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aleahWhen I started sewing I had a 12 hour day, 6day a week job and an hour commute eachway, so I really had no time to sew. I'm nowworking closer to home, but the time stillslips away somehow... this blog is to sharethe sewing I manage to eke out in therandom time I find, as well as the things Isometimes use my no-time for instead.Thanks for stopping by!

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December 5, 2011

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Messenger Bag Tutorial

Well, the gift-giving season is upon us, and my holiday present-making is beginning a bit later thanmost other peoples, I imagine! So if there are any more craft procrastinators out there, heressomething for you I thought Id share this little messenger bag I came up with a while ago:

About a year ago, when I started riding my bike around town to dinner and pubs and whatnot, Idiscovered that there was a hole in my bag wardrobe, and what I really wanted was a purse-sizedmessenger bag. Something that would hold my wallet,phone,water bottle, and a light sweater, a bagthat I could wear across my body on the bike and then the strap could be shortened up to a shoulderbag length to make it more manageable in crowded places. Of course, I wanted to make it. But whenI went hunting for a tutorial online, I didnt find exactly what I wanted. So I sat down with some graphpaper and sketched out a sort of pattern/plan, and just went for it. (Click on the sketches to enlarge.)



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Inspired by my Timbuk2 messenger bags (which I love, but theyre giant), I created a three-panel frontwith a pocket. There is also an interior zipper pocket as well as a set of patch pockets on the insidefront. There is no closure on the front flap, Ive found I havent needed anything and it stays closed onits own, but velcro could easily be added. Heres a better look:

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awarded

Ive made two of these bags for myself so far (one in browns and one in greys, have to have one tomatch any outfit!). I wanted to make one for a friend for Christmas, so I thought Id use theopportunity to photograph all the steps and put together a tutorial, if for no other reason than my ownpersonal future reference. The sketched pattern is great, but I needed to document a sensible orderof construction if Im going to keep making these! I think this bag would make a great gift (obviously,since Im giving this one to someone), or you could sew selfish and use your holiday break to makeone for yourself!

Ive used quilting cotton for all my bags (this one is fabric from the Avalon line by Jay-Cyn Designs forBirch Fabrics, aka Fabricworm (love that store!), but you could use a heavier weight canvas orsomething as well and not need interfacing. I think its a great showcase for your favorite fabric large or small scale print (I sort of fussy cut this one to get the birds in good places), and one, two orthree fabrics (the contrast pockets are fun but not at all necessary).

The finished bag measures 8 inches tall by 11 inches wide by 3 inches deep. It can probably beenlarged by adding, say, 10% to every measurement except the strap (which wouldnt be practicalany wider than 2 inches). But I like the small size its a purse for your bike! Here are some picturesfor scale:

The tutorial can be found after the jump. Ive also made a pdf file of the tutorial to download (here), ifyoud like to save it to your computer. Disclaimer: I am by no means a professional or evenmoderately skilled bag maker. Ive made a bunch of bags from other peoples tutorials and used a lotof those techniques to construct this bag. If youve ever made bags before, most of the steps will befamiliar to you. If you have questions or something is confusing, let me know, or check out other bagtutorials for a different look at the same step. Ive also always thought that patterns and tutorials arespringboards for customization, so make this bag your own! That is why we sew, after all, right?

Small Messenger Bag

Supplies:

main fabric: 3/4 yardlining fabric: 1/3 yard (more if not using contrast for inner pockets)contrast fabric for inner pockets (optional): approx 1/2 yard, depending on pocket size/stylefusible interfacing: 1 1/4 yard heavier weight for exterior and strap and 1 yard lighter weight for



lining (I used Pellon Featherweight Fusible for medium and lightweight fabrics respectively,which makes a moderately floppy bag but with a fairly sturdy flap)two 2 inch metal loops and one 2 inch metal slide for strap (I ordered mine from here)one 7-9 inch zipper for interior pocket (optional)

Start by cutting out your pieces.

