I’ve been wanting to make a Montessori By Hand (now Sew Liberated) messenger bag for the last six months. I need to increase my bag making skills (after a couple of disastrous own designs) and figured this would be a good start, but finding the time was tricky. Last week’s rainy bank holiday weekend, where I was also on duty and therefore stuck in the flat, gave me enough guilt-free time to plod my way through the bag.

I love the robot canvas, bought from Kitty-Craft and the blue/white-spotty lining made by Clothworks (oddly called “Joined at the Hip). When I was starting to choose which fabrics to use I kicked myself for not buying the pink/white-spotty from the fabulous fabric shop in Derbyshire but I think the red cotton lining works and is probably better for being less fussy. Oh, and I think this will finally be the last project for the purple corduroy.

Messenger bag

The bag is large, with big pockets front and back and the instructions are clear. I learnt how to put in zip pockets! I did make some additions: an internal key strap and clasp, a magnetic clasp instead of the ribbon and button and an open internal pocket for my laptop.

To add the magnetic clasp I had to lengthen the top flat but I couldn’t do that until the end of construction (when I knew how long it needed to be) and so the bottom of the flap isn’t as neat as I’d otherwise like. To make the internal laptop pocket I first made a mini practise pouch out of some scrap fabric so that I could work out how to make it. I think it works well, although my laptop fits snuggly so I won’t be able to upgrade to anything larger.

I only have two problems with the bag, which at some point I plan to go back and fix. Firstly, the interfacing I used isn’t really strong enough for the bag to keep its shape properly. And secondly, I want to sew the bottom of the front outside pocket so that things don’t get lost underneath the bottom of the bag.