Bag with carrying handle

A method of forming a bag having a handle therefor, said method including the steps of:

• (a) folding a sheet of flaccid material to a disposition at which it forms into juxtaposed wall panels having two side edges, a closed edge formed by said fold, and an open bottom edge;
• (b) tucking said closed edge inwardly between said juxtaposed wall panels forming top edges along said wall panels to form a gusset consisting of the overlapping portions of said wall panels;
• (c) folding a separate strip of material along a fold line extending along the length of said strip to provide side portions on opposite sides of said fold line;
• (d) inserting said folded strip of material into said gusset to extend across the width thereof with said fold line of said strip of material disposed most closely adjacent to said closed edge of said sheet tucked between said wall panels and with said side portions of said strip extending away from said closed edge respectively adjacent said overlapping portions of said wall panels;
• (e) joining together, at each side of said gusset, the side portions of said strip at each end thereof to the respective adjacent overlapping portions of said wall panels at seals formed in a V-shaped pattern defined by lines extending diagonally between said side edges and said top edges of said wall panels;
• and
• (f) joining together the adjacent side edges of said wall panels, whereby the filling of said bag with merchandise will result in said wall panels assuming an open disposition having an end panel formed by said gusset and with said handle strip extending across said end panel and adjacent thereto in an unfolded flattened condition to provide a handle for lifting and carrying said bag with the weight of said merchandise being borne at said seals.