Waqaa,

Here is a fun bag pattern that represents an Uluaq. Uluaq in Yup'ik translates to woman's knife. Below is the translation of uluaq taken directly from the Yup'ik Eskimo dictionary which can be found here at this LINK

uluaq traditional Eskimo woman’s knife shaped like a broad wedge set in a handle opposite the arc- shaped edge; semi-lunar knife; any type of knife (CAN meaning) # sometimes called ‘ulu’ in English, from the Inupiaq name for this kind of knife; the sharp edge of an uluaq is its kegginaq, the handle is its egkuaq; uluakun ulligciuq ‘she is cutting fish for drying with a semi-lunar knife’; Urluvminek- gguq tauna tan’gaurluller tegumiarrarluni. Tauna-llu-gguq aipaa nasaurluq uluamek. Nanikuangengamek taum tan’gaurlullraam tauna nasaurluq pillinia, “Uluarpegun kepqerru.” ‘The little boy clutched his bow and arrow and the girl her semi-lunar knife’. When they panicked, not knowing quite who to do, the boy told the girl, “Cut it with your semi-lunar knife.”’ (PAI 2008:400); NS, Y, NI, NUN, CAN, K, BB, NR, LI;cf. ulu; > uluara-, ulurpak; < PE ulu(3) and ulu3a3

The image above is what your uluaq bag will look like. You can create your uluaq bag however you would like. You can add a separate material for the handle. You can embellish it with qupak designs. Here is this video on my Sew Yup'ik YouTube channel I show you how I make my qupaks CLICK HERE

To make this bag pattern you will need:

Material for the outside, the uluaq bag pattern is 19" wide by 12.5" height

Material for the inside, the uluaq bag pattern is 19" wide by 12.5" height

And interfacing, I personally like to use 987F Pellon Fusible Interfacing when making these bags

10" zipper or longer

And then sewing machine, coordinating thread

To make the handle you can utilize scrap material as well, I like to make my straps 2.5" wide and iron in a fold, and then sew them together and the length is up to your liking

(I will share this in the video on my Sew Yup'ik Youtube Channel)

You can mix and match your material if you wanted to use scrap fabric for the outer material and liner material

Here is the downloadable PDF pattern to use. You will need to print it on two pages and then tape the handle to the blade pattern.

Once you have the material, and the pattern printed please refer to my Sew Yup'ik Youtube channel for the instructional video. The video can be found here: https://youtu.be/6nAmDHRIuxo

Or click HERE to access the video

When I have the time I will create a written downloadable instructional outlining the steps. For now please refer to my Sew Yup'ik Youtube Channel here: https://youtube.com/@SewYupik

Quyana for downloading this Sew Yup'ik Uluaq bag pattern. I hope you had fun creating your own uluaq bag and please if you make one and share it online tag me Sew Yup'ik. I am on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube.

This pattern graphic, the photos and the instructions are copyright Nikki Corbett at Sew Yup'ik. Please do not copy, publish, sell, redistribute or alter them in any way. Please do not rebrand this work as your own and sell or give it away, even if altered. This is intended for your personal use. If you would like to recommend these instructions, please pass on the original download link at Sew Yup'ik . Thank you for your understanding.

Usage – you ARE allowed to use this pattern to make things to sell on a small handmade basis, such as for craft fairs and for your Etsy shop. However it may not be used for larger scale commercial purposes without a commercial license

Sew Yup'ik Uluaq Bag Pattern

Qaspeq Resource List