Your new favourite sewing station is here!

Jo has been making the traditional Japanese lotus lunchbag for many years but has always thought more could be done to improve it... 

Introducing the lotus flower sewing bag. This combines the simple construction of the original but with extra petals, plus an interior sewing tray. And Jo has also developed a mini version too!

Available to buy as a single class from mid October 2026.  Class goes live on 1 November.  

Let's get started on this beautiful and useful project bag!

We will be making this beautiful lined drawstring flower bag along with the interior tray. This sturdy quilted insert includes a pocket for scissors, space for needles and an ingenious way to house your thread spools using elastic and buttons. This means your notions are all held in place but there is room on top for your sewing project. And when you are settled for sewing you can open the petals right out to use the tray!

Jo will also show you how to scale the pattern down to make a mini version that can include some embellishment. 

Week 1

We will begin by making the interior tray.

Week 2

We will move on to creating the flower bag itself.

Week 3

We will finish the bag with the ties, including leaf shaped ends, and a choice of two cute flower pincushions. These include a magnet in their base which not only keeps them in place in the tray but also helps you pick up stray pins!

Week 4

We will scale things down to make the mini version including some hand stitched detailing. The mini version includes space for one spool and makes the perfect 'mending' or 'binding' pouch.