Ok ladies. I went and got a long cutting mat cuz my old one was broken.. And I felt my picts would not stand up against all the other sew along moms.. hehehhehe Get your fabric ready and 30 min and lets go sew.. I use a bigger piece of fabric for my piece that is going to have straps.. Just say 3/4 yrd of 2 prints more than enough.. but hey I like to be sure I have plenty..
Now you can pick how wide you want yours to be. some like a bigger bag some like a smaller one.. I will do 2 a bigger and a kids more narrow and taller version like I sent Bernice. Be back in an hour for first cut picts.. and sew along..
Pepperming

woooohooooo!
I'm ready!

Cool Peppermint! I actually made one for a sew-a-long and took pictures and was gonna try to find the time to post it today. I'll get it read and then wait until yours is up. Then I'll post mine later (don't want to steal your thunder). It won't hurt to see 2 different ways to make 'em, right?

Cool I think we can all learn from one another.. Feel free to post your picts and ideas here so they are all under one link the we can all do together.. much more fun when we have sew buddies to learn and share with.
((HUGS))
Peppermint

Oooh this is gonna be fun! I can't wait! Thanks for taking the time for a sew-a-long!

YEA! I am soo ready!

I wanted a new bag for church on Sunday for all my new stuff! LOL

Bring it on!

Here you go ladies. If you don't understand pm me and I will give you my phone number..

I cut my fabric 11 inches tall by 13 inches wide. ( cut 2 inner fabric mine is shown in batik, then 2 outer mine is denim)

next cut 2 inch squares out of each bottom corner.

Cut flaps you can make them straight bottoms or curved the choice is yours. I cut them 1 inch narrower than the bag pieces.. so my flap is 12 inch wide and 8 inch tall. ( to cut the flap you cut one inner batik and one outer denim. pin them facing one another. serge or machine stitch and turn outside..
Cut your strap piece I use a 3.5 inch wide by however long you want it.. depends on how long or how you want to carry your bag..
PICTS
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12933d1056501560-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-bag1.jpg

Next cut your pocket out.. However wide and tall you want it.. I wanted to be able for my daughter to put her cell phone in the pocket to take with her. You can add a key tab now if you wish.. just a tiny strip of 1/2 inch wide grosgrain ribbon or a tiny fabric tubbe that is 1/2 inch wide when finished or can be 3/4 inch x 4.5 long.. I sew my pocket to the lining of the bag.. this would be the batik print.
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12934d1056501767-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-pocket.jpg
here is a pict of the flap.. serged ( nope it is not wonky but I was standing at a funny spot in the room.. RIght sides together sew down the sides and bottom leaving the top open. turn and press. Then serge across or stitch a 1/4 seam across the top..

flap pict
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12935d1056501978-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-flap.jpg

take your long rect strap roughly 30 inch for across the chest type by 3.5 inch.. serge or sew a 1/4 inch hem down one long side. then turn inside out and press.
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12936d1056502154-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-strap.jpg

Ok now for some reason this pict did not turn out. So if someone gets stuck I will do another. Here is where I do the sewing of the bags.. Sew up the side across the bottom and back up the other side 1/4 inch seam.. leaving the little 2 inch squares open.. I take each corner and refer to bluehalo bag instructions for the corner sewing and for the pinning the bag together...
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/sew-along/89055-square-bottom-bag-directions-w-photos.html?highlight=bag+sew

I sew my outer squares together and one of the lining batik squares the other is left open to turn the bag inside out when I am finished sewing the top together..

I put my denim outer on the inside with the right side facing in.. I pin my strap to the side seam of the right side of the denim.( one end with the unsewn open end sticking out approx 1/2 inch. Do this to both sides.. Then I take my flap and pin it centered ( fold flap in half and fold your bag in half and mark with a pin. pin the flap with the denim outer right side of flap to denim bag right side of denim.. You will have your lining facing the right side of your

batik lining.. Put the batik bag lining with the right sides facing the denim over the denim bag ( right sides together.... the strap will be between both of these layers.. Make sure not to tangle it..

pin both bags matching side seams and evenly around the top.. sew the presser foot distance around the top of the bag..
turn the bag right side out through the batik liner.. pict shown...

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12937d1056502763-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-bagunstuffed.jpg

sew the corner of the liner closed. Stuff into the inside of the bag.. press the seams.. top stitch if desired. ( this is where I do my decorative stitching..)
Bag is finished.. Enjoy.. Sorry for the rushed instructions.. The baby I keep was fussssy...
((HUGS))
Peppermint

This shows the bag inner with the flap lifted
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12938d1056502925-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-baginner.jpg

Bag outer with flap lifted showing the batik under flap.
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12939d1056503036-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-bagflap.jpg

last one this is the bag closed..
This is for my daughter but I have enough to make several more if anyone wants one.
Peppermint

There is a tiny piece of rainbow grosgrain ribbon sewn around the strap middle.. Just for decoration to cover up where I sewed 2 pieces of denim together to make the strap longer.. I was using scraps.. Normally I use one long piece.. She thinks it is cool

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12940d1056503134-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-finished.jpg

now I want to see tons of bags from you all soon.

Thanks Peppermint. Since I took the pics and made the bag for this, I mightas well post one too (though I don't do the sewing at the same time as the posting). Already put the bag up on the trading board but it didn't sell. Oh well:) Here's another sewalong:)

OK here goes::: As far quantity of fabric, Inner fabric is just about 1 yard. Outer fabric is just about 1 yard too, depending on how many pockets you add.

