Good Gifts for Quilters: Make a Tote Bag that Holds Everything - Quilting Daily

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I must be the queen of the tote bags. I have them in all shapes and sizes, from the $1.99 variety with department stores logos to artfully hand-crafted varieties.

Reversible Patchwork Tote by Pokey Bolton,
featured on “QATV.”

I like to stitch totes to give to my friends–tote bags make especially good gifts for quilters and needle workers who like to carry small projects with them.

There are many different styles of tote bags to choose from, but I like ones that have a gusset. Adding gussets to the bottom of the tote makes for a wider bottom that is more versatile for carrying books, groceries, or supplies.

Here are two ways to make a gusset, from Quilting Arts Managing Editor Rose DeBoer.

Method One: Cut First

Layer your rectangles right sides together. At each of the bottom corners, mark out a square. The size of the square will determine the depth of the gusset.

With a ½” seam allowance, a 1″ square will create a 1″ gusset, a 2″ square yields a 3″ gusset. In general, an inch or so works well.

Love math? Here’s how it works. Add up both sides of the square and subtract 1. So a 3″ square will yield a 5″ gusset 3+3 = 6 – 1 = 5.

Right sides together, sew both side seams and the bottom seam. Open the seam allowances. Fold so that the side seam is aligned with the bottom seam. Stitch with a ½” seam allowance.

Method Two: Sew First

Again, start by layering your rectangles. This time do not cut the corner squares. Stitch down one side, across the bottom, and up the second side–pivoting at the corners.

At the bottom corner, open the seam allowances and fold so that the side seam is aligned with the bottom seam. Draw a line perpendicular to the seam an inch from the point. Trim off the corner ½” from the seam. If you want a larger gusset, stitch further from the point.

Now that you know how to make a gusset, how about some tote tutorials? We’ve bundled some of our favorite “Quilting Arts TV” episodes featuring stitched and quilted totes and bags.

Learn how to make the bags, plus get tips on how to personalize them with fabric, embellishments, and surface design techniques. Anyone likes to make quilted gifts will learn a lot from the experts in the Stitched and Quilted Tote Bag Bonanza bundle.