6 Ways to Sew Bag Bottom | Sewing Tips for Beginners, by Sewingly Carol on YouTube. 6 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Sew your bag body first. Place the panels right sides together, stitch both side seams and the bottom seam, and leave the top open.
Press the side and bottom seams open with an iron so the fabric lies flat at each corner.
Turn the bag wrong side out. Flatten one bottom corner into a triangle so the side seam sits directly on top of the bottom seam.
Measure out from the point of the triangle, for example 2 in (5 cm) for a shallow base, and draw a straight line across at that mark with a ruler and fabric marker.
Pin along the line, then sew straight across it with a short 2.5 mm stitch, backstitching at both ends.
Trim the seam allowance to about 1/2 in (1.2 cm) and snip the pointed tip off to reduce bulk.
Repeat on the opposite corner, using exactly the same measurement so the base sits level.
Turn the bag right side out and push the corners out from inside with a point turner or the blunt end of a pencil.
For a flat-bottom variation, cut a square from each bottom corner before sewing the seams, then match the cut edges and stitch straight across them.
Six corner styles, running from 0:05 to 5:37. Try each one on scrap fabric to see which shape suits your bag.
Tips and common mistakes
Sew a few test corners on scrap fabric of the same thickness before you cut into your good bag fabric.
Make both corners identical, or the bag will stand crooked and one side will look longer than the other.
Clip the seam allowance close to the stitching but never through it, or the corner will fray open.
Sharp scissors and pins: cut away from your fingers and keep the iron standing upright when you press.
Questions
How big should the corner square be?
A 2 in (5 cm) square gives a shallow base, while 3 in (7.5 cm) or more gives a deeper, wider bottom. Test a couple of sizes on scraps first.
Do I cut the corners off before or after sewing the sides?
Either works. Cutting first is quicker and gives a neat finish, while folding and stitching after the seams lets you adjust the depth as you go.
Can I do this without a sewing machine?
Yes. Backstitch by hand with short, even stitches, then finish the raw edges with a zigzag or overcasting stitch so they do not fray.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
