How to Sew a Round Bottom Purse or Bag

A round bottom purse or bag is quite fashionable and easy to make. A purse or bag of this style can be made to hold as much, or as little, of your personal items as you'd like. Once you make one bag, you'll find that you will be able to turn out any additional bags much quicker and with greater ease. Use the instructions below to make one.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine Sewing needle Ruler Pen Box of straight pins Small pair of scissors Very small safety pin Large, medium or small piece of cardboard, or a lightweight piece of hard plastic cut into the size you want your purse or bag to be Fabric (folded in half) the height you want your purse or bag to be. The width of this piece of fabric should measure the circumference of the round piece of cardboard or hard plastic, plus 1 inch extra. Use a suitable fabric such as cotton. Additional fabric, large enough to make two circles that are a little larger than the cardboard or plastic piece 2 1/2 feet of ribbon or other suitable fabric you can use as a drawstring handle

Instructions

1. Take the larger of the two pieces of fabric and fold it in half.

2. Pin the edges of the fabric together. Make sure the piece of round cardboard or plastic fits into the open end of the fabric. Adjust the pins in the fabric if there is any slack.

3. Stitch 1/2 inch in from the edge of the fabric, removing pins as you sew so you don't strike them with your sewing machine needle.

4. Fold the stitched fabric over so that the seam is on the inside and the right side of the fabric is facing out.

5. Stitch 1/2 inch from the bottom of the fabric piece (open edges) so that the two pieces of fabric are sewn together.

6. Make a stitch going around the fabric, about 3 1/2 inches down from the folded edge of the fabric.

7. Make another stitch around the fabric, about 1/2 inch up from the first stitch, or wide enough to fit the ribbon or drawstring through. Set the stitched piece of fabric aside. (This will be the top portion of your purse or bag.)

8. Place the round cardboard, or plastic, piece on the additional piece of fabric and draw around the edge of the cardboard or plastic piece with the pen.

9. Cut around the pen line, 1/2 inch away from it to allow for the seam.

10. Cut another round piece of fabric out the same size.

11. Sandwich the round cardboard, or plastic, piece between the two pieces of fabric, with the right sides of the fabric facing out, and the piece centered.

12. Thread your needle and stitch the two round pieces of fabric together, stitching along the edge of the cardboard or plastic piece.

13. Fit the round piece into the stitched open end of the other piece of fabric. Pin the two pieces together, placing the pins around the bottom piece.

14. Hand sew the top and bottom pieces of your purse or bag together, sewing over the stitching around the cardboard or plastic piece. Remove pins as you sew.

15. Using a small pair of scissors, make two notches (each notch on opposite sides of the purse or bag) between the 1/2 inch space at the top of the purse or bag.

16. Using your needle and thread, sew around the edges of each notch to prevent the edges of the openings from fraying.

17. Insert the safety pin into one end of the ribbon or drawstring. Close the pin.

18. Insert the safety pin and ribbon or drawstring into one open notch and feed it through, slowly working it through the canal with your fingers until the pin comes out of the same open notch it was inserted into.

19. Tie a knot at the end of the ribbon or drawstring.

20. Pull a loop of drawstring out of the opposite open notch so that there's enough of the drawstring or ribbon on both sides of the bag to use as a handle for your purse or bag.

21. Turn your purse or bag to the right side so the seam is on the inside.

Tips & Warnings

• Hand sew fringe or beads along the bottom of your drawstring purse or bag. Sew a charm or other ornamental object to the front of your drawstring purse or bag at the level of the drawstring.

• Always wear protective eye wear when sewing on a sewing machine.