Messenger Bag

I have a list of sewing/crafting projects that I want to get done, and for awhile this 2-in-1 Bag has been in mind. I have no need of the straps being able to attach to a stroller, but I thought it was a great idea and decided to include them anyway. I combined 2-in-1 Bag tutorial with ideas from a messenger bag from Sew What! Bags to get…

Without meaning to, I chose fabrics similar to the tutorial (I had seen this months before choosing my fabrics). I did use a home decor fabric for the outside so it was nice and sturdy. The lining is quilting cotton.

I cut the bag, front flap, straps, and lining based on the 2-in-1 bag. But when I tested the bag with a binder in it, I felt the bag needed to be a little taller so I could use it for school. So I cut another 3-in strip to attach to the top (once the seams were done, the flaps were 14 1/2″ x 22″). I used a piece of the lining so it looked more intentional (and I was nearly out of the front fabric!).

I also added… Pockets! I love to have pockets to store things in. Choosing the size of the pockets was just eyeballing what size looked good.

Pocket 1 (attached to the back of the bag):   Cut a rectangle of fabric. On one end, press 1/2″ and then another 1/2″. Sew. Then fold the pocket almost in half, right sides together. Leave at least 3/4″ at the top. Sew the side seams. Turn right side out and attach to the lining of the bag (I added it to the seam when I attached the extra 3″).

Pocket 2 (attached to the front of the bag):  Cut a rectangle of fabric. Around each of the sides, press 1/4″ and then another 1/4″. Sew. Pin to the front of your bag and sew around the 2 sides and bottom. I also stitched from the bottom to top about 5″ from each side to create mini-pockets.

Here’s where the unintentional variations started… As in, oops I messed  up 🙂

1.  I spaced and sewed both sides of straps the same way so I didn’t have the extra length on the strap. That ended up being okay, because that long strap is plenty long and the two shorts straps will still work.

2.  With the shorts straps, I decided to have them snap onto the main part of the bag so they didn’t flop around. But this was my first time with attaching snaps and I did the first one backwards. And those suckers don’t come off! So now the short straps have to get folded over a little to attach.

See on the right side how the strap has to fold down to attach to the snap hole? Oops.

Overall… very cute and perfect for my trip to Chicago!