Anna's Art Class: Making an Over the Shoulder Messenger Bag

Welcome Class! Please be seated! Today we have the very first installment of Anna’s Art Class.

     I am going to teach you guys how to make a messenger bag. Last year at a convention, I cosplayed for the first time. I wanted to be the spitting image of the character and for that to be done, I needed a pink messenger bag. There was no way I was going to dish out a bunch of money for a bag I was only going to use for a few days. I decided the best way was to make the bag myself, so through trial and error I present to you my revised instructions on how to make your very own over the shoulder messenger bag!

What you need:

• Fabric (I used a T-Shirt but if you’re looking for a sturdier everyday bag, I would suggest using something like canvas or a thicker fabric. Just make sure that you can put a needle and thread through it)
•  A needle and some thread (The thread can be any color, because you will be sewing it from the inside)
• Thick rope (I used thick yarn. If you are looking for a more durable bag that can withstand some weight, I would use rope.)
• Duct tape (The color that you want the inside of the bag to be)
• Scissors
• Chalk (Optional. This helps mark  the measurements on the fabric and can come off easily)
• Fabric Paint/Markers/Spray (Optional. You can decorate your bag anyway you choose)

Note: The bag I made withstood three days of nonstop use at a convention. The bag I am going to teach you how to make is flat and not a bag that will stand up if placed down.

If you’re using a T-shirt, note that the bag will probably not be able to withstand as much weight as a thicker fabric.

Step One: You are going to be cutting out three pieces of fabric. The first two pieces should be of equal length. These are going to be your front and back of the bag, so make it as big as you want the bag to be. Leave a little extra fabric that you pull in when you’re ready to start sewing. The third piece you are going to cut out should be smaller than the other two. Line it up against one of the other pieces, it should be of equal width (from left to right) but shorter length. This is going to be the flap, so the length depends on how much you want the opening of the bag to be covered. I made it a little less than half the length of the original piece.

Step Two: Choose one of the two pieces of equally cut fabric. This is going to be the back of the bag (For this purpose we’ll call it back fabric). You should fold the flap over the top of the back fabric so that you can preview how the bag will open and close. You are going to sew the back side of the folded over flap around the bottom, and up the two sides for the cleanest seams.

Step Three: Once that is done, lay the cut pieces flat on the work surface. You are going to cover one side of each completely in duct tape, leaving a small border bare so that you can sew them together (except for the flap which is already sewn on). Also, make sure to leave some empty space on the top left and right corners of the back fabric. The duct tape is what makes the bag sturdy. When the bag is complete, the duct tape will be the inside of the bag. Therefore, choose whatever color you want for the inside of the bag.

Step Four: You will start sewing the two bare sides of the bag together. Make sure that the two duct taped sides are facing outwards (be mindful of the flap that you attached in step three, you do not want to mess up those seams). When you have sewed those, flip the bag inside out and you should have a messenger bag without straps.

Step Five: Take the string and measure it to the size strap you would use. Then, take two other strings (cut to equal sizes) and braid it with the first string. The braid ensures a strong strap that will hold the weight of your items. If you desire, you can sew left over fabric around the braid. I used hot glue which was equally as effective. Recall the space that you left in the upper corners of your bag. Cut out a single hole in each space. The size of the hole will depend on the size of the braid. Slide the braid into the hole and tie it in a sturdy knot.

Step Six (Optional):  At this point your bag should be completed. If you want to add your own personal touch, you can add a logo, your name or even a quote. I made my bag solely for a costume, therefore my design is in felt. Felt will probably peel off in the long run so avoid it if you’re going to use your bag more than once. You cannot iron anything on because of the duct tape, so if you must have a design ironed on, do so before you tape up the bag. You can decorate your heart out with fabric paint, spray paint and markers. I suggest looking online for templates if you want a professional looking design.  You can design the bag however you want. Some ideas for decorating the bag are:

· The first letter of your name. Use templates for a cleaner design.

· A logo of your favorite show or movie. Make sure it can easily be drawn.

· Vines, hearts or stars that can be lined around the bag like a border.

· Animal Print

· Checkers/Stripes

Here is my completed bag:

                                          

I hope you enjoyed making your bag! Class is now over. If you want to “enroll” in my art class, you can follow this blog (on the right) to be the first to find out when new lessons are out. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!