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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
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• • • • •
Time
2h39

My new school bag!
I made this bag without following a tutorial (I just made it up in my head as I went along), so if the instructions aren't clear, please tell me, and I'll try and make it a bit clearer...
:)

Posted by Steph. from Reading, England, United Kingdom • Published See Steph.'s 138 projects »
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  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 1
    Step 1

    Cut two rectangles of the plaid material measuring 40cm x 33cm

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 2
    Step 2

    Do the same for the black lining material

    (and cut an extra rectangle measuring 40cm x 37cm)

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 3
    Step 3

    Now cut two long rectangles from the plaid and the lining fabric measuring 107cm x 11cm.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 4
    Step 4

    Take one of your black rectangles, and the slightly bigger rectangle.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 5
    Step 5

    Cut 7cm off the top of the bigger rectangle.
    (sorry, the picture is the wrong way around)

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 6
    Step 6

    Pin and sew in the zip (this will be a big pocket inside the bag)

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 7
    Step 7

    For the back of the bag, I'm making a pocket as well. Just cut out a rectangle that is 40cm x 23cm.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 8
    Step 8

    ...and 'hem' it using the bias binding.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 9
    Step 9

    Now take your black pieces. Pin and sew your two rectangles (one of them is the zippered one, and the other one is the 40cm x 33cm rectangle), just like you did in step 9 to the plaid pieces.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 10
    Step 10

    Now sew the long rectangle (107cm x 11cm) to one of the rectangles. Pin it all the way around the 3 edges of the rectangle.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 11
    Step 11

    Sew it so that it forms this:

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 12
    Step 12

    Now pin the other side of the long rectangle to the other black rectangle, and sew.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 13
    Step 13

    You should get a lining of the bag that looks like this:

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 14
    Step 14

    Like this:

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 15
    Step 15

    Take your red plaid pieces. Sew the back pocket to one of the 40cm x 33cm rectangles. Don't worry about raw edges, just sew it on top of the rectangle.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 16
    Step 16

    Don't forget to add Velcro to the back, so that it shuts!

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 17
    Step 17

    Sew the plaid pieces together, just like you did with the lining fabric. (I added piping, but that's optional)

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 18
    Step 18

    Cut another plaid and black piece of fabrics, measuring 40cm x 37cm. These will be sewn together to form the flap-over bit of the bag.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 19
    Step 19

    Sew them RS together, leaving a gap for turning and then turn is inside out and topstitch along the edges, making sure that the gap is sewn shut. Sew a little black ribbon to the bottom of it for decoration.
    Sew it onto the back of the outer bag and cover the edge using bias binding.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 20
    Step 20

    So... now you have your lining and outer bag pieces separate. You've just got to attach them together now!

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 21
    Step 21

    Press the top of the lining out, so that there's a clean edge.
    And press the outer bag IN, so that when they join, there's no raw edges showing.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 22
    Step 22

    Pin them all together like so:

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 23
    Step 23

    (ok, I forgot to take pictures at this point, sorry)
    Cut two small rectangles (mine were 7cm x 18cm), but it depends on how big your handle clasps are.
    Sew them RS together along the long edges and turn them out. Don't worry about the small ends being raw edges, because they're going to be in between the lining and the outer bag anyway.
    Position the handle clasp and sew the bag together, making sure you backstitch over the handle parts. Make sure you do one clasp for each side.

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 24
    Step 24

    Now make the handle. It's up to you how long you want it (I can't remember how long I did mine). You'll want to double the fabric over for extra support. Sew it, folding it under the handle clasp (like in the picture).

  • How to make a shoulder bag. School Bag - Step 25
    Step 25

    Here's the finished bag!

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Comments

Freddie D.
Freddie D.
It looks very cool.
Reply
Conn
Conn · San Francisco, California, US · 134 projects
Really cute!
Steph.
Steph. · Reading, England, GB · 212 projects
Thank you! Happy
Reply

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