Satchel Organizer

Keep your bag in order with a cute labelled satchel organizer.

Posted by Cat Morley

About

I love my satchel and I tote it around everywhere but it's not the easiest to find things in and my purse, phone or notebook always end up rolling out if I put it on the floor, so I decided to fix that problem once and for all with a super handy organizer. Complete with labelled compartments for each of my possessions, it's easy to find what I need, check that I have everything with me and super handy if I want to switch bags.

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You Will Need (9 things)

  • Fabric
  • ½ Contrasting Fabric
  • Sewing Machine
  • Small amount of Leather for the labels
  • Labels
  • Scissors
  • Cutting Knife
  • Pins
  • Thread to match the main fabric and leather of the labels

Steps (29 steps, 90 minutes)

  1. 1

    Unpack your bag and create a label for each of the items you keep in your bag. Place these to the side for the moment.

  2. 2

    Cut two squares of the main fabric, a little bit wider than your satchel and double the height.

  3. 3

    Cut a piece of contrasting fabric to the same size.

  4. 4

    Fold the top edge of the main fabric and contrasting fabric over by 1/2" and then over by another 1/2" and pin.

  5. 5

    Place the contrasting fabric underneath the 1/2" flap at the top of the main fabric and pin in place.

  6. 6

    Repeat this with the bottom edge of the fabric and sew along the top and bottom edge, removing the pins as you go.

  7. 7

    Neatly tuck under the raw edge at the left and right of your organizer and sew along the edges.

  8. 8

    Sew along the top and bottom edges of the pocket rectangle

  9. 9

    We're going to make some label holders from leather, so cut a rectangle of paper slightly larger than the size you'd like your labels to be and then cut out a window in the middle.

  10. 10

    Trace around your paper template onto the back of the leather and then cut these out with a cutting knife.

  11. 11

    Fold the organizer in half, with the wrong sides facing out, and pin along the edges 1" in from the edge.

  12. 12

    Fold the pouch right side out and decide where you'd like each of the pockets to be for each of your items, marking out their width with pins.

  13. 13

    Place the second rectangle of main fabric in the middle of your organizer and fold down the top and bottom edges so that they're 2" from the top and bottom of the bag. These will be the pockets.

  14. 14

    Sew along the left and right edges of the pocket rectangle and then pin it back in place on the back of the organizer.

  15. 15

    Mark where the labels should sit in the centre of each pocket.

  16. 16

    Unpin the edges of the pouch so that you can unfold it and lay it flat.

  17. 17

    Grab your favourite handbag and fill it with all of the things you usually carry around.

  18. 18

    Sew each of the label holder in place at the left, right and bottom edge with matching thread.

  19. 19

    Check the sizes of your pockets one last time to make sure each of your possessions fit.

  20. 20

    Sew along the lines for the pockets.

  21. 21

    With the wrong side of the pouch facing out, lay the pouch out so that the back edge is 1" higher than the front and overlap the sides by 1", and pin in place, creating triangles at the bottom corners.

  22. 22

    Stitch across both bottom corners.

  23. 23

    Fold the pouch inside out and lay the corners flat in the center of the pouch.

  24. 24

    I added some more label holders at this point, inside my pouch, so I could see what was in each of the pockets on the reverse.

  25. 25

    Sew along both edges of the 1" overlap pocket.

  26. 26

    Repeat on both sides.

  27. 27

    Cut off any lose thread and you're all done.

  28. 28

    Pop each of your possessions in their pocket and place the matching labels in the label holders.

  29. 29

    Place inside your satchel and off you go!