Simple Messenger Bag - Parts 1 & 2

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Supplies:


2/3 yard of 60" wide fabric for exterior
2/3 yard of 60" wide fabric for interior

OR

1 yard of 44" wide fabric for exterior
1 yard of 44" wide fabric for interior

Thread to match

If you want to use a lighter weight fabric, be sure to match it with a heavier weight. Two light weights won't be substantial enough without interfacing. Two heavyweight fabrics will be tough on your machine (but not impossible).

Part One: Cut Your Fabric!

We'll need from each fabric:
two cuts of 15" (tall) x 18" (wide)
one cut of 13" (tall) x 15" (wide)
one 3" wide strip across the entire length of the fabric (we'll cut this down later)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1372.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1384.jpg

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Part Two: Boxing

With the exterior fabric, take the two cuts of 15"x18" and sew around three sides (15 - 18 - 15). Seam allowance should be 1/4" to 3/8", just be consistent. Be sure to secure the beginning and end by sewing back & forth a few times.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1373.jpg

With the interior fabric, take the two cuts of 15"x18" and sew around three sides (15 - 18 - 15) BUT leave a hole around 3" wide in the middle of the 18" length to turn the bag.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1374.jpg

Press both pieces FLAT.

Pinch the corner and put seams together. Flatten out the corner on a grid and draw a diagonal line (My grid is 0.5", so measure your diagonal at 2" on each side).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1375.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1376.jpg

Pin to keep in place, then take to sewing machine and sew along the line.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1377.jpg

Cut excess off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1378.jpg

Do this for both corners on interior and exterior fabrics.

Press what seams you can.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1379.jpg

This is what the corners will look like now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/fw221/Bag%20Tutorial/IMG_1380.jpg

Parts 3, 4 & 5 can be found here (http://www.sewingmamas.com/b/showthread.php?p=186 6335#post1866335)

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Comments, suggestions, questions? Post 'em here! PM me if I don't respond within 24 hours. :wink: