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.