From the main fabric, cut:

one 15 by 10.5 inch rectangle for the back of the bagtwo 5.5 by 10.5 inch rectangles andone 6 by 20 inch rectangle(these three narrow pieces willcombine to make the three panel bag front, so make sure that if you have a directional fabricthat the short sides are at the top and bottom)one 12 by 10 inch rectangle for the front flap (the longer side is the top/bottom)one 5 by 40 inch strip for the straptwo 5 by 4 inch rectangles for the strap tabs (to attach the strap to the bag)

From the lining fabric, cut:

two 15 by 10.5 inch rectangles for the bodyone 12 by 10 inch rectangle for the front flap

From the contrast fabric (or the lining or main fabric, if you prefer), cut:

two 10 by 7.5 inch rectangles for the inside front pocketfour 4 by 5 inch rectangles for the patch pockets on the inside front pocket (optional)one 10 by 12 inch rectangle for the interior zipper pocket (optional)or any interior pockets you want instead of or in addition to these

From the heavier weight interfacing, cut:

two 15 by 10.5 inch rectanglesone 12 by 10 inch rectangleone 4 by 40 inch strip (yes, it is one inch narrower than the strap piece, its so theres nointerfacing in the seam allowance)two 4 by 4 inch squares

And from the lighter weight interfacing, cut:

two 15 by 10.5 inch rectanglesone 12 by 10 inch rectangle

(All seam allowances are 1/2 inch)

Assemble the front panel:

Take the 6 by 20 inch piece and make a fold 8 inches from the bottom (wrong sides facing). Make adouble row of topstitching along the fold. Then fold the longer, underneath piece back up so the topedge of the fabric is 2 inches above the fold, creating a pocket (which my chopstick is indicating). Ifyou looked at the fabric from the side, it would be a sort of z shape. The total length of the pocketpanel should now be 10.5 inches.



Lay one of the 5.5 by 10.5 inch rectangles on the pocket panel, right sides facing, and stitch one side.Press open. Repeat with the other panel piece on the other side. Topstitch along the side panelsclose to the pocket panel seam.

Now fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of all your pieces: back panel, your just-constructed frontpanel, flap and strap/tabs (centering the interfacing on the strap pieces so theres a half inch of fabricon each side thats not interfaced), as well as the front, back and flap of the lining.

Make the interior pockets (this is what I did, you can make any assortment of pockets you want):

Put your patch pocket pieces together right sides facing and stitch around them, leaving a gap in thebottom for turning. Clip the corners and turn right side out (poke out the corners with a chopstick orsomething) and press.

Place the small patch pockets on the large pocket and topstitch around the sides and bottom(closing the turning holes as well).



Then place the pocket piece on one of the lining pieces, 1 1/2 inches from the top, and topstitcharound the sides and bottom as well as down the center to create two pockets.

For the internal zipper pocket (if this terrifies you, skip it, or add another patch pocket):

Measure your zipper from stop to stop. Then draw a rectangle on the back of your single pocketpiece one inch from the top that is the length of your zipper + a 1/2 inch long by a 1/2 inch tall (myzipper measured 7 inches, so my rectangle was 7 1/2 inches by a 1/2 inch). Pin the pocket piece toyour other lining piece 1 1/4 inches from the top.



Sew along your line through both layers, using a very short stitch around the corners.Make a slitdown the middle of the rectangle, clipping in a Y shape toward the corners as close to the stitchingas possible.

Turn the pocket to the inside, fanangeling it as best you can to get the pocket fabric to not show onthe right side, and press.

Place the zipper behind the hole you just made, pin, and carefully topstitch all around the zipper closeto the edge. Be careful not to catch the edges of the pocket fabric in the zipper stitching (ask me howI know thats possible)



Now flip it over and fold the pocket piece up, matching the edges, and stitch around the three sides,keeping the lining piece clear. (If youre using a directional fabric, you may want to make the pocketwith the fabric facing upside down, so when you fold it up to make the pocket the back of it is facingright side up. I obviously didnt think of this until I had completed the pocket.)

Sew the body of the bag:

Place the two exterior panels right sides together and sew around the sides and bottom. Flatten oneof the bottom corners out into a triangle, measure 1 3/4 inch down from the point and draw a lineacross (the line should be 3 inches long).

