Last year, I created this tutorial for a feature in Mollie Makes. Today, I am bringing it home for the holidays!

It’s a spacious weekender bag that sports an inside pocket, a leather shoulder strap, and just enough room for a quick getaway.

It makes a great gift for someone else or for yourself! 😉

Most of my tutorials are directed toward beginners and quick easy sews. This one is a little different. I recommend this tutorial for adventurous beginners with at least some sewing experience.

It is not a lengthy project but this tutorial is pretty long because I provide as much detail as I can in each step to help you be as successful as possible in making this bag.

Let’s get to it!

Materials

• 1 1/3 yards (1.25 m) cotton or linen canvas as main fabric (45 inches wide)
• 1 1/3 yards (1.25 m)cotton canvas as interfacing (45 inches wide)*
• 1 1/3 yards(1.25 m) cotton or other fabric as lining (45 inches wide)
• Matching thread
• Universal sewing machine needle
• Heavy-duty or denim sewing machine needle
• Leather sewing machine needle
• Heavy duty zipper, 24 inches (61 cm) preferably a purse zipper with two zipper pulls
• Leather strapping, 2 packages of 1.5 inches (4 cm) wide x 42 inches (107 cm) long (I bought mine from Michael’s)
• Heavy duty scissors
• Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
• Pins and quilting clips (or small binder clips)
• Zipper foot
• Small rivets, 8 pairs + rivet tools
• Leather punch
• 2 D-rings or equivalent (I used triangle rings)
• 2 Swivel hooks
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine
• Hammer (to use with rivet and snap tools)

*You may use fusible interfacing instead, but you will likely have to adjust the amount needed.

 

Optional:

• Nylon zipper, 7 inch, for lining zipper welt pocket
• Heavy duty snap, 2 pairs + snap tools
• Spray baste

Tutorial

Before you begin, pre-wash and press all fabrics as there may be some shrinking and wrinkling.

Note: Seam allowance is 1/2 inches unless otherwise listed.

Step One: Cut and prepare all materials.

Use these cutting guidelines:

– main fabric: 2 pieces 25 in (63.5 cm) wide x 20 in (51 cm) tall, 2 pieces 3.5 in x 2.75 in (9 x 7 cm)

– cotton canvas interfacing: 2 pieces 25 in (63.5 cm) wide x 20 in (51 cm) tall

– lining fabric: 2 pieces 25 in (63.5 cm) wide x 20 in (51 cm) tall, 2 pieces 12 in wide x 13 in tall (31 x 33 cm), 1 piece 11 in wide x 8 in tall (28 x 20 cm).

– leather shoulder strap: 1.5 in (4 cm) wide x 42 in (107 cm)

– leather tabs: 4, 1.5 x 1.5 in (4×4 cm) squares

– side leather straps: .75 in wide x 16 in (2 x 41 cm) Tip: Cut leather strapping in half, width wise.

Step Two: Apply interfacing to main fabric.

If using cotton canvas, it helps to use a thin layer of washable spray glue to temporarily adhere or baste the main fabric and the cotton canvas interfacing together.

Step Three: Sew pockets into lining.

OPTION A: Basic pocket

– Fold and press the sides and the bottom of the 11 in wide x 8 in tall (28 x 20 cm) pocket under 1/4 in (6 mm), twice, with a hot iron.

– Fold and press the top of the pocket under 1/4 in (6 mm), and then again 3/4 inch (19 cm). Top stitch the top fold of the pocket in place close to the second fold line.

– Fold the pocket lengthwise and mark the center line. Repeat the process with the bag lining piece to which you are sewing the pocket.

– Center the pocket onto the lining piece, with the top of the pocket about 5.5 in (14 cm) from the top of the lining piece. Pin in place.

– Sew pocket in place, by sewing down one side, across the bottom, and then up the other side. Be sure to back and forward stitch several times any time you cross the top of the pocket for strength. You may also sew a dividing line or two into the middle of the pocket, if desired.

OPTION B: Zipper Welt pocket

– Place one of 12 in wide x 13 in tall (31 x 33 cm) pocket piece onto the lining piece, right sides facing, with the shorter side centered and lined up with the top of the lining piece.

– About 5 inches (13 cm) from the top and centered , draw a rectangle 6 in wide x 1/2 in (13 mm) tall with a pencil or washable marker. Pin the bag lining and pocket together around the rectangle to prevent shifting.

– Sew around the rectangle directly on lines you just drew.

– Cut through the center of the rectangle, catching both layers, width-wise. As our cut line nears the ends, turn and snip into the corners, being careful to get as close to the corner as you can without snipping through threads.

– Push the pocket lining into the opening and pull it through to the other side. You should now have a rectangular hole in the lining, with the pocket lining on the wrong side of the bag lining. Neatly press the rectangular hole flat.

– Place the nylon zipper face up into the rectangular hole from the back of the lining. Pin the zipper in place.

– Top stitch the zipper into place.

– Place the other pocket lining piece, right sides facing onto the initial pocket lining piece. Pin them together being careful not to catch the bag lining.

– Sew and complete the pocket.

– Baste the top of the pocket to the top of the lining, with a narrow line of stitching to prevent shifting in future steps.

Step Four: Prepare bag zipper.

a. Optional: If installing heavy duty snaps into the zipper tabs, install one side of each snap into two tabs. Make sure the snap end is on the right side of the tab.

b. Sandwich the ends of the zipper in between two tabs (button tab on bottom if using), and clip into place. Make sure the zipper still has at least 24 inches of zipper tape exposed.

c. Sew around the perimeter of the leather tabs.

TIP: A leather needle is imperative for this step. Sew slowly and lengthen your stitch to about 3.5 or 4 mm. It also doesn’t hurt to practice first on a piece of scrap leather if you can.

Step Five: Sew main and lining pieces to zipper.

a. Lay down lining piece right side facing up. Lay zipper tape across the top of lining piece, with right side of the zipper teeth facing up. Lay main bag piece on top, and clip all layers together with quilting or binder clips.

b. Sew all layers together at the top, with a 1/4 in (7 cm) seam allowance. Leave about 3/4 in (19 mm) un-sewn at each end of the fabric. Use a zipper foot if needed.

c. Fold lining and main fabric pieces over, exposing the zipper. Press along the zipper/ fabric seam with a warm iron, being careful to not touch the zipper teeth with iron.

d. Repeat with remaining lining and main fabric pieces.

Step Six: Install small leather straps.

 

a. Decide on preferred placement of small leather straps. I recommend placing the bottoms of the straps about 3-4 in (8-10 cm) from the top of the bag and spacing the ends about 4-5 in (10-13 cm) apart.

b. Mark placement with a pencil or washable marker. You cannot pin leather in the middle of a project easily, so it is best to use the markings to place the straps after you get the bag onto your sewing machine.

c. Sew the straps in place. Sew a 1.5 in (4 cm) long rectangle at each of the four strap ends. If using rivets, go to step d. If not, sew an x through each rectangle to add strength to the straps.

d. Punch two small holes inside each rectangle you sewed in step c. Install rivets according to rivet packaging instructions.

 

TIP: Make sure you are only sewing the straps onto the main bag pieces, and not through the lining. The reason strap placement is delayed until after the zipper is installed, is so that any shifting while sewing won’t throw the placement of the straps off, and so sewing on the zipper is less cumbersome.

Step Seven: Sew bag together.

a. Pin main pieces, and lining pieces together, right sides facing. Flip the ends of the zipper up toward the MAIN fabric pieces. OPEN zipper a few inches before sewing.

b. Sew all the way around the sides and bottoms of main and lining pieces, leave a 4 inch (10 cm) opening at the bottom of the lining.

 

Step Eight: Sew corners.

a. Fold each corner so that the seams line up, creating a triangle that is 3.5 in (9 cm) tall and 7 in (18 cm) wide.

b. Pin corner in place. 3.5 inches (9 cm) from the tip of the corner, draw the 7 in (18 cm) line.

c Sew along the drawn line and trim off the excess fabric, leaving a 1/4 in (6 mm) seam allowance.

d. Repeat for all four corners.

Step Nine: Turn bag right side out.

a. Turn back right side out through the opening and the open zipper.

b. Fold lining opening so that the edges are clean and even with the rest of the bottom seam. Pin closed and sew along the bottom edge of the lining bag.

c. Push lining bag into the main bag.

d. Finish the top of the bag, by top stitching around the zipper opening, along the zipper/ fabric seam. If the seams under the leather tabs is too thick, stop your stitch lines just short of the tabs.

Step Ten: Sew shoulder strap.

a. Strap rings:

– Fold small 3.