After researching various hogo bag designs online, two of my 8th grade Art 2 students at Oakville Middle School created their own bags as an additional after-school project.
First, they cut paper patterns before cutting pattern pieces from indigo dyed pillow cases and recycled fabric. They sewed both lined and hidden pockets, either inside the seams or the lining, for their cell phones, keys, etc. Finally, they made cloth straps to fit across their bodies. The girls had only a little experience sewing, but completed their bags in about four hours total (after the cloth was dyed) by sharing my portable sewing maching in the OMS art studio classroom. I think I enjoyed the process and time shared during this project as much as the girls!
