How to Make a Messenger Bag. Patchwork Square Messenger Bag | Simple Bag Made from Scrap Fabric.
First you get to bust your scrap stash a little. Pick out your favorites and brightest colors.
Iron everything flat and cut out squares… mine measure 3 ½ by 3 ½
I always go crazy and cut out way more then I need. I actually used 64 squares.
This is my favorite part!! You get to arrange the squares in a pleasing pattern (or non-pattern). Mine are meant to be random, but I do want to disperse the colors evenly. I tried to blues and blues away from each other and such.
Flip all of the squares over and arrange them very close to each other. Iron on a layer of fusible interfacing to the backs of the squares.
Cut the squares apart.
Start sewing the squares together in rows. I always sew a straight stitch and then a zigzag close to the edge when doing the patchwork section.
When you have two rows, press them flat and then pin them together. Make sure your seams match up. Sew a straight seam to attach them and then another zigzag to secure them. Keep going until you have a large rectangle. Mine is four squares by five squares. It measures about 12 by 14 ½ inches.
Repeat this whole process until you have three patchwork rectangles.
Now you get to cut out the sides and lining pieces.
Black fabric.
Large rectangles x 3 12x14 ½ inches
Long rectangles x 2 3x14 ½ inches
Short rectangles x 4 3x 12 inches
Fuse interfacing to each of these pieces.
I also use a heavier sew-in interfacing that gets attached to the lining.
Cut these pieces out of heavier interfacing.
Large rectangles x 3 12x14 ½ inches
Long rectangles x 1 3x14 ½ inches
Short rectangles x 2 3x 12 inches
Cut out more black fabric for the strap.
7 ½ by 42 inches
Fuse interfacing to the back of this fabric
Fold the edges into the middle and press.
Fold the whole thing over again and press.
Topstitch close to both sides.
Set strap off to the side.
Assemble the pocket..
Put together four of the scrap squares using the same technique as in the beginning.
Cut out a black rectangle the same shape as the patchwork square
Stack these together with right sides facing each other.
Sew around, but leave an opening at the bottom to turn it inside out.
Flip it inside out and use a chopstick to pop out the corners.
Grab one of the large black rectangles. Place the square where you want the pocket to be and pin it down. Stitch around the pocket… you will catch the turning opening in the seam.
Time to start assembling the lining.
When I attach the lining pieces, I layer the heavier interfacing with the lining as put it together. I sew it together all at once. You can see in the picture, the white stuff is the interfacing.
I started with attaching the bottom (longer rectangle) to one of the large lining rectangles.
Leave an opening about five inches long on this piece (for turning later).(I don’t zigzag the lining pieces. I think I can get by with out it. I do however zigzag the outside pieces just in case.)
Attach the sides in the same fashion.
Sew the bottom of the side pieces to the bottom piece.
Pin the other large rectangle to the rest of the lining. Sew the bottom and sides to the rest of the lining.
Time to get nuts. This part is pretty cool.
Look at your three patchwork pieces and pic out your favorite. This one is going to be the turned into the flap.
Fold the patchwork rectangle in half and cut out a curve like this.
Lay the piece on top of your left over large black rectangle and interfacing.
Cut those pieces to match the patchwork piece.
Attach a piece of nylon webbing about 6 inches long to the center of the lining part of the flap about three inches away from the edge. Flip up the lose end of the webbing and pin it out of the way.
Now it is time to start applying the scary bias tape. I absolutely love the look of bias tape binding, but have a hell of a time getting it on there and not looking like crap. I bought one of these handy dandy feet for my machine off of ebay. I just did a search for bias foot and 22 items like this showed up. It takes me less than ten minutes to take care of edging like this. I love this foot!!! With a regular foot, this would have taken me an hour to get it to look right. I am completely anal about this stuff.
So anyway, the bias tape goes around the sides and bottom of the flap. The top stays raw.
Assemble the outer part of the bag the same way you did the lining.
The only difference is instead of leaving a hole for turning, you need to pin a six-inch length of nylon webbing to the front and center. Here you see a little of the tail hanging out where it has been sewn into the seam.
Pin the straps and the flap to the outer part of the bag and stitch those down.
Grab the lining section and flip it right side out. Put it inside of the outer section, line everything up, pin all the way around, and then finally sew around the entire opening of the bag. Pull the lining outside and this is what you have.
Flip the entire thing inside out through the hole you left in the lining.
Pin that hole closed and stitch it down. (I add my tag at this stage)
Use the nylon straps to attach whatever closure apparatus you want. I used one of those plastic buckles. Just thread it through, pull it back behind itself and sew it down to make a loop. I did this on both sides. Click it together and you are finally finished.
Here is what mine looks like on the inside.
Heres the glory shot.
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