Kid's Messenger Bag

          I made this messenger bag for my son last summer before our family summer trip. Every time we're going out he  loves having his bag around his shoulder with a few toys inside.

          This is my second messenger bag I made for him. The first one was two years ago, it was smaller and he needed something a little bit bigger, so I decided to make another one for him.  

          Now, I've finally got around to sharing the pattern and show you how I made it.

          First, decide what kind of fabric you are going to use. I used a medium weight fabric for the outside and lining. You can make the bag with or without interfacing. So, the interfacing is an optional.

Ok, let get started! :)

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Materials you will need:

• Fabrics (Outer and Lining)
  
• Iron-on-Interfacing (optional)
• 1" Tri-Glides Slides
• 1" Rectangle Ring
• 3" Velcro

• Rotary cuter, Ruler, and Rotary Mat 
  
• Pins
  
• Scissors
  
• Sewing Machine

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Cut all the fabric pieces, and here's the measurements that I used:
(I used 1/2" seam allowance on this project).

Two 10" x 13" pieces for outside of the bag
Two 10" x 13" pieces for the bag lining
Two 10" x 13" pieces of Interfacing

One 8" x 12" piece for the flap
One 8" x 12" piece for the flap lining
One 8" x 12" piece of Interfacing

One 8" x 11" piece for the pocket inside the bag

One 4" x 34" piece for the strap
One 4" x 3" piece for the strap

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Get your outer fabric, lining fabric, and Interfacing (10" x 13").

Then, cut the two corners at the bottom by 2" x  2".

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Iron your iron-on-interfacing to the outer fabrics on the wrong side, then face the right sides of the outer fabrics together.

Pin them together and stitch the two sides and the bottom.

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Now, open the two corners on the bottom and match the side seams, pin and stitch across.

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Turned inside out, you should have something that looks like this.

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(The pictures above are my pocket measurements 10" x 11", but I reduced to 8" x 11"  because it was too big for the bag).

Ok, for the pocket (8" x 11"): Fold in half, pin and stitch the sides and bottom, but leave at least a 3" gap so you can turn it inside out. 

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Turn inside out and press. Attach the pocket to one of the pieces of lining, pin and stitch the sides, bottom, and the middle to create two pockets.

You can put as many pocket as you want, but for my son he just needs two.

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Get the two lining fabrics, right face together. Pin and stitch the two sides and bottom but leave at least a 4" gap so you can turn it inside out later.

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Just like you did for the outer bag, match the side seams, pin and stitch across on both corners.

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It should have something that looks like this. Do not turn inside out.

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For the strap: 
Grab the  4" x 34" strip of fabric.
Fold over the rectangle lengthwise in half and press.

Unfold. Bring each of the raw edges toward the middle and iron again.



Then again, fold in half and press.



Top stitch.

Also, do the same thing for the 4" x 3" rectangle.

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Assembling the Rectangle Ring and Tri-Glides Slide to the straps

Get your 3" strap and the rectangle ring.
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​Center loop with ring inside.
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Get your 34" strap and the Tri-Glider Slide.

Take the end of the strap and loop through the center of your slider.
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Tuck the end at least half an inch on itself.

​Stitch to secure.
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Take the other end of the strap and thread it through the ring.
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Then, loop it back over the other side of the slider and pull.

Loop it up and in one end of the slider.
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It should look like the third picture.
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Attach the straps into the sides of the bag, pin and sew 1/4" seam to secure, and make sure the strap is not twisted.

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Also, make sure the Tri-Glides Slider is facing into the bag.

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I forgot to attached my Velcro before assembling my outer bag. :(

So to avoid the hassle, make sure to attach the half of the Velcro first, then assembling the outer bag.

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Find the middle of the outer bag and  the Velcro. From the top of the bag measure 5.5" and position your Velcro, pin and stitch the Velcro to secure.

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For the flap (8" x 12"), use any round object as a template to round off the bottom corners. Iron your iron-on-interfacing into the lining.

Find the middle of the flap, near the bottom. One-inch from the bottom of the flap position the Velcro. 

Place your flap pieces together right sides facing each other.

Pin and stitch the sides and the bottom.

Snip the curves so you get a nice curve when it's right side out. Be careful not to snip your stitch.

Turn right side out and top stitch.

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Pin the flap to the outer bag right side together and stitch 1/4" to secure.

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Get the outer side and the bag lining.
The outer bag right side out and the lining inside out.

Insert the outer bag inside the lining bag, right faces together.

Line up the side seams and pin all the way around the raw edge and stitch.

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Turn the bag right side out through the hole you left in the lining.

Once the bag is pulled out, stitch the hole in the lining close. Tuck the lining inside the bag.

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Pin and top stitch all around the top of the bag.

It should be looks like this.

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You are done!

I think this is a great gift to someone special that loves handmade stuff or just make it for yourself.

I'm glad you stopped by, and I hope you guys like this tutorial.

Happy sewing!