I have made Lazy Girl handbags where you press the 2 side bottoms and make a point and then sew. Other patterns I own have a cut out square which is sewn, which on the pattern covers looks like the Lazy Girl type anyway. What is the point in doing the cut out square on the sides of the bottom of the bag? Thanks!

The result is the same. If you sew across the triangle, then trim near the seam line and look at the piece you cut off, it will be a square. Just a different way of achieving the same result, trim before or after (or just fold the triangle up and don't trim at all!). Try them both, then just continue to use the one that you prefer.

Boxing it in is much easier to do, than the inset method!

Thanks so much for the replies. I probably will stick with the Lazy Girl way.

Does anyone have a favorite handbag/tote pattern with zipper. I would love to have the pattern name or site or photo.

Yes me too. The handbags I make look good but after using a few of them I find that things tend to fall out too easily even when I use velcro on the pockets and a magnetic clasp.

Why not add a zipper to the patterns you like, already?

thanks. will do.

have u tried allpeoplequilt.com? they have alot of patterns for bags on their site & most of them are free.