Date: 11/21/09 7:38 PM

I am making fabric totes for Christmas presents.
When you do the type with bottoms that are pinched together, then stitched across the ends, HOW do you figure out your measurements when cutting out for a wider or narrower bottom piece? I am thinking of grocery bag-sizes or smaller jewelry keepers.
I have tried the totes where the tutorials cut out patterns in a cross-shape and sew all the corners together, but with the stiff interfacing, they always come out off-kilter!

Reply to gramma b
Date: 11/21/09 11:25 PM

I'm not feeling too smart because I don't get the question. When I think of a tote with the ends pinched together, I think of one that doesn't have a separate bottom piece. I make it with basically a rectangle, fold that so the short ends meet, then fold up or pinch in the folded edge (so it's doubled over) and then stitch the side seams. But I think that's not what you're doing?

Are you talking about boxing the bottom corners? Folding so you have triangles and then stitching across the base of the triangle? The bigger you make the triangle you sew, the bigger your bottom piece with be.

JEF

Reply to gramma b
Date: 11/21/09 11:59 PM

If you are working with 2 pieces of fabric that are seamed across the bottom, each piece must be equal to the height of the bag, plus 1/2 the depth you want in the bottom plus a seam allowance. Rather than stitching across the ends, you can cut a square out of each corner so that when you fold the bag to sew across the bottom corners they will all be the same size.

I did a review of a bag drafted from a brown paper grocery bag here. The dimensions I used are included, the finished bag was 6" wide at the bottom.

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2009: bought 140 yards, used 184 yards, net increase in volunteer fabric 44 yards ... total stash 385

Date: 11/22/09 11:05 AM

Thanks Y'all!

I guess "boxed" was the word I was looking for.
I was trying to copy favorite wicker baskets I have into fabric--
storage totes in graduated sizes, with linings.

Date: 11/22/09 1:53 PM

I made some for my sister, and cut open a brown paper grocery bag and used it as the pattern.

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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.

Reply to diane s
Date: 11/23/09 9:56 AM

I have copied cardboard box templates too.
For the grocery bag pattern, did you use the bottom with the 4 triangles (like wrapping a present) or the 2 overlapping flaps?

Reply to gramma b
Date: 11/24/09 12:50 PM

I didn't use triangles. I think I cut out the corners and sewed them across with a french seam.

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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.

Reply to gramma b
Date: 11/24/09 7:12 PM

Take a look at these instructions, and see if they help:

Sewn Tote Bags

These instructions show how to make a corner without cut-outs.
-- Edited on 11/24/09 7:16 PM --

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from Daytona Beach, FL
http://mary-sews.blogspot.com/