. Bring it to a picnic, use it for farmer’s market runs, or give it as a gift that says, “Yes, I made this!”

Why you’ll love it:

  • 3 roomy slip pockets inside
  • Sturdy enough for heavier loads
  • A fun way to blend quilting and bag-making

👉 SHOP THE STARRY TOTE BAG PATTERN



Want Help Gathering Supplies?

Don’t forget to grab your FREE interactive Bag Supply Guide—it walks you through everything you need for these patterns and more. It's the easiest way to shop smart and sew confidently.

💌 SIGN UP FOR THE BE MANDY THINGS NEWSLETTER


Wrap-Up:
So whether you're hosting, gifting, or just showing off your skills at the next summer BBQ, these three patterns will have you sewing with confidence and style. Patriotic fabrics bring the seasonal vibes, but the functionality? That’s year-round.

Ready to get stitching? Browse all three patterns on BeMandyThings.com, grab your favorites, and let your handmade projects shine brighter than the fireworks.



Amanda Whisman
Amanda Whisman

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