The Multitasking Messenger Bag

Sew a stylish and functional bag that’s perfect for work, school, traveling and more – no quilting required!

Follow along with expert designer Annie Unrein as she guides you to sew a comfortable messenger bag complete with pockets — including a mesh one for your laptop — an adjustable carrying strap, zippers and dividers to keep your things neat and organized. Plus you can customize it for both men and women. Along the way, learn Annie’s trademark techniques for bias binding, handbag zippers, detailing and more.

Make this stunning and sturdy messenger bag to impress everyone you meet! Whether you choose beautiful cottons or wool fabric (such as Pendleton wool), you’ll love this skill-building project with detailed step-by-step instructions.

Materials Needed

• MATERIALS NOTE: These amounts are for the unquilted bag. For yardage amounts, cutting and layout instructions, and labels for a quilted bag, see full pattern.
• Main fabric: 1 yd
• Lining fabric: 1 yd
• Contrasting fabric: 1/2 yd
• Coordinating fabric: 1 yd
• Mesh fabric: 1/2 yd
• Foam stabilizer, 58″ wide (recommended: ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable): 1 yard
• Bag bottom stabilizer: 4 1/2″ x 11 1/4″ rectangle of Plaskolite, foam core, heavy cardboard, or plexiglass
• Fusible interfacing: 1/4 yd
• Foldover elastic, 5/8″ to 3/4″ wide: 1 1/4 yd
• Strapping, 1″ wide: 1 1/4 yards
• Strapping, 1 1/2″ wide: 2 1/2 yards
• Hook and loop tape, 3/4″ wide: 1 1/2″
• Zippers: one 40″ double-slide handbag zipper (or one 16″ single-slide handbag zipper and one 20″ single-slide handbag zipper)
• Thread to match coordinating and main fabrics
• Hardware (hardware sets in antique brass or nickel are available from ByAnnie.com):
• For bottom closures: two 1″ triangle or D-rings and two 1″ swivel hooks
• For carrying strap: two 1 1/2″ triangle or D-rings, two 1 1/2″ swivel hooks, and one 1 1/2″ wide- mouth slider

• Level: Intermediate

  Finished Sizes: 10″ high x 14″ wide x 5″ deep.

Free pattern: craftsy