Sew along the line to square off the corner of the bag. Repeat for the other corner. You can trim offthe triangle if you like, or leave it for extra bottom stability (which is what I do).



Turn the exterior right side out and press if necessary.

Repeat for the lining panels, but leave a 4 inch gap in stitching in the bottom for turning the bag rightside out later. Leave the lining with the wrong side out.

Make the bag flap:

Stack your flap piece on your flap lining piece. Use a glass or other round object as a template toround off the bottom corners.

Place your flap pieces together right sides facing and stitch around the sides and bottom. Trim andnotch corners and turn right sides out.



Press and topstitch around the three sides (I imagine your topstitching will be more even than mine!).

Baste the flap to the back of the bag body using a wide zigzag stitch, centering it between the sideseams (it should be 1 1/2 inches from either seam), with right sides facing.

Make the strap:

Press the uninterfaced seam allowances on both sides of the strap and strap tabs in toward centeralong the edge of the interfacing. Then fold the strips in half lengthwise and topstitch along bothsides. (This is my way of avoiding the dreaded long-tube-turn. You can of course fold it right sidestogether, stitch, turn and press before topstitching instead if youd like.) Slide one of the metal loopsonto one of the strap tabs, fold the tab in half raw edges together and baste along the raw edge.Repeat with the other tab and loop.



Thread the strap through the metal slide, fold the end over and topstitch in place. Thread one of theloop/tabs onto the strap from the other end, with the tab on the same side of the strap as the foldedover end.

Now take the still-loose end and thread it through the slide, so the tab is on the outside of the loopmade by the strap.

Flatten out the strap and sew the second loop/tab to the free end, folding under the raw edges andtopstitching as before. I did three lines of stitching, one close to the loop and two at the folded underraw edge, but a box with an x in it also works. Do whatever you like and seems sturdy.



Baste the strap tabs to the sides of the bag, right sides facing and centered over the side seams.

Now place the whole bag exterior inside the bag lining. Tuck the strap and the flap down inside. Lineup the side seams and the raw edges and pin.

Stitch all the way around the top of the bag.



Now pull the bag right side out through the hole you left in the lining. Press as best you can, and tuckthe lining inside the bag.

Topstitch all around the top of the bag.



107 comments

This is so lovely! Thanks so much for the tutorial I have a gf who rides her bike everywhere and was struggling as to what to makeher for Christmas problem solved thanks to you!

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Ashlee said:December 5, 20115:13 pm

And there are so many cute bike fabrics out there too, for the real bike lover If you make one, be sure topost a picture, Id love to see it!

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aleah said:December 7, 20111:00 am

Lovely bag and a great tutorial! Love it! I agree that a purse size messenger bag is fantastic. I have one from LL Bean that I love butwould really like a dressier version. I guess I will make one!!

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Meigan said:December 5, 20119:04 pm

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Slipstitch the hole in the lining closed, and youre finished! Enjoy your messenger bag!

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Once more into the(planning) breach

Sewing to knit At long last, it's a Minoru!

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Oooh, yeah, a dressy version would be fun. Ive been thinking of one in some kind of tweedy fabric, or awool plaid or something!

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aleah said:December 7, 20111:02 am

I love it. Thank you for sharing this tutorial!

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Valerie said:December 6, 201111:56 pm

Thank you so much, I have wanted to make a bag with a flap like this but I am too lazy to be bothered thinking how!!! It is lovely!! Ithink I shall have a squarer one.

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2paw said:December 7, 20115:10 pm

What a great tutorial! I love this bag anfd that you listed where to get the same fabric- too cute!!!

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prttynpnk said:December 15, 20112:49 pm

I just finished making the bag for my sister for her birthday. It turned out fantastic and was lots of fun to make! I ordered extra metalloops and slides to make more bags.Thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial, you didnt leave out a thing. The step by step photos were spot on. Just when I thought Ihad no idea what you were talking about on the strap (placement of the loops and slides) I just looked at the photos, then read theinstructions again and it all fell right into place.You really should charge for this, its a keeper!

