Making Totes That Hold Up
08-06-2011, 05:40 AM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Central PA
Posts: 369
Love the Pink tote. I make lots of bags and sound like you are right on! The only thing I do different is that I put a thin strip of batting inside and sew 3-5 rows of stitches down the length of the handle to give it extra strength and that helps the stitches to not break. Keep up the great work.
08-06-2011, 05:51 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 317
I made shopping bags for Christmas gifts a few years ago using this Kwik Sew pattern: http://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/4987. I hope you can see the stitching on the outside of the shopping bag.
It has a technique for reinforcing the vertical seams that also gives the bag some structure. After the bag is completed, sew a line of stitching about 1/8" from the edge from the bottom corner to the top of the bag. I used my edgestitch foot and topstitching thread. It looks very professional and with a plastic insert in the bottom, the bag will stand up on its own. I used cotton home decor fabric that was heavier than quilting fabric.
It has a technique for reinforcing the vertical seams that also gives the bag some structure. After the bag is completed, sew a line of stitching about 1/8" from the edge from the bottom corner to the top of the bag. I used my edgestitch foot and topstitching thread. It looks very professional and with a plastic insert in the bottom, the bag will stand up on its own. I used cotton home decor fabric that was heavier than quilting fabric.
08-06-2011, 06:57 AM
#35
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I make a lot of totes so I love this thread! I have used button feet, but only 4. I can see how using 5 would be much better.
Another place I get patterns from is by purchasing totes at the end of the season. If you go to WM, Target, Meijer, KMart etc. in another month or so, they will have their summer totes marked way down. With the price of a nice pattern at $10, buying a clearance $6 tote & taking it apart for the pattern is a bargain for me.
Also, look for old purses at garage sales. Either for patterns or hardware. You can reuse rings, hex closures, leather handles etc. I've gotten lots for $0.25 - $0.50
Another place I get patterns from is by purchasing totes at the end of the season. If you go to WM, Target, Meijer, KMart etc. in another month or so, they will have their summer totes marked way down. With the price of a nice pattern at $10, buying a clearance $6 tote & taking it apart for the pattern is a bargain for me.
Also, look for old purses at garage sales. Either for patterns or hardware. You can reuse rings, hex closures, leather handles etc. I've gotten lots for $0.25 - $0.50
08-06-2011, 04:19 PM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 3,453
I made some years ago out of what you call muslin but we refer to as calico. These weren't padded lined or reinforced and I still have them 10 years later. They were just made with some fabric left over from another project.
This was way before I discovered quilting. I used them for carrying groceries.
This was way before I discovered quilting. I used them for carrying groceries.
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