Creating a Tote Bag

[Northmount]

54 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

It insists on saving any pictures I snip as a png file instead of a .jpg.

I assume you are pasting to Paint or other graphics program.

When you save the file in Windows 10, you can pick what format to save it in by clicking on the drop down box for the file type.

[kgg]

3 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

I'm having a problem with the snipping tool.

I am using Windows 10 and just upgraded my motherboard / memory / hard drives about a month ago. To add to @Northmount in the Snipping Tool you can choose the file format when you select "Save As" under the "Save as type".

3 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

It looked kind of intimidating..

It can take awhile to get use too it does have it's quirks just like all CAD programs. If you decide to give it a try in the future start by following along with a few youtube video's. As a side note the default file format that Fusion 360 uses is a .f3d as a default and I don't know of another program that uses this so save your work as a .step format.

kgg

[Frodo]

Yo really do not need a computer or cad drawings 

how tall?

wide?

thickness?

It is just math,  even though we have differences  You are intelligent enough to lay a sheet of paper on the table and draw a pattern using a ruler and square 

If you want different color gussets than the body   I have a way you can do it using the 1 piece method

 

 

 

[Sheilajeanne]

Last night, I got as far as tracing the design I want on the side of the tote.

I also have the tote bag in the picture, which I made previously from a Tandy kit. It's not a small bag - it's 13" tall. I popped all the stuff I'm planning to carry into it, and the binder actually sticks up above the top of the bag!   I'm very glad I tested out this tote bag, because it gives me a better idea of what dimensions I'm going to need for the new one, and it's going to have to be bigger than I thought!

I'm now wondering if I have a big enough piece of leather to make it the way I planned. I also looked at all the pieces of leather I have in my storage cupboard, and decided that buying a new piece of leather just for this project ain't an option...  I really need to buckle down and do some of the projects I've been putting off for far too long!

Stay tuned...

 

 

Edited March 14, 2024 by Sheilajeanne

[Sheilajeanne]

Are gussets usually made from a slightly thinner leather than the rest of the bag, so they will flex more easily?

[Mablung]

28 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Are gussets usually made from a slightly thinner leather than the rest of the bag, so they will flex more easily?

Do you want it to flex more easily, so that the sides will collapse a bit if the bag is not full? If so, you can accomplish that with either thinner leather or another leather with a softer temper.

The answer probably depends most on what you want the bag to do. If you want it to collapse, then a thinner/softer/thinner-and-softer leather is the right choice. 

[Sheilajeanne]

Okay, good info, thanks!  Yes, I do want the sides to collapse a bit. I will have a piece of leather at the top that folds over between the handles, and hooks to a latch to keep the bag closed. And I am also going to make the gussets slightly wider at the top than the bottom, so they will need to flex in when the bag isn't full.

[Mablung]

11 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

Okay, good info, thanks!  Yes, I do want the sides to collapse a bit. I will have a piece of leather at the top that folds over between the handles, and hooks to a latch to keep the bag closed. And I am also going to make the gussets slightly wider at the top than the bottom, so they will need to flex in when the bag isn't full.

What are you using for the front and back? Separate pieces with a bottom gusset, or one piece with only side gussets?

[Sheilajeanne]

Mablung, planning to use a single piece with side gussets only.

[Mablung]

That’ll be good and strong, then. 
 

You know, as I look back, I see you’ve already described a good bit of this. Apologies. Looks like you have your plan down, other than deciding what to use for the gussets.