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)

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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.



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.



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).





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



Cut excess off.



Do this for both corners on interior and exterior fabrics.

Press what seams you can.



This is what the corners will look like now:


Parts 3, 4 & 5 can be found here

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