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Marie said:January 8, 20125:05 pm

Thanks so much, Im so glad it all made sense! Hope your sister likes her new bag!

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aleah said:January 9, 20127:05 pm

Thank you so much for the tutorial. I just finished my bag and I love it. Will make more in different fabrics after I use this one for awhile to see what I might want to change for the inside pockets

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rainbowscuba said:January 8, 20125:55 pm

I am now the owner of the bag pictured. I love it, it is perfect, and I am utterly deflated because I know Ill never be able to makesomething as perfect ever. YAY! Amazing bag! Perfect! Thank you Aleah!!!!!WOO!KB

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Katherine said:January 28, 20127:23 pm

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Now have to go raid my stash and get started on it!!

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Helen Bunn said:February 18, 20123:03 am

I sew messenger bags, and like you, pulled from a variety of books and tutorials to create my own. This tutorial is really excellent. Iread through it and think it is very well done.I havent sewn a messenger for my Etsy shop in quite a while because I seem to have a short attention span lately..but I am inspiredto get focused enough to sew a messenger bag again!(Dont worrynot copying yours to sew for my shop!)

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Sue said:February 18, 20121:46 pm

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I have no place to get the buckles and such so I have to order that sort of thing and WAIT But I do intend to make this bag, Wouldbe great if I won the same fabric to make it too lol

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Dj Merritt said:February 18, 20125:57 pm

This is beautiful, thanks for sharing your method!!

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brownbirdgreenstring said:February 19, 20128:44 pm

great tutorial! And what a great fabric combo! Thanks!

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eumoronorio said:February 20, 20127:53 am

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been sick for a week and just today felt well enough to be up and doing something,although not so strenuous. I have lots of felted wool sweaters laying around and so I decided to make up a bag with them. I LOVEhow it came out. Would love to send you a picture of it if I knew your email Im not a blogger. I plan to use it for my Bible bag. I SOimpressed myself by installing a zippered pocket along with the patch pockets and also made a slot to hold a few pens and added amagnetic closure. I used a belt for the shoulder strap. All parts of it were repurposed from thrift stores. Thanks again for a wonderfultutorial. I havent sewn for years and it was easy to follow.

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Arlene said:March 19, 20126:18 pm

Im so glad you liked it and it worked for you! I love the idea of a felt version, especially re-purposed felt. Imsure its gorgeous!

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aleah said:March 30, 20122:57 pm

I really like the fabrics youve used, and fab tutorial!

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Amy said:May 5, 20123:34 pm

I want to thank you for this tutorial. I am not sewing savvy but my mother is and she helped me make it. It was so easy that I thinkIm gonna try to make her one now that I have seen the whole process through. I used upholstery fabric and it turned out fabulous.

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Jennifer DuBose said:May 29, 20122:55 pm

This is a great tutorial. So glad I found you on Pinterest because I am having a hard time finding a messenger bag worthy of mymoney.

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Katie Fleming said:June 25, 20126:19 pm

Love this and wish I had the patience, skills, and time to make it! Any chance you are selling them?

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brandy said:June 28, 201211:40 pm

Uufortunately Im not selling them (I barely have time to sew for myself right now!) If that ever changes Illabsolutely let everyone know In the meantime, give it a try! Youd be amazed at what you can make, Im sure!

aleah said:July 1, 20125:09 pm

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Sorry if this has already been said and shot down, but have you/would you consider doing a video? I suck at directions before I justlike to jump right in!

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Renee said:July 5, 20128:58 pm

Also, what kind of fabric would you recommend?

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Renee said:July 5, 20129:01 pm

I just made this for my granddaughter. I had a test of an embroidery design that was just too cute to leave in a binder. I used theembroidery design on the front flap with borders around the design. She loves the bag, and now her mommy wants me to share thelove and make one for her, too. This design has just the right features and the right size. Your instructions were easy to follow. Soglad I found your blog.

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Diane Jacobs said:July 8, 201210:50 am

This is an AWESOME bag and such a detailed, easy to follow tutorial!!! I love the shape, the fabric, all the pockets. Thanks for linkingup @Threading My Way

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Pam said:July 16, 20123:47 am

I just finished my second of this perfect perfect bag! Thank you so much for the tutorial. Your instructions were spot on, and theyturned out to quite possibly be the nicest things Ive ever made. I made the first one exactly to your specifications, using outdoorupholstery fabric for the outside and flap, and cloth napkins I found on clearance at Target for the lining and pockets. Its SO cute!But I found it to be a bit too small for my needs, so I set out to make a bigger one. After struggling to find fabric that I really love (Ivea shortage of good fabric stores in my neighborhood), I stumbled upon a beautiful table runner at Target (notice a pattern?). Theends were beautifull embroidered with a great pattern, and it turned out to be the perfect width for the flap on my bigger bag. Iadjusted the measurements accordingly, found some more napkins (that matched perfectly, of course), and went to town. It turnedout even more beautiful than I couldve imagined (and I was able to leave out several steps, because the table runner was alreadylined with nice stiff interfacing, and the edges were finished for me. Here is a link to photos of both bags.https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4227982500431.2177084.1311376932&type=3&l=166170d84f

Thanks again for this perfect tutorial. I cannot wait to make more!

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Melanie Lamberson said:July 19, 20126:58 am

Hi Aleah, Ive featured your messenger bag todayhttp://threadingmyway.blogspot.com/2012/07/threading-your-way-features_20.html

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Pam said:July 20, 20121:31 am

Thank you sooo much for this tute! I have been on the warpath for a small purse size messenger bag that suited all my criteria. I ammaking one from some awesome Star Wars fabric from Fabricworm. I actually live 30 miles from their retail location and they haveso much more there than they do online! Even if I go there just to browse I leave with a min. of $50 goodies everytime!

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goofydes said:July 20, 20122:40 pm

Im going to start with the tutorial as is for my first bag. But I thought Id try a larger version for work as well. LOVE this bag an thetutorial is so easy to follow thanks so much!!

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Katie J. said:August 3, 20126:37 pm

hi, i love you bag tutorial its exactly what i have been looking for!! i just had one question, if anyone know please let me know, whenyou get the bag exterior and lining ready to put together, and you put the exterior bag into the lining to get ready to sew around thetop, how do you know which way it needs to face so that your pockets on the inside are on the front and the zipper is to the back ofthe inside? or which way do you line it up exactly so there matched up right, do you put the outside front pocket to the insidepockets or towards the zipper so when you flip it inside out the pockets are where they need to be or does it matter??? Please letme know i cant wait to make one, your tutorial is the easiest one i have found to make a cross body bag and that is decent size to fitmagazine in yet small enough for a purse unlike all the huge cross body bags out there!!

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Toshua J. said:August 24, 201211:56 am

Toshua J. said:August 24, 201212:02 pm



haha i figured it out took my brain a minute to see how it was done, but thanks again anyway, im a camo nut so i can wait to makeone of these in my camo farbric, yeah!!!

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Glad you got it yep, inside pockets facing outside pockets makes the zipper be on the body side of thebag (how I like it also). I always have a hard time wrapping my head around how inside-out things will bewhen they get right-side-outed too!

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aleah said:August 24, 20124:50 pm

Thank you for developing this pattern and sharing it on Word Press. It is an excellent pattern and pictures are very helpful. The bagis easy to make/ Phyllis/10/18/12

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phyllis said:October 18, 20128:18 am

Great tutorial.. ! Nice pattern.

