I Need Help!

[pangaea23.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to make little drawstring gift bags in two different ways...

The first is, little rectangle bags that have the drawstring at the top, either coming out on the sides, or through a buttonhole in the front. These will be the actual gift bags...

The second is, a circular bag (ie, rounded bottom, just gathered up into "bag" shape), with drawstring at the "neck" so that there is an extra ruffle at the top. This is actually supposed to be a "money bag" for the money dance at our wedding.

I have experimented and experimented, and I've tried following several different instructions from the web, and nothing is working for me... I am NOT a very talented seamstress, and I have a hard time understanding all of the directions that I've found.

It seems that if I sew in the pouch for the drawstring before I sew the bag together, then when the bag gets put together I have to sew that pouch shut ~ problem... and if I sew the bag together and THEN try to sew the drawstring pouch it's difficult if not impossible.

Can anyone help me? I'm totally stressed, as the wedding is quickly approaching...