Creating a Tote Bag

[Sheilajeanne]

After a long hiatus, I recently began to play worship music for our church once again. I found this really cool pattern that I'd love to put on a tote bag for carrying my music binder and the folders with the lyrics in them.

The binder is big, rather heavy, and has pointy edges on it. I plan to make the front and back of the tote out of the same piece of leather, then hold it together with gussets. I'm just wondering what the best way is to make sure the gussets are strong. Is it better to stitch them on the inside or outside?

I have also thought of adding a flap at the bottom which extends out sideways on each side of the main part of the bag. I will bring this up and sew it over the lower part of the gusset to reinforce the bottom seam, so there's no outer seam at the bottom of the bag. 

What think you? 

Here's a (very rough) sketch:

 

[Mablung]

Plain gussets stitched either seam in or out seem pretty strong alike. I’ve made them both ways, although my inclination is to say the seam in is stronger. But that adds a couple complications to construction, although none that are insuperable. (I made a tote bag for my mom that is 5/6 oz S.B. Foote boot leather that I turned out; that thing is bombproof.)

[bland]

You could also not use gussets.  Keep the little tabs you have sew up the sides either so you can turn it.  You could also do a lap seam or just stitch them together flat.  Then bring the tab up and sew it in on the inside or outside.  So many possibilities.  Here is one I did.  It is pretty narrow only about 2" wide but it holds computers or a 2 inch binder.  

 

[toxo]

If only to carry papers, why sides at all? I  would consider a narrow base, maybe 1 inch? You know how much it needs to carry. Then 3 or 4 horizontal straps, ranging from maybe 3 inches at the bottom to maybe 8 inches at the top,  you'll have to work out the lengths. Each strap sewn on one side and snaps on the other. Now you have something that can open like a briefcase to extract something quickly or undo the snaps to open completely. More versatile and less weight.

[Sheilajeanne]

Toxo, this is going to hold a 2 inch binder, a number of Duo-tang folders with the worship song lyrics, my Bible, the book we're studying and maybe my tablet computer or cell phone. The tote Bland shows above is very much like what I'm planning to build, except there will be some carving on the outside.  Since I will also be carrying my guitar case, purse and music stand, I want straps that are long enough to go over my shoulder. So, briefcase-style is not what I'm looking for. 

Edited March 7, 2024 by Sheilajeanne

[kgg]

On 3/5/2024 at 11:40 PM, Sheilajeanne said:

I'm just wondering what the best way is to make sure the gussets are strong. Is it better to stitch them on the inside or outside?

I would suggest something along the lines of this basic sketch and get as fancy as you like. The bag is two main pieces and two handles. The gusset piece is sewn across the front/back piece. Just a thought.

kgg

 

[Sheilajeanne]

Yup, that would certainly make it bombproof, kgg!  But I'd thought of making the flaps that attach to the gussets decorative by having the gussets a darker color - probably chocolate brown with the rest of the bag being a much lighter brown. 

Kgg, what app do you have for making such good sketches??   As you can see, Yours Truly is back in the dark ages when it comes to that! Okay, I was in a hurry, and couldn't even be bothered to use a ruler - just freehanded the whole thing...    I probably could have done it using Paint, but it would have taken MUCH longer!

[Northmount]

2 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

gussets a darker color

If you use just the 2 main pieces as kgg illustrates (don't cut the gusset piece into 2, keep it one continuous piece), the gussets can easily be a different colour.  And you would have a very solid bottom for your bag.

You could make the gussets wider at the top so you can open your bag further.  It you place the stitches on the outside of the bag, stitch the bottom of the gussets to the sides while laid out flat.  Then the vertical sides.  Especially if you use a sewing machine.

 

 

[kgg]

4 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Kgg, what app do you have for making such good sketches?? 

I used Fusion 360 which is a CAD program for this sketch. I had that program opened away as I was refining a clicker press design. I then used Windows Snipping Tool and save the Snipping Tool file as a jpg. I'm also old school and do all my designs by pencil / pen and paper first then I move unto the computer. I bet most of the younger generation go right to the computer first.

kgg

Edited March 7, 2024 by kgg

[Sheilajeanne]

Kgg, since I changed computers, I'm having a problem with the snipping tool. It insists on saving any pictures I snip as a png file instead of a .jpg. My old version of Snip n'Sketch always saved them as jpgs. I haven't figured a way around this yet, and it's a real PITA! How old is your snipping tool? Do you have that problem too?

I'm desperate enough that I'm thinking of trying to transfer my old Snip n'Sketch program from my old computer!

I may have downloaded Fusion 360 at one time, but never got around to figuring out how to use it. It looked kind of intimidating...

Edited March 7, 2024 by Sheilajeanne