pumpkinpatchquilter

I have just begun making totes for myself, family, and a few extra to sell at craft shows to earn a little extra spending money, as I am a stay at home Mom. I haven't done anything fance with them other than fold a section of quilted fabric in half, box the bottom corners, and add quilted handles...pockets are no problems...but do these kinds of bags hold up as long as there is reinforcement stitching? Do you have any suggestions that would be quick and easy to ensure they last longer?

I'll attatch a picture of the first one I made for my daughter...

snipforfun

The totes I make have box bottoms and I sew about 5 large buttons across the bottom. That keeps the fabric on the bottom from wearing thin.

LisaGibbs

I have had many quilted bags and am making several right now for selling for my new sewing machine and I do not believe that you need to do anything extra to reinforce the seams to hold up. I always sew the handles an extra backstitch or two just because they hold the weight of the bag pulling down. I also believe if you add (I use plastic canvas, some use cardboard, foam board, mat board, etc.) a bottom type sewn envelope will help with structure.

These are beautiful bags and I love the color choices you have choosen. Best of luck!!

blueangel

I have not had a problem with mine holding up. Just make sure you reinforce the handles.

buslady

Boxing the handles helps, but if you want it to really hold heavy stuff, you can sew the straps around the bottom and back up, then the extra fabric of the handles helps with the load. Of course the purpose of the tote dictates some of that. I have made totes for daughter to carry books to and from college classes, those books are heavy and I wanted the extra strength. BTW your bag is beautiful!

LindaM49

I have made 3 totes and didn't add anything. My daughter takes hers to work every day and loves it. My grandaughter will be starting college in 2 weeks and is taking hers to use as tote for carrying all of her stuff from the dorm room to the bathroom. She did take it for a test drive when she and her friends went to the beach for a week and she said it held up great. I haven't used mine yet. It looks so pretty sitting on my kitchen desk/bookcase. lol I am using a pattern from a book by Lisa Lam...The Bag Making Bible.

And I want to add too...as soon as I saw the picture of your daughter's bag I fell in love with it. I LOVE pink.

I do have a pattern that I bought at JoAnn's that has reinforcement in the bottom but I probably won't get to making that for a year. LOL I have too many other projects that I want to do first.

Zhillslady

I add boning in the side seams if I can. That way they don't flop over when I put them down. Just depends on the final look I want.

GrannieAnnie

I double sew all the seams. Should hold up quite well.

susie-susie-susie

I made a tote bag for my carry-on about 6 years ago. It is still going strong. The one thing I did was sew the handles all the way across the bottom like buslady said. It was very heavy, especially on the way home. I wish I had made the handles like the bow-tuck bags.
Sue

Granny Quilter

The buttons sounds like a great idea