About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
3h00

Made for a cousin
I used curtain fabric for the main body of the bag because it was more sturdy and actually a little cheaper! The lining is just cotton,

Posted by Steph. from Reading, England, United Kingdom • Published See Steph.'s 138 projects »
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  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 1
    Step 1

    Collect your supplies. I used half a metre of the pattern fabric, half a metre of the lining fabric, a zip, a tape measure, lots of pins, D-Rings and white cotton thread.
    You might also want to make a template.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 2
    Step 2

    Trace your template onto the patterned fabric and the lining fabric. You'll need two rectangles from each of the fabrics.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 3
    Step 3

    Now, as if you're making a zippered pouch (a really good tutorial is here - http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html), pin the right side of the patterned fabric to the far RS of the zip, and do the same for the other piece of fabric. Sew along this and open it out like so:

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 4
    Step 4

    Do the same for the lining fabric (only on the wrong side of the zip), and topstitch it so that the fabric doesn't get jammed when you try to open it. Now open the zip half way.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 5
    Step 5

    Now pin the matching fabrics to the RS of the opposite one, like this. Pin it all together because you're going to sew from the bottom of the lining fabric all the way round the big white line the I drew on photofiltre. Make sure you leave a gap because otherwise you won't be able to turn it inside out.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 6
    Step 6

    Turn the whole thing inside-out through the gap that you left in the lining. Then sew up the gap either by sewing a straight line on the machine or by doing a handstitch which appears to be invisible.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 7
    Step 7

    Your bag looks like this at the moment:

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 8
    Step 8

    Now the attach the handle. I was using D-Rings so I needed a bit of fabric to attach them to the actual bag. Take two strip for fabric and double them over to create this:

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 9
    Step 9

    Pin and sew each of them onto the bag

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 10
    Step 10

    Now make the handle. The handle can be any length you want (but add a bit on each end because you'll be folding it over later). Press the long strip in half, then press the two sides into the middle like this:

    Then fold it all up so it looks neat and sew along both of the long sides.

  • How to make a messenger bag. Small Bag - Step 11
    Step 11

    Here is your finished bag!
    If you have any questions please comment below or message me. Thanks for looking at my project :D

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Comments

athena.peaceriver
athena.peaceriver · St Louis, Missouri, US · 1 project
I like this! Think I'll be making mine with jeans. Happy
Reply

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