big problem with sewing around corners :(

I'm a beginner and am making a bag which has me constructing the top panel, which attaches at both ends to bottom panel, and then you sew on the main side panels, in a 3D sort of state. I'm having problems around the rounded corners, my fabric is bunching up and this is what I get (not pretty!). Thank god I started with the lining rather than exterior of the bag... this happened at every one of the 4 corners despite my best efforts to stop it.

http://www.aliciavr6.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/grrrr.jpg

Can anybody give me any tips on how to do nice smooth rounded corners?

thank you!!!

All sewers have a hard time with the "easing" of fabric. Sewing around corners, concave or convex, can be tough. My best advice is to go slow, use alot of pins and basically "push" or "pull" your fabrics to get them to fit.
I've ripped out many seams trying to get my fabric to fit nicely together. It takes time & practice, but I would stick with it. Rip it out and try again.
When starting out this time, keep in mind which fabric layer puckered last time and try to ease that piece under your pressure foot more while keeping tension on the other fabric.

I hope this makes sense!

Oh my, thanks Irene! I had no idea of any terms for it, so just knowing about "easing" makes my life easier haha. I didn't use a whole lot of pins, but will definitely load it up next try. This is very difficult for me, and this is only the LINING, 1 fabric layer! haha I have to master this before I even think of attempting the exterior.

Thanks again!

BTW - this is Amy Butler's Weekender Bag pattern! I know, I know... very ambitious of me haha

I just read of a trick of sewing a basting seam through the puckering layer, then pulling one end of the thread to gather the fabric evenly so it fits. Then pinning it. Have you tried this and should that help me as a beginner?

That's a great idea so I would give it a try. Although if it's an Amy Butler pattern, the pieces should fit together with pining and patience when sewing. Basting and gathering it to fit may be more work than you should have to do.
This is a great pattern and if definitely one I would love to try as well. Good luck!

Thanks! I'm going to give it a few more go's tonight and see how it comes out.

I decided to skip the lining for now and work on the exterior, almost done! Its tough getting a close seam to the piping because the fabric doesnt want to fit under my zipper foot... Other than that, its not that bad. I have a really cheap sewing machine and it seems to handle this no problem (other than the foot issue), there were maybe 2 times that I had to hand crank a few stitches.

This bag is definitely not as neat as it should be, but for my 2nd time sewing, I'm pretty happy!! I just hope the other side goes as well.

After this photo, I went back around and tightened up the seams as best I could. In hindsight, I probably should have lined up the pattern for the panels... oh well! 

Wow!!!! It looks great. I absolutely love your fabric choice. Way to go.

Thanks!! The exterior seems to give everyone the problems, but wasnt bad for me at all, I only had to rip out one 3" long seam once because I wasnt paying attn to the fabric underneath and it tucked. I think hand tacking the lining into the bag will be my biggest issue, I've never hand sewn before!

I'm going to make one for myself next (this one is a gift) with this fabric and a charcoal grey lining:
http://www.fabric.com/Webdata/Product/c1c8a171-3c72-49c3-90e7-0d1e710ec854/Images/Medium_UH-278.jpg

DONE! at least with the exterior... the bottom is a little funky, going to try to flatten it out a bit. Putting the lining in tomorrow, supposed to hand tack but think I am just going to try liquid stitch.