Thursday, August 25, 2011

return on creativity: mens shirt messenger bag


This bag tutorial was first posted as a guest post at Someday Crafts.  I'm reposting here, in case you didn't catch it over there.

This bag is made from a man's shirt and has nice big manly proportions.  To make this bag follow these steps:

1.  Find a man's shirt with buttons and a pocket.  I thrifted mine for $1.50.  The size is XL.


2.  Cut the front of the shirt out along the seams.


3.  Cut the front of the shirt into a 16 inch square.  In my square the buttons are intentionally off center so that I could include the pocket.


4.  Cut five more 16 inch squares of fabric and eight 16 inch by 4 inch rectangles of fabric.  I used a dark denim for the lining and the outer bag.  I cut one sixteen inch square of fabric from the back of the shirt to use as part of the lining.

5.  Sew one 16 by 4 inch rectangle of fabric to the top edge of the shirt front with right sides touching.  This is the front of the bag flap.  Sew another 16 by 4 inch rectangle to the top edge of one of the 16 inch squares with right sides touching.  This is the back of the bag flap.  All seam allowances are a half inch unless otherwise noted.


6.  Sew the front of the bag flap to the back of the bag flap with right sides touching.  Sew along three sides leaving the top open.

7.  Clip seams and turn the flap right side out.  Press and top stitch around three sides of the flap.

8.  Prepare the outer bag and lining.  Pin 16 by 4 inch rectangles (side panels) to one sixteen inch square (bag front) with right sides together and stitch.  Next pin a sixteen inch square of fabric (back of bag) to one side right sides together and stitch.  Fold right sides together and stitch last side together. 



9.  Keep bag inside out and pin a sixteen by four inch rectangle to bottom of bag and sew all four sides.

10.  Repeat steps 8 and 9 for the lining.

11.  Turn the outer bag right side out.  Sew the top of the flap to the top of the outer bag with right sides touching.  Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.


12.  Cut a 36 inch long piece of belting material for a strap and sew to the sides of the outer bag, raw edges together.  Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.


13.  Place the outer bag inside the lining.  Place the strap and the flap inside.  Pin the tops together with right sides touching.


14.  Sew around the top with a half inch seam allowance.  Leave a three inch opening.  Turn the bag right side out through the hole and push the lining into the bag.


15.  Top stitch around the top of the bag sewing the hole closed as you go.



That's it.  You now have a nice roomy messenger bag (with a built in pocket too.)


Try a more upscale bag with a man's white dress shirt and suiting material.  Or maybe even button two different shirt fronts together for an interesting look.


11 comments:

Pam @Threading My Way said...

What a fabulous idea! I'm a new follower to your blog... so many great projects.

Kara @ Mine for the Making said...

What a great idea! I have yet to see something like this done!! Very original :) I just love the way the bag turned out and that you left the pocket :)

I started a brand new linky party over at my place that features all things DIY fashion...I think this would be a great project to link up to DIY Diva Thursdays! Id love to have you come over and show off what you refashioned!

Kara
www.mineforthemaking.com

Tammy said...

Messenger bags can be so boring. This one is just fabulous! What a cute idea :) Thanks for sharing it with us!!

Jamie said...

This is so cool! I love tote bags and this one has a fun twist!

Feel Free to link it up to my new Make Yourself Blog Hop!

-Jamie

For Love of Cupcakes

Chameleon Girls said...

I really like how this bag came out. We are going to use this idea on our stash of men's shirts.

chameleongirls.blogspot.com

memakingdo said...

That is a really cute bag. I had a few shirts like that I was going to donate, but maybe I will keep one to make a bag. Thanks for linking up to the So Creative Party!

Elle and Lou said...

A man bag that actually looks manly and to recycle too- awesome stuff!

creativejewishmom/sara said...

love it! especially that pocket, too cute! and would be so funny with a pocket protector and pens, don't you think? thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

creativejewishmom/sara said...

love it! especially that pocket, too cute! and would be so funny with a pocket protector and pens, don't you think? thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

creativejewishmom/sara said...

love it! especially that pocket, too cute! and would be so funny with a pocket protector and pens, don't you think? thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

Anonymous said...

Really? That's just too cute!!! I like the colour combination too - it just goes... nice job!

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