The Roundabout Bag – A Round Purse Pattern For Summer

It's that time of year when we start to feel like we are running around in circles, and that feeling has inspired the pattern of the month for December – the Roundabout Bag. I'm told that round bags are going to be all the fashion this Spring after Chanel previewed their Airport Collection with some very stylish round bags.  Get ahead of the trend and get your round bag ready to hit the runways soon!

Features of the Roundabout Bag

• Distinctive circular design with top zipper
• Uses ready made leather handles for a store-bought look (or you can make your own )
• Roomy inside with space for several internal pocket options
• Front single pocket with twist lock (optional)
• Back divided pocket
• Optional piping
• Full video tutorial (with pattern purchase only)
• Finished size – approx. 9 inches across by 3 inches deep

Materials needed:

• Main Bag – ½ yard
• Lining  – ½ yard
• Pocket/contrast/tab fabric – piece 22 inches square
• ShapeFlex 101 interfacing – 1.75 yards
• Fusible fleece – piece 22 by 10 inches
• Foam interfacing such as Flex Foam, or Bosal – piece 20 x 15 inches
• Coordinating Thread
• 1 x 12 inch zipper
• Optional – Small 1 inch twist lock
• Ready made 22 inch bag handles
• Optional – 2 yards of piping
• Optional – Fray Check
• Optional – Wonder Tape or basting tape
• Recommended – Wonder Clips

A quick look at the bag

You can take a quick look at the bag here.  The pattern includes a full video tutorial for how to make it as well as the usual written and step by step photos too.

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Pattern tester rating – Intermediate

Our wonderful testers

Huge thanks to these lovely ladies who dropped everything at this busy time of year to sew and test this pattern for you.  Without their eagle eye checking things over, you would be subject to all my spelling mistakes!

Laura – I loved it from first sight. I like the shape of the bag and that it's a purse. Most round bags I've been seeing are make up bags. I labeled it advanced because of the piping and lining attachment…a bit more care is needed. I would like to put a  removable shoulder strap attached right below the zipper tabs…Great pattern Deby!

Judy at Stoney Sews – The Roundabout bag is so cute! I love the name because that is exactly how I see this bag. One to grab and run around and doing a few errands while not weighted down by a big heavy purse. The shape and design features such as the piping and curved pockets make it special. Great pattern as usual Deby. I really like the way you do things.

Lori – Very cute….larger in person than I thought in the photos…lots of fabric choices can be used.  So cute for the little girl down the street, she had so much fun picking out the fabric from my stash. I used a variety of stitches from my machine for topstitching the outer and inner pockets, and made it a crossbody bag by using a narrow belt that she can make shorter if she needs to.

Michaelanne of Mulberry Hill Design – I love the round shape – not something you see every day – and the way your piping defines the shape. This pattern can be made in so many variations to suit any age, any style!   I didn't need to watch the video for this pattern, but after watching it, I think a confident beginner could make this bag.  I appreciate the versatility of this design. Many bag patterns are only suited to a narrow range of tastes. The Roundabout Bag offers design options to suit any style or age. I made two bags, including one in a recycled jacket fabric with a shoulder strap instead of handles.

Leslie of Love Rubie – My first thoughts were, cute bag that would also look great with an optional cross body/long shoulder strap. Now that I've worked through this pattern next time ill do the lining a little different as far as construction goes. I think I would rather bind the circle seams instead of doing a drop in lining. Personal preference.

Lisa – Really cute pattern, fresh new bag shape with a chance to add design details with fabric choices. This is easy for a confident sewer to make up and that it doesn't take much fabric so it's a good way to use up smaller pieces. I will definitely be making another one.

Betty-Anne of Bloomin Betty – love the shape and size. I really like this bag, the shape & size work for any age group, and the design and placement of the pieces, provide a good showcase for those special fabrics or prints that we all have, it was a quick sew with very clear directions I think a beginner could follow, with no problems.