What's a gusset in terms of sewing?

Question

i'm making a vintage clutch and the step says to make a gusset. This is exactly what it says:

Match up the seam on the bottom and side, pin through all thicknesses and stitch straight across th corner to form a gusset. Clip off corners of gusset leaving 1/2 inch seam allowance.

HuH?? i'm so totally not a sewing pro and i'd luv luvluv!! if someone can interpret sewing language into english!!!!

Answer 1

Gusset

-a piece of fabric inserted in a garment where added strength or freedom of movement is needed

Answer 2

I agree with the answer immediately above me - they are probably telling you to square off the bottom of the bag to give it some shape and maybe so it will stand up. If there are any pictures of the finished bag on your pattern, look closely at the bottom corner. If you see a short seam crossing perpendicular to the side seam, or if the bag is shown standing up on its own, this is what they did. Some purse instructions call this a gusset, others refer to it as a miter. There's an example with drawings and explanations in the link below - see Step 8. Good luck!

http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchan...

Answer 3

I sew historical clothing.  Unfortunatley I often see these two terms intermixed incorrectly: gores and gussets.

A gore is a piece of fabric inserted into another to widen it out a certain distance out to the end of the fabric.  A gusset is a piece of fabric inserted to widen a piece, but the main fabric then closes back around it.  

Gores are generally found in things like dresses to widen out a skirt.  Gussets can be found in things like pillowcases to make them deeper for a thicker pillow.

Is this piece you are trying to make going to be the side of the clutch?  That's what it sounds like to me.  Instead of just sewing the front and back together, you are inserting a piece of fabric in the middle before folding them up to give your purse some depth.

Here is a link from the Renaissance Tailor with detailed instructions on how to do each.  You should be able to apply the garment-making purposes shown to your own sewing needs.  Good luck!

Answer 4

In sewing, a gusset is a triangular or square piece of fabric inserted into a seam to add breadth or reduce stress. Gussets were used at the shoulders, underarms, and hems of traditional shirts and chemises made of rectangular lengths of linen to shape the garments to the body.

Gussets are used in manufacturing of modern tights or pantyhose to add breadth at the crotch seam; these gussets are often made of breathable fabrics for hygiene.

Answer 5

Here's the link to a site with a tutorial, with pictures, showing how to sew a gusset into a handbag.

http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2...

The striped fabric (not counting the handles) is the gusset.

The bag there has curved corners, but it's pretty much the same as sewing one with square corners.

Answer 6

I agree with all the answers given above, but the instructions in your question don't sound like a gusset.  It sounds  like they want you to square off the corner of a tote bag(or purse).  After all the sides and bottom pieces are stitched, you turn the bag inside out and  pinch a little triangle at the bottom corners of the bag.   Stitch across all thicknesses.  When you turn your bag right side out, the corners are squared off to make it stand up nicely.  I might be wrong, but this is what your instructions tell me.