Messenger Bag

Click image to enlarge

Designer:  Lisa Truesdell

My eight year old is getting to the point where he has a very clear idea of what’s “cool” – and “little kid” stuff just won’t do. The clean lines of this messenger bag are very boy friendly, and this cool guitar fabric won’t be outgrown quickly.  You can customize the fabric to match the favorite colors or interests of the guy in your life, no matter how old he is.

note : The cotton duck material that I used for my bag doesn’t have a right side and a wrong side like many fabrics do.  However, I am noting in my directions whether your right side should be in or out in case you use a printed fabric. Also, if you’re using a lighter weight fabric, you will want to use interfacing so that your bag can keep it’s shape.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. Use your Comfort Grip Trimmer, cutting mat and Easy To Read ruler to cut the following pieces :
a. 2 pieces - 17x24in (for the body of the bag)
b. 2 pieces – 15x12.5in (for the flap of the bag)
c. 1 piece – 15x12.5 (accent fabric, for the flap of the bag)
d. 1 piece – 44x4in (for the strap)
2. Press the strap piece in half and stitch down the edge.  Turn the tube right side out and press flat.  Sew a seam along each edge.
3. Stack your flap fabric as follow – back fabric (right side up), front fabric (right side down), accent fabric (right side down).
4. Stitch around all 4 sides, leaving a small opening.  Flip the fabric right side out and press the seams flat. Take a peek inside and mark which side the accent fabric is facing, and then pin your opening shut and stitch a border around all 4 sides.

5. Using scrap paper and your USX circles template, create a pattern for the reverse appliqué on the front of your bag.  I did a line of three overlapping circles.  Cut your pattern from the paper.
6. Pin your pattern to the flap of your bag and stitch around the design.  The use your Titanium Nitride No 5 Softtouch Scissors to cut along the stitching – being very careful to only cut through the top layer of fabric.
7. Center the flap on the body fabric, about 1in from the top of the fabric.  Stitch the flap in place using 2 rows of stitching.
8. Fold both pieces of the body fabric in half, right side in. Stitch along each side.
9. Square the bottoms of both pieces. I made my bottom about 3in wide.
10. Pin the strap to the bag to determine your length. I ended up shortening my fabric quite a bit since the bag is for a child. Pin the ends of the straps to each side of the bag so that the strap is facing down, centered along the seam.  The ends should stick up ¼-1/2in above the top of the bag.  Stitch the ends into place.
11.  Turn the lining fabric right side in and then tuck the outer body of the bag inside, make sure that the strap and flap are inside and out of the way.
12. Pin and stitch the two layers of body fabric together, leaving a gap along one side.
13. Flip the bag right side out. Press the seam you just created and pin the gap shut, and then stitch all the way around the edge of both pieces.

Supply List:
Fiskars 12-97937097 45mm Comfort Grip Rotary Trimmer
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx
Fiskars : 12-87327097 6.5x24.5in Easy To Read Ruler
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_65-x-245-easy-to-read-ruler.aspx
Fiskars : 12-83717097 18x24in Cutting mat
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx
Fiskars : 12-71777097 Titanium Nitride No. 5 Softouch Scissors
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_titanium-nitride-no-5-softouch-sci.aspx
Fiskars : 12-4850 7097 Circles Shape Template
http://fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-tool-circles-1-wsca.aspx

other : 1yard brown cotton duck cloth (the fabric I bought was 60in wide, if yours is narrower you’ll want 1.5 yards), 1/4yard of accent fabric