FAQ: How To Sew A Tote Bag With Lining And Square Bottom?

How to Make Perfect Box Bottom Corners on a Bag Every Time

With my step-by-step sewing tutorial, you can easily and accurately box the bottom corners of your next bag creation. A box bottom means the bag has a flat bottom, making it easier to hold wide items or rest comfortably. Be sure to grab a FREE (a $9.95 value) printable tutorial below.

Box Any Tote Bag or Purse Pattern Project

This tutorial uses our free With Love Tote bag pattern, which you can download here. The side seam (left) and bottom seam (right) meet, and a seam is stitched across these seams, giving the bag dimension and structure.

How Boxing the Bottom Corners Affects the Bag Size

Boxing the bottom corners gives a bag a flat bottom to stand on, but it also’steals’ from the width and height, resulting in a bag that is narrower across the width of the bag at the bottom seam and shorter in height along the side seam.

1. Determine Desired Size of the Boxed Corner

Start with a smaller cut to see what you think; our tutorial shows a 4u2033 deep boxed corner. Divide the desired 4u2033 depth by 2 = 2u2033 2u2033 is the size of the square.

2. Mark and Cut Squares From The Bag Corners

Following my Pinterest board Free Sewing Tutorials, Tips and Tricks for more free sewing tutorials, mark a 2u2033 square on both bottom corners of each piece and cut the marked square from each bottom corner.

4. Stitch Closed to Box the Bottom Corners

Backstitch at the beginning, where the seams match, and at the end of the cut edge to close the corner. If desired, reinforce by stitching again for extra strength in the corners or seams of a finished quilt.

5. Finishing Details

Give your bag more support by boxing the bottom corners and pressing it right side out with my Easy Sew-In Bag Support trick. Need a better ironing board? Check out the IKEA Hack Pressing Station of my Dreams, here.

Boxed Corner Cut Sizes and Finished Bag Sizes for This Tote Bag Project

Follow Joan on Pinterest and pin this post to your Pinterest boards to see how different size corner squares affect the finished size of our sample project.

How do you sew a bag with sides and bottoms?

Sewing a Bag with Sides and a Bottom: Steps

1. Step 1: Pick your fabric.
2. Step 2: Cut your fabric.
3. Step 3: Sew the faces to the sides.
4. Step 4: Sew the lining together.
5. Step 5: Sew the straps.
6. Step 6: Sew the lining to the fabric.
7. Step 7: Sew the lining to the fabric.

How do you calculate box corners?

1. Decide on the size of the boxed corner you want.

1. Our tutorial shows a 4u2032u2032 deep boxed corner.
2. 2u2032u2032 is the size of the square that will be cut off of both bottom corners when you divide the desired 4u2032u2032 depth by 2.

What is the best interfacing for tote bags?

Before you start sewing, learn about the best fusible interfacing for bags.

• FUSIBLE THERMOLAM PLUS (PELLON TP971F) I adore Thermolam Plus, a needled fleece that is denser and flatter than generic fusible fleece.
• SHAPE-FLEX (PELLON SF101) I use Shape-Flex, a fusible woven interfacing, in all of my bags.

What kind of fabric is used for tote bags?

The canvas, denim, upholstery, or drapery fabric will best suit their needs. Nylon totes are usually made without interfacing because they are meant to be flimsy and flexible, and are typically used to carry a change of clothes.

What is the standard size for a tote bag?

The average tote bag is about 13 x 15 inches in size, with a large opening that allows items to be easily retrieved and added to the bag. There are no zippers or buttons to close the bag; however, there are variations that include these features.

What is the most popular tote bag?

• The Business Tote: Dagne Dover Signature Legend Coated Canvas Tote.
• The All-Around MVP: Cuyana Leather Zipper Tote.
• The Packable Pick: Baggu Cloud Bag.
• The Celebrities’ Pick: Everlane The Day Market Tote.
• The Laptop Lugger: Knomo Grosvenor Place Expandable Laptop Tote Bag.

What can you do with old tote bags?

Your unwanted totes can be put to a variety of useful purposes, including:

1. Bring clothing donations to shelters, houses of worship, or Goodwill and leave them with the donation.
2. Bundle food donations for soup kitchens and food banks in reusable bags rather than disposable bags so that patrons can reuse the bags.