walkertote: September 16, 2013 (cont'd)

September 16, 2013 (cont'd)

This is a (hopefully) quick update to a project I started yesterday, a reusable shopping tote. I've made lots of these, but I was hoping this one might turn out a bit different. Some changes I made were successful and I'll do this again in future projects. Other parts didn't work out so well -- for instance, I used very delicate fabrics for the front and the back -- and I should have stayed to the tried and true medium weight fabric. But, I learned. Today, I'll quickly recap that bag, and complete it.

First, I chose the fabrics. Two delicate, but pretty fabric and one very stiff fabric for the sides and bottom. I usually use three pieces of fabric, one for each side and one for the bottom then sew them together, but for the purpose of this bag, I wanted to use one long piece of fabric. This was a good idea, and I'll use it in the future. It really gives the bag extra strength. Despite the delicate fabrics I used, I can carry a 5 gallon water bottle with ease using this method. I'm aiming for a U shaped bag vs. a V shaped bag.

First, I put right sides together, front piece to the top of the side piece. I sewed and pressed this. The side fabric is so stiff that the bag wouldn't lie flat when not in use. So, I sewed a "fold" line along the sides. This worked, and I'll use this technique again. So, in the end, the bag does lie flat. I didn't measure, I just eyeballed it to make an upside down Y -- I was off by a little bit but since I won't distribute this bag -- because the front and bag fabrics make this less than the quality that I like to produce, I was okay with this not being perfectly straight.

I also sewed "fold lines" for the bottom. Remember, I'm only doing this because this fabric is so stiff, and I'm aiming for a "U" shaped bag. With a V shaped bag, all your groceries end up in a heap at the end of the bag. A U shaped bag will allow for cans of soup or boxes of cereal on the bottom, and you can add eggs or a loaf of bread on top without your bread getting squished.

You can line your bottom "fold line" with the side seam and that gives you almost a perfect U. I pinned where I sewed so you can see it better, and then see the inside corner you will make. You'll do this 3 more times (twice for the front side, and twice for the backside of the bag after you sew the sides on).

Sew the other side to the bottom, then sew both sides up the bag.

Remember your U shaped goal.

So, in all, loved the sides and bottom -- I'm glad I used one long piece of fabric and I'm glad I stitched fold lines on the sides and on the bottom. I will not use the delicate fabrics again. Yes, it's pretty, and yes, it's functional. It lies flat in the end, and stands up when it's supposed to -- so it was a success overall. I just would have rathered a medium weight fabric.

So today, I'll finish it real quick. I'm just going to add some trim around the top and some handles. I suspect it'll take less than 15 minutes. I pinned where I'm going to sew.

This is where we left yesterday.

This is all of the handle that I have so I will just cut that in half -- and whatever length it turns out to be, then that will be the length. So -- I'm just guessing, but it is probably 30 inches or so. Same thing with the trim. It's just a remnant that I had in my stash. So, I eyeballed it to see if I thought it would fit. I think it will.