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Jabali Bags said:November 5, 20123:43 am

I have been looking for a messenger bag pattern for months now & found yours. It is exactly what Im looking for except I would liketo add insulated pockets to the outside ends for water bottles. I am a beginner, so Im not quite sure where to add them at. Any helpwill be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

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Brandy said:November 18, 20129:35 am

Thank you for your tutorial, Ive never made a bag before but you made it so easy to follow! I made this bag for my little nephew andhe takes it everywhere : ) http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewumm/6729995139/in/set-72157629409709946

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Lisa said:November 27, 20128:54 am

Awesome tutorial

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Mary Cardona said:December 11, 20123:02 pm

Like all the others I would like to thank you for this excellent tutorial. I have been wanting to make a messenger bag for ages butnever really had the courage. Now after reading your tutorial I realize I can manage! Your tutorial is so very good and has such goodphotos which I really understand that I know I will start on a bag in the new year. Thank you so very much for sharing I am reallyhappy to have found you! Greetings from Germany

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Claudia said:December 19, 201212:52 am

I had your bag pinned for a long time. Finally, last weekend I found time and an excuse to sew it.If you want to take a look http://www.flickr.com/photos/75890037@N05/8361144671/in/photostream

thanks for your tutorial, it was very helful

Regards from Spain!

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eva said:January 8, 201310:54 am

Im excited to start this bag tomorrow, but I have a few questions: I ended up getting heavyweight interfacing at the fabric store, butreading through the directions Im wondering if its too heavyweight to pull inside out after you sew along the top of the bag. Wasthis a problem for you? Do I need to use lightweight interfacing? How big and where on the bag do you leave the hole to pull it allthrough, Im too new of a sewer to trust myself to figure it out.

Thanks for posting this pattern, Im very excited to try it out.

cierrashaeCierra said:February 4, 20131:24 am

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Well, as long as you didnt get the super-stiff Peltex stuff, you should be okay. Can you smush theinterfacing without too much resistance? Even if its pretty stiff, just leave a bigger hole in the lining (I leavemy hole in the bottom seam of the bag lining). You could leave as big as a 6 inch hole, and that should beplenty big to pull it through, it just means more handstitching later to close it up

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aleah said:February 4, 20131:32 am

I just finished a bag from your design, and it turned out wonderfully! Ive been sewing bags for a while, but rarely do I attemptsomething quite so complex, so your tutorial was indispensible.I made my bag a touch bigger, as I plan to use it as a diaper bag, and it really turned out well following your directions. So yet again,thank you! Awesome tutorial!

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Tabitha W at EpicycleDesigns said:February 7, 201311:37 am

Im just about to start making this bag; Im super excited. One question did you pre-wash your fabric? I have 100% cottonquilting fabric. What do you think?

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Laura said:February 15, 20133:11 pm

You know, I didnt prewash, but then I dont plan on washing my bags either. If you want a washable bag,you should wash your fabric first, since its likely to shrink.Good luck and let me know how it turns out!

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aleah said:February 15, 20135:43 pm

Thanks for responding! I am still working on the bag; I did decide to pre-wash I have little kids and can just see having it washable as a good thing.

Ill post pics when its done!

Laura said:February 19, 201312:15 pm

Thanks for the great tutorial! I made myself a bag today and I love it, and I also feel more able to design my own. Thank you, thankyou, thank you!

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Kristi said:February 23, 20136:21 pm

This is such a great tutorial to refer back to. I just used it to make another bag this time with fake fur and monster eyes!Lisa said:February 26, 20135:33 am



Thank you!

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I just finished making the bag and would love to send you a picture

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merav said:February 26, 20133:30 pm

Loved this tutorial! Thanks so much for posting. I found this on Pinterest and decided it was perfect for the project I was envisioning.I finished just last night! Check it out here: http://toocutesewclever.blogspot.com/2013/03/scrappy-messenger-bag.html

Thanks again!

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Caroline M. said:March 4, 20138:04 am

Thank you and thank you. I love your tutorial! You are so talented. Made tons of mistakes but I believe the second one would bebetter.

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machen said:March 15, 20139:54 pm

Hello,This is so cute. Do you sell them?I love it but can not sew for anything in the world.Thank you,Lisa

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Lisa Dollahite said:April 7, 20137:28 pm

Thanks! I dont currently sell the bags (I barely have time to sew for myself!), but if I do start making them tosell Ill for sure post it here!

