How to Make Square Corners in the Bottom of Tote Bags

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Things You'll Need

  • Ruler

  • Sewing machine

A tote bag is especially handy when you have several different items you need to carry and your purse or backpack is already full. Make your tote bag even more convenient by giving it square corners, which create a flat bottom to the bag so it stands up on its own, rather than slumping over, when you set it down. You don't need to have a lot of sewing experience to perform this simple modification on your tote bag in just a few minutes.

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Step 1

Turn the tote bag inside out.

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Step 2

Push the right side of the tote back down so the right side seam of the bag is lined up with the bottom seam of the bag. This will create a triangular shape to form from the corner of the back created by the right and bottom seams.

Step 3

Use a ruler to locate the point at which the width of the triangle is the same as the width you wish the bottom of the tote back to be. So, if you want the bottom of the tote back to be 3 inches wide then you need to locate the point at which is the triangle is 3 inches wide.

Step 4

Sew straight across the width of the triangle at that point. Stay stitch at the beginning and the end of the seam.

Step 5

Repeat with the left side of the bag so both ends of the bottom of the tote bag are square.

Tip

Trace the outline of the bottom of your tote bag onto a thick piece of cardboard or a thin board. Cut out the tracing and place it inside your tote to make the bottom more sturdy.

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