Soft Goods Construction: Tote Bag

For this soft goods construction assignment, I was tasked with creating a simple tote bag using muslin provided in class and a sewing machine. The challenge was to learn how to use a sewing machine and to incorporate a closure mechanism into the design, for which I opted to use a button.

Design

I began by sketching three preliminary designs to explore different functional and aesthetic options. My first sketch essentially was foldable pouch with bag handles that were sealed with Velcro.

Sketch 1: Foldable pouch bag

The second design was a more traditional tote with an internal Velcro closure which seemed more appealing to me given that we only had a week to finish this assignment.

Sketch 2: Traditional tote bag with velcro enclosure

Ultimately, I chose my third design — a variation of the traditional tote but with a button closure due to the local art store not having velcro. However, this design seemed the most practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Sketch 3: Traditional tote bag with a button enclosure

Prototype

Scaled-down prototype tote bag

As a beginner with the sewing machine, I used some of the muslin to practice before constructing my bag. I made a scaled-down version of my final design to refine my technique. During this process, I discovered several issues: the handles were attached in a way that left messy, visible stitching, and the method I used for the button attachment — a pair of vertical stitches — looked unappealing and had the risk of ripping. The prototype also revealed fraying at the top edge of the bag, detracting from its overall appearance.

Messy unappealing stitching

Analysis

Final tote bag

After presenting my prototype in class, I received valuable feedback from my peers and instructor. One peer noted that the handle stitching and fraying could significantly reduce the bag’s appeal. Inspired by a YouTube tutorial, I decided to implement an “X” stitch pattern for the handles in my final product, enhancing both durability and visual appeal. To address the fraying, I folded and stitched the top edge inward, creating a cleaner finish.

The “X” stitching and the stitching of the top edge of the bag

My instructor critiqued the button stitching, pointing out that my initial approach might not prevent the buttonhole from tearing. Heeding this advice, I reinforced the area by stitching around the entire buttonhole, ensuring its longevity.

Stitching around the buttonhole

Despite being relatively new to sewing, I successfully crafted a functional tote bag from scratch. The project not only improved my sewing skills but also taught me the importance of iterative design and feedback. For future iteration, I aim to master more advanced stitching techniques to enhance both the durability and the desirability of my creations.

ChatGPT was used to refine paragraphs and check grammar.