Length is the horizontal long dimension of the bag face
Height is the short (vertical) dimension of the bag face
Depth - width or thickness of the bag


Finished bag size is about 14" long x 11" high x 3.5" deep

Outer Fabric:
Cut one big piece 26" x 14" this is the piece that is the back of the bag and the flap. Then cut another piece that is 12" x 14" (if using cord, the cord would run perpendicular to the 14" cut). Then for the depth panel (this makes the bag thick or thin) 4.5" x 37". And the strap: 6.25" x 37"

Inner Fabric:
Outer Flap: 14" x 15" Inside bucket: cut two pieces 18" x 14"

You're on your own with pockets! If you want to make pockets you can do a turn and topstich pocket or serge/overcast a single layer or whatever. Sew pockets to individual layers prior to sewing the pieces together.

*********************
Here is a little formula if you want to work off of your own dimensions (I appologize but I am an engineer and about as anal as they come so forgive me if this is idotic)

Outer Fabric:
Large panel: (Height + Desired size of flap + 1 inch) x Length
Inside Front Panel = Length x Height
Depth Panel = Depth x (Height*2 + Length + 1") <-- may want to add a little more if you don't round your corners.
Strap = Length of strap x (Width of strap*2) + 3/4".

Inner Fabric:
Top Flap Panel - Length x (Size of Flap + 2.5)

2 Pieces for Inside Bucket = (Length + Depth) x (Height + 1/2 depth) - take right sides together and cut 2 squares out of the bottom corners of bucket ~ 1/2 depth squared.

**********************************
To have a rounded bag, take a compass or glass or other circular device to trace a radius on all 4 corners of the Large panel, and only 2 corners across the length of the inside front panel and any pockets.

Here are pictures of the outer pieces:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12942d1056505001-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-outerpieces.jpg

Here's a pic of the inside pieces:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12943d1056505987-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-insidepieces.jpg

Take the inside bucket pieces (right sides together) and sew (twice) or serge along the sides and bottom leaving the corners open:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12944d1056506446-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-insidebucket.jpg

Next take one of the corners and take the square and open it up as shown in the picture and stitch. ONLY DO 1 CORNER AS THE OTHER ONE IS LEFT OPEN SO THAT YOU CAN TURN THE BAG RIGHT SIDE OUT!!!
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12945d1056506879-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-corner-sewing.jpg

OK now for the outer part.

I use interfacing and sew it to the outside corduroy for structure. Take the small inside panel of outer fabric. Take Depth Panel. WIth right sides together, sew the panel into the sides and bottom of the bag (see pic I'm having a hard time explaining)
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12946d1056507243-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-depthsewing1.jpg

Here it is the inside panel sewn to the depth panel.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12947d1056507553-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-depthsewing2.jpg

Now take the large panel and put the inside panel connected to the depth panel and put them together so they match up - if you have a pocket on the back, do it like this........ hopefully this pic will show you better than I can explain it :p
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12949d1056507754-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-sewingoutertogether.jpg

Now sew the inside panel which is connected to the depth panel to the large panel as shown below:

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12950d1056507947-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-sewingoutertogether2.jpg

Now take the bag and make it right side out. Take the inner fabric that attaches to the outside flap and sew right sides together along the top flap....
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12951d1056508044-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-sewflapinneron.jpg

Take your strap and sew right sides together, then turn inside out and either topstich or press or whatever you do to straps!

Then take your strap and pin it into the inside of the bags so right sides are touching:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12953d1056508287-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-pinstrapsin.jpg

Now make the inner bucket so that right side is facing out and insert it into the outer bucket which is facing in so right sides are facing.......
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12954d1056508372-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-bucketstogether.jpg

Now sew the inside to the outside. On the sides and front panel, sew the inner fabric to the outer. BUT at the flap intersection, sew the inner fabric of the flap to the inner fabric of the bucket...hopefully that made sense...
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12956d1056508524-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-sewinginsidestogether.jpg

Here's a pic of where you're sewing the inside fabrics together at the flap intersection:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12957d1056508735-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-sewinginnersatflap.jpg

OK here's the bag all inside out
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12958d1056508787-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-insideout.jpg

OK now take that open corner and turn it so it's right side out...this is a challenge when you have cord, inside layers, strap and interfacing so you may need to open your hole up a bit or be patient LOL...I first take the flap fabric through, then the strap, then the rest of the bag if that helps.....

Now once bag is right side out, you're going to topstitch the sides, front and the entire flap. Creating a loop of topstitching....

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12959d1056508949-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-topstitch1.jpg

Here's another topstich view:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12960d1056509049-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-topstitch2.jpg

Here's the finished product:
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12961d1056509125-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-bag1.jpg

and since I'm so picture happy :rolleyes, drumroll one final picture
This shows how it hangs

Sorry that this was so complicated and long and drawnout
http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachments/sew-along/12963d1056509218-messenger-bag-sew-along-ready-go-hangingbag.jpg

Oh one last step LOL. Take that unsewn corner, press it inwards and topstitch. Then you're done VOILA:)

oh, you guys are so cool! thanks so much for taking the time to post all of this! it really helps to have more than one explanation/method. :)

Great job to both of you! Thanks for taking the time to do this.
~Suzanne

just bumping for anyone who didn't see it:)