A few weeks ago I mentioned I used Algebra to figure out the dimensions of the bags, totes, baskets, and boxes I design.
Today I’m demonstrating the calculations I use.
But first a little background….
Last month I said I was making a bag for my daughter-in-law’s school’s fall festival auction using these Premier Prints fabrics…
But I really messed up the pocket on the bag plus ran out of the gray thread that I was using. I was working on a very short timeframe so rather than getting the ripper out and then driving to Jo-ann’s which is 35 minutes away to get more thread, I pulled some other Premier Prints fabrics out of my stash and made this bag instead:
Then I put a little tutorial together that explained how I made the boxed corners for the bottom which gives the bag that nice structure.
And my daughter-in-law just texted me that the bag went for $50 at the auction!
I hate leaving anything unfinished before I move onto another project. The orange and gray fabric was sitting there nicely cut out and lined in fleece, it just needed a little TLC and I had already picked up more thread. So I decided to fix the pocket and create a new tote.
And here’s where the calculations come in….
I keep an Excel Spreadsheet on my computer with formulas in it just to figure out–quickly and easily–how to change the sizes on bags, totes, baskets and boxes.
My three variables are height (h), width (w), and depth (d).
I use 1/2″ seams on all my totes, bags, and boxes.
I want this tote to be 12 1/2″ in height (h), 13″ in width (w), and have a 4″ depth (d).
So I need a piece of fabric cut 35″ x 15 1/2″. And how did I know that?
To get the width, the calculation is ((2 * w) + (2 * d) + 1)
The 1 in the above formula is for the 1/2″ seam on the sides of the bag.
The desired width is 13″ and the depth is 4″ so I just fill in the variables.
(2 * 13) + (2 * 4) + 1 = 35
The height formula is (h + (1/2 * d) + 1)
Again, the 1 is for the seams on the top and bottom.
The height is 12 1/2″ and the depth is 4″
(12.5 + (.5 * 4) + 1) = 15.5
One last calculation allows me to figure out how to box the corners.
(d/2)
My depth on this bag is 4″
4/2 = 2″
Confusing? Not really. It’s easy-peasy. Especially if you put the formulas into Excel. But, I always liked Algebra–except those word problems.
And here’s the inside of the bag.
I don’t have any plans for this bag yet. Perhaps it will go into into my inventory so next time I get a last minute text that I need to make a bag–I’m ahead of the game!
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