Don’t you hate Tutorials without picture?? Sorry.
Simple messenger bags are pretty easy to make. Perfect for a last-minute gift for anyone on your list this year.
Needed:
- Fabric for outside
- Fabric for inside
- Interfacing if desired
- Webbing or other material for strap
- Buckle if desired
- Fastener for flap if desired
1. Decide what size you want. Let’s say you want a bag that’s 12 inches by 24 inches and 2 inches wide.
2. Cut out pieces. A front, a back, a flap, and a strip for the width.
Front and back: 13×25 (Your desired bag size plus 1/2 inch seam allowances on each side)
Flap: I chose to cut mine the same size as the front and back. You may go shorter or longer. You may opt to shape it as a rectangle, or to angle the edges in a bit, or to make it a half circle.
Strip: 3×48 (the 48 comes from adding up the three lengths that the strip will be sewn to. 12+12+24, the 3 is the bag width plus two half-inch seam allowances.)
You’ll need to cut the whole bag out of both your main fabric as well as your lining fabric. If you chose to use interfacing, cut the bag out of that, too, and iron or sew the interfacing to your lining fabric.
3. There are several ways to go about assembling the bag at this point. These directions will give you just one option.
4. Using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, sew the two fronts together, right sides facing, along the top edge. Turn right sides out and iron the seam flat. Topstitch if desired. Baste around three unfinished edges.
5. Sew the two strips together, right sides facing, along the two short edges. Turn right sides out and iron the seam flat. Topstitch if desired. Baste along two long edges.
6. Sew the two flaps together, right sides facing, along three sides, leaving one long edge open. Turn right sides out and iron the seam flat. Topstitch if desired. Baste along open edge.
7. With wrong sides together, baste two back pieces together along all four edges.
8. Pin and then sew strip along the sides and bottom of front piece, right sides together. Clip strip at corners to enable smooth turning. Repeat with back piece. Turn right sides out.
9. You now have a little bag that just needs a flap and strap!
10. Sew flap to back, right sides together.
11. Finish all exposed seams however you desire – overcast, pinking shears, seam binding, etc.
12. Determine how long you want your strap material and sew it securely to either side of the bag. (If you decided to use a buckle, now is the time to assemble that and attach.)
13. If you desire to fasten the flap, assemble and attach whatever you have chosen as a fastener.
And you’re done.
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