Help me please I cannot sew a round bottom in a purse

[HODAYODA]

Ok I am self taught at sewing so that could be problem number one.  I have sewn alot of stuff that is good I have a great machine with all the bells and whistles but it has been 9 hours and I am still trying to sew a round bottom bag. It is something like a bingo bag. It either comes out all bunched up or the circle is too small or the circle is too big. Help me please. I am not sewing anything else till I get this right. I have tried everything that I have read online and  am only wasting fabric. I know it cannot be this complicated.
please someone feel some sympathy and helpI have vowed to never sew again and have a huge yard sale this weekend and sell all my craft stuff I am just that frustrated lol

[seampoints]

*breathe* I will try to help, but my methods might not be...legitimate. I'm sure someone with the right answer will be along shortly.

Ok so I'm asuming what you're doing is basically sewing a circle onto a straight sided tube. Is that what you mean by a bingo bag? I would start by cutting out a circle of fabric (the bottom) the size you want it plus 5/8" seam allowance. Then cut a rectangle of fabric (the tube) the height you want plus your seam allowances.

Make the rectangles length longer than the circumferance of your circle to minimise the chance for error..

Hmm this is going to be difficult without pics...

Alright,

Step 1.
Baste (use really long hand sewn stitches) the circle to the long side of the rectange so that the right sides of the fabric are together (sides of fabric you want to show when its finished face to face), smooth out any lumps and bumps as you go. Try working with the circle side up (bottom of the bag inside out and facing you) so the rectange part is hanging down. Leave a 5/8" in the stitching where you start and finish.

Step 2.
Baste or pin the rectangles short sides together. (Join them together to make it a straight sided cylinder) and cut 5/8" seamallowance away from where you basted.

Step 3.
Sew the side seams togther on your machine. Use an iron and press the side seams of the rectangle open, an even 5/8" all the way.

Step 4.
Sew the circle to the rectangle. Put the fabric through the machine circle side down. Unpick any basting.

Step 5.
Turn inside out. Voila!

Can't wait to see it

[Aislynn]

I've made one of these, and believe me, if I can do it, you can do it!  Here's what I did, and maybe together with what seampoints said, it'll help.

1.  I sewed my tube first, to the size I wanted (I used a coffee can for a guide--this came in handy later).

2.  I used the base of the coffee can as a template for my circle, adding seam allowance to it.

3.  I basted all around the circle (by itself).  I gathered these basting stitches just enough to pull the seam allowance up.  This is where the can was really handy.  I stuck it in the center of the circle, and pulled the gathering stitches until they were snug around the can, like a drum top.

4.  You can iron the seam allowance in, and it gives you a nice crease to follow, but it's not necessary.

5.  Pin your newly turned up seam allowance on the bottom to the bag tube.

6.  Carefully stitch.  I actually had the circle side up, because I felt like it gave me better control.  That could have been the hard way, though.

Hope that helps!

[little me]

Hey Aislynn & seampoints - I've been having circle sewing probs too, mine are about 2" & 4" in diameter. Thanks for your tips, basting & getting that seam turned up makes sense - I'm going to give it a try.

[seampoints]

Yep, looks like basting is the key. If at first you don't succeed...

[elijor]

Another way to do it - totally different but variety is great.

Sew the rectangle into a tube. Stay stitch around the tube at the 5/8 inch line (or whatever seam allowance you are using). Clip the seam allowance just a thread shy of the stay stitching. Pin the tube to the circle and sew. The clipping allows the seam allowance on the tube to spread out and fit the outer edge of the circle.

I found a tutorial on a bolster pillow that has a picture of what I'm talking about. eHow Bolster Pillow scroll down to step 9, click for a bigger picture. They only clipped the "welt" not the main body of the pillow but the technique would be the same for doing the body of the pillow or in your case the bag.

[mamarose22]

When I had to sew a round circle onto a rectangle, I found that you sometimes have to ease the circle gently into the rectangle.  That's why it is always good to pin and baste first.