Congrats to yesterday’s winner, Samantha Dankjo, on winning Day 18’s daily giveaway! We will be in contact so that you can claim your prize.
It’s Day Nineteen of National Sewing Month! Don’t forget to visit Seams and Scissors every day to find daily giveaway opportunities and sewing ideas! To enter today’s daily giveaway, find the contest rules and leave a comment below. Also look out below for details on how to enter our National Sewing Month grand prize that includes a BERNINA 215 Sewing Machine! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.
Today’s National Sewing Month post is brought to you by Deby from So Sew Easy!
Take a look at some of the bags you own. If you are a typical woman, you probably own more than 3, maybe even more than 10. Bags can be made for all types of purposes, styles and occasions, but generally they are all designed to do the same thing – carry things. To fulfill their basic function, they will usually have common features such as straps or handles, zips or closures, and pockets.
They can be flat like a simple tote bag designed to carry a few light items and perhaps roll or fold up flat, or can be designed where their size and shape fit a certain function, such as the Easy Cosmetics Bag you see here.
One common feature that most bags will have is some kind of volume. Whether this is created with pleats, darts or a squared off bottom, the bag is given both design and volume by shaping at the bottom so that it can carry out its intended purpose and give you the space you need to carry things.
The volume at the bottom in a bag with boxed corners can be created 3 different ways. Two are similar, one is different. Let’s take a look how to do it with these 3 methods for boxing corners on bags.
3 Methods for boxing corners on bags
I suppose you could call these:
- Cut and sew
- Sew and cut
- Fold and sew
So now you have a few ideas for how you can create some shape and volume to a basic bag with these 3 easy methods. Why not try sewing the Easy Cosmetics Bag or the Turning Japanese Bag for yourself? I’ll show you how every step of the way with a video as well as written instructions.
Don’t miss all of Deby’s amazing projects at So Sew Easy!
Also remember to check out the Project of the Day right here!
To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:
What’s the hardest part of sewing for you?
Official Rules for Daily Contest
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 19th, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
Enter here for the National Sewing Month 2014 Grand Prize Giveaway.
- 6 Simply Stylish No Sew Scarves - January 20, 2022
- We Sewed a Zoo: 8 Stuffed Animal Patterns - January 19, 2022
- The Biggest Selection of Free Bag Sewing Patterns! - January 6, 2022
Sewing in gussets has always been hard for me. I usually have to do it twice to get it right.
Just the setup and cleanup, as I don’t have a dedicated area for sewing. But I’m in the process of clearing a space that will allow me to keep my new Bernina 215 machine always at the ready! Now you just have to do your part and select me as the winner…
hardest part for me is projects that require specialty feet on the machine, as I don’t have them (ie hemming foot), so I end up doing them by hand, which seems ridiculous since I have a machine sitting right in the closet!
Finding the time to sew is so hard! With 2 jobs 3 active sons and a husband all vying for my time, my sewing time unfortunately gets cut first.
Cutting out patterns. I have use of one hand so it is much more difficult then it was before.
Have you tried using weights? I purchased a set of 4 from Joann’s Fabrics and I am planning to buy more. They are small enough to place on your pattern and the weight does hold the pattern to the fabric easily. I have not tried to use them on silk material as of yet, but great on cottons and fleece.
ripping out my mistakes.
I would have to say that garment sewing is the hardest for me. I don’t have enough experience with zippers and sleeves, but I love quilting. Thanks fir the great tutorials on these bags. I can’t wait to make some.
The hardest part of sewing for me is basting my quilt tops to the batting and back. I do not enjoy that part. Therefore, my quilts do not get done as quick as they should. I love sewing and quilting, though!
As a beginner I still sometimes struggle sewing a straight line!
The cutting out is the hardest part for me whether it is garment construction or quilting, it is so time consuming.
The hardest part for me is fitting a garment to a specific body. I do not have a dress form and have to have fittings for things I make for my daughter – making stuff for myself is harder yet as I have no one to pin seams or alterations on me. Guess work makes for more seam ripping!!
Cutting out the pattern and fabric
Lately it has been deciding the pattern and fabric and when the quilt top is done, deciding the quilting design. Thanks.
The hardest part of sewing for me depends on if I am quilting a quilt or making a garment. If I am quilting, the hardest part is quilt a large quilt on my small machine and trying to squeeze it all throught the neck. If I am making a garment, I would say tiny armholes are the hardest, next to making buttonholes.
I don’t a really sew alot, but I’d say the hardest part is getting the project cut out & ready to sew, since I generally cut out in one room & sew in another since I have my machine in my guest rm.
Actually sitting down at the machine, once I’m sitting the fun begins! Then time flies and its time to stop and that is no fun. Can’t wait to try the square bottom for bags. It was a great video.
The hardest thing for me to do is garmet sewing. I am new to it and would like to conquer my fears of zippers, sleeves, button holes, etc. I would love to make outfits for my little girl.
I really love this tutorial. Wonderful job!
Just one? Finding a pattern that fits, pockets in pants/shorts & finding the TIME to sit & sew.
Figuring out fitting, then cutting out the pattern is my weakest point.
The hardest part for me is organizing my projects. I have several started and cant stay focused and start another one!! ADD!! I need to stay focused on one and finish!
I am new to quilting and would love to have the Bernina machine to work on. My machine is about 25 years old. It still works but lacks all the bells and whistles that the new ones have.
Just finding enough time in the past. Now I am retired and planning to clear out my stash…..by sewing
The hardest part of sewing for me is when I have to do any alterations. I simply hate it and would rather just forget the outfit I am making and move on.
The hardest part for me is setting up the sewing machine to do the job if I decide to sew heavy material I have a hard time adjusting my sewing machine accordingly. If I decide to sew with light weight material I can usually get it adjusted but it takes some getting use to. I usually break a few needles and never get the bobbin with the right color the first couple times.
The hardest part of sewing for me is altering a pattern so that it fits properly. I am a short person but have a long body and shorter legs, so I have a long waist line. I can’t use petite patterns so must use
regular patterns and make them shorter.
The hardest part of sewing for me is keeping consistent seams whether its sewing a project or doing a quilt. Something always comes out wrong and i need to rip it out and try again. Being a self taught, the one great thing is If I’m frustrated I stop and If I can’t figure it out I stop. The thing I don’t do is quit.
I have ideas, but need impetus to get it all done. Once I start, I can go like a house afire. I usually get started too late in the day to really accomplish anything.
Perhaps I need more caffeine in the AM.
I enjoy making tote bags, and hope to start quilting soon…love the modern design in quilts! I feel overwhelmed sometimes with garment pattern pieces and all the lines! I end up putting the pattern away. Sounds silly, I know.
Thank you for the tutorial.
The hardest part is to make the first cut into the fabric. From then on it is clear sailing and pure joy.
Fantastic idea. I love the third method of boxing the corners and will try this soon. Thank you. I’ll be back to see more.
Thanks for the information! The hardest part of sewing for me is reading patterns. I end up spending a lot of time reading them several times over and then if at all possible, making my own. I honestly try not to use patterns.
Thanks for the info!
Mitering corners – I want to pull my hair out every time I try this. Help!
Straight topstitching. I have ruined more garments with messed up topstitching than I want to admit.