diy kids messenger bag

This is a relatively straight forward wee bag that looks great when it’s finished and is perfect for kids to carry round all their bits and bobs!! Check out some other bags I’ve made for my girls, a little upcycled one here and one they can make for themselves here.

We got the two zipper panels sewn up here and now we’re ready to go!!

I’ve laid out all the pieces below. Once we’ve got everything ready then it’s a matter of sewing the outer fabric together and then the lining fabric together and finally sewing them together. Sound easy? It’s not actually too bad…a little fiddly in parts but completely doable!

Here’s what you should have:

* 2 main front pieces (one with the zipper pocket you made here and one lining) 10.5 x 9 inches
* 2 back pieces (outer fabric and lining) 10.5 x 9 inches
* 1 complete piece with top (green) zip 10.5 x 2.5 inches
* 2 pieces for the front flap (outer fabric and lining) 10.5 x 7 inches
* 2 pieces for the long strip (outer fabric and lining) 31.5 x 2.5 inches
* length of webbing for strap (not pictured) 34 inches

// Before we start assembling the inner and outer parts we have to get the flap ready. Using a round shape as a template (a glass or anything a similar size would do), set it at the corner of your flap pice and draw a curved edge. Repeat this on the other side. Cut along these curves.

// Placing right sides together sew around the bottom edges (leaving the top edge open – this will be sewn into the main bag).

// Snip around the curved edges before you turn.

// Turn and press.

// Top stitch around the edge of the flap to give a finished look.

// Lay your long strip of fabric around the edges of your front piece and pin. (I cut the strip in half and stitched it back in place in the middle…I wanted to change the direction of the strawberries so they were facing the right way up on both sides of the bag. If you’ve plain fabric, just ignore this). Trim any excess.

// Stitch right the way around the edge, manoeuvring the corners as you go…I stitched right to the end, lifted my machine foot, repositioned and sewed the next direction.

// Do the same for the back piece and you should end up with something that looks like the picture above!

// Now do the same for the lining pieces so you have two casings looking pretty much identical.

Now for the tricky bit…

// Lay the front flap panel inside the outer casing. Make sure it is right sides together with the back piece. Pin in place. 

// Also, place the strip of webbing for the handle, inside the outer bag casing and pin to the top edge of each side…you can just see the ends peeking out above. Make sure the webbing is flat and doesn’t twist between the two sides.

Note: I trimmed the webbing straps to keep them looking tidy here but I had to go back and redo them as each end started to slip out as my wee one used the bag. In future I would loop these and stitch each end down down on itself so they can’t slip out.

// Pin the top zipper panel to the complete casing with the right side facing down. Remember to leave the zip open so you are able to turn it the right when round when you’re done!! Sew around this whole edge. I did a zigzag stitch around the edge as well to give it a bit of extra strength.

// Place the outer fabric case inside the lining case and pin in place. This is a little fiddly but just keep going as you sew right the way around this edge. I also did the zigzag stitch around the edge again here.

You’re nearly done…

// Turn the bag through the zip opening and push into all the corners to give a nice firm edge. Very lightly press the finished bag.