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aleah said:April 7, 201310:56 pm



Just made one of these, turned out great! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

For other newbie sewers: Bear in mind that if you use a very thick fabric (I made my exterior out of canvas) youll lose some lengthon folds. When you cut that 620 piece for the front center panel make sure to add 1-2 inches to the length, then cut it to perfectsize after you press all the folds. Mine wound up a full inch too short and I had to start over. Your strap will shrink a little too; it wasplenty long enough for me, but you might want to add a few inches there too, if youre worried about it.

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Megan said:April 24, 20138:48 am

Great tips about thick fabric thanks! Glad you like the tutorial!

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aleah said:April 24, 201312:08 pm

Thank you for a great tutorial!

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laurie f said:May 9, 201311:29 am

Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteersand starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche.Your blog provided us useful information to work on.You have done a outstanding job!

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Timmy said:July 17, 20138:43 am

Just finished one! Used some old bistro aprons from an old job for the exterior and some bright colors for the inside. I love it! Thankyou for posting!

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Beth Joy said:July 30, 20134:53 pm

this is the best tutorial I have seen sofarfab! and it is my project for the daycant wait to go fabric shopping for this beauty!

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Tonia Smith said:August 11, 20132:03 pm

Hi Aleah have been trolling the internet for months looking for a simple but veratile messenger bag. This looks great almostbought a Timbuk2 bag when I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago. Glad I saved my money! Thanks

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Deborah Deal said:August 28, 20138:15 am

I am working on this bag, and have never done zippers before. I am a little confused about the zipper pocket. I pin and stitch it tothe right side of the liner fabric? How do I get the pocket to the back of the liner fabric then? There will be pocket fabric on the rightside of the liner then, no? Am I making any sense? lol

Sara

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Sara K said:October 7, 20135:50 pm

So you sew the pocket to the right side of the lining, then you cut a slit through both layers inside therectangle of stitching you just made and pull the pocket through to the wrong side of the lining. Scary, Iknow, but thats what you have to do! If its still confusing, there are lots of other great zipper pockettutorials out there that might phrase things a little differently and have different pictures google insidezipper pocket and see what comes up! Good luck!

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aleah said:October 7, 20136:11 pm

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I remember the first time I did a pocket of this type I did not understand either! With the pocket right side to the bag, you stitch arectangle, which will become the window the zipper front peeks through. After stitching that rectangle, you carefully cut a linedown the center the length ALMOST of the rectangle (you need to angle up from the slit to each corner, so dont cut the line thewhole length of the rectangle)..then the pocket fabric can be pushed through that slit. Do Google it though so you can see it beforedoing it!

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sue said:October 7, 20137:22 pm

Just finished my bag, love it going to make another.

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Tammy said:November 25, 201310:48 pm

lovely lovely lovely my next project

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Suryaprabha said:November 26, 20131:03 am

Super, merci, dommage pour moi que les explications ne soient pas en francais..

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Bricoles said:January 29, 201412:28 am

Just finished this. Its a fantastic bag, and this tutorial is top notch!

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Ilene said:March 24, 20145:43 pm

Such a fantastic tutorial! Not only was this the cutest bag design I could find online, but it was also one of the very few free ones andcertainly had the easiest-to-follow instructions. I increased all the measurements (except the strap and tabs) by 50% and addedsome extra inside pockets, and I ended up with a great airplane carry-on bag! Thank you SO much. I am new to sewing and this wasexactly what I needed to get me excited about it

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Shelby said:May 7, 201412:02 pm

Im glad it worked well for you! Have fun starting your sewing adventures Ill warn you now, its just a shorthop from making bags to making clothes (I speak from experience)

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aleah said:May 7, 20146:23 pm

Thanks! I found two matching large of home decor weight and this is the perfect project

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Katherine said:June 20, 20146:43 am

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Thank you so much! I made it and it turned out great. I swapped Peltex for the exterior interfacing, which made it stiffer. I also usedPeltex for the strap as I am rather hard on them. You did a great job making the pattern!!

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Sonya Joy said:July 26, 20145:50 pm

About to make the bag for my 9-year old daughter (from some thrift store turquoise suede), but I keep getting distracted by thedress youre wearing in the photos! Did you make it? Have a blog post about it? Thanks!

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Genevieve said:September 14, 201412:23 pm

Ha, actually I didnt make it, its one of the few RTW dresses I still wear because I love it! It was from OldNavy several years ago. I did try to knock it off a while ago:https://notimetosew.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/wool-jersey-dress-duo-mccalls-5468-and-vogue-1224/

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aleah said:September 14, 201410:46 pm

Hi! Im in the middle of making this amazing bag and Im a bit stuck on the interior zip pocket. How do I get the pocket piece to fitthrough that little rectangle so it can go to the back of the lining? That might not make sense.well if you can explain it a bit clearer,Id be really grateful! Im only 13 and often find tutorials a bit confusing!

I thought I might as well tell you about my bag! Im combining three tutorials you see! Im actually using a different tutorial for theactual bag. Ive used another tutorial to add a big bow at the front for decoration, and Im using your tutorial to make interiorpockets. In the end, Im hoping for a cross-body hipster, thats kept closed by a zip (so no flap). I was going to follow your tutorialcompletely, but I find lots of top-stitching a bit daunting! Otherwise, I think its a great tutorial, with clever ideas, for an incrediblyuseful bag!

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Sobia said:October 16, 201410:04 am

oh yeah, I forgot to mention. Ive not started sewing the zip pocket yet, Ive not even cut out the pocketpiece. I will once I get your reply. Thanks

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Sobia said:October 16, 20142:07 pm

Zip pockets are the most complicated pockets! Its one of those sewing things that will make sense once you start, but its hard tovisualize before you try it. Once you sew the rectangle that will be the window for the zipper, you slice a line through the middle ofthe rectangle, through both pieces of fabric, clipping into the corners (making little sideways Ys), then you push your pocket liningpiece through that hole you cut. I think itll make sense once you start, but if youre still confused, check out other tutorials for morepictures (theres lots of others out there).Your bag sounds cool, good luck!(PS, I find topstitching daunting too.)

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aleah said:October 16, 20149:48 pm

Thank you for this pattern and tutorial. I made the bags today for my granddaughters (9 years and 11 years)for Christmas. They bothhave iPads that will fit perfectly in these messenger bags.

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Suzanne said:December 2, 20145:21 pm

so fantastic! Thank you for sharing all your hard work, pinning this for future reference

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Sharlyn said:December 4, 201411:24 am

LOVE this bag! I made one a couple months ago. This is by far the most advanced project Ive done (baby steps) and it turned outfantastic! The tutorial is amazing. Much better than many you find out there. Many, many thanks for sharing this fabulous pattern.

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Casey said:January 26, 201511:45 am

Im looking to order the hardware from the link that you provided but I have 2 questionsdid you use the rounded metal loops ornot? And did you use the cast flat, flat or rounded metal slides? Thanks. Cant wait to do this one for my daughter. Im also going totry to increase the size a bit.

Peggy said:February 3, 20157:29 pm

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Hmmm, its been a while since Ive ordered from them, maybe the selections have changed? I think I usedrounded everything. But just get what seems right to you and is the look you want!

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aleah said:February 9, 201512:05 pm

Thanks so much for this design and well written tutorial. I added an inch to the bag body measurements and added about 18 moreinches to the strap length for a better cross-body fit. My hardware came from strapworks.com

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Amy said:March 10, 20159:57 pm

Are you metal loops and slides the flat or rounded? Trying to order now but cant quite tell which ones to get. Thanks!

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Bunny Wilson said:April 20, 20156:42 am

The ones I used are rounded, but get whichever kind you prefer, it doesnt matter!

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aleah said:April 20, 20159:14 am

Someone may have asked this, but is it ok to sell bags made using this tutorial on an Etsy shop as long as you get credit for design?Thanks

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Kim said:April 30, 201510:06 am

Yes, you can sell bags you make from this tutorial, provided you give credit and with the understanding thatI could retract permission if I ever decide to make and sell them myself. Good luck!

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aleah said:May 3, 20159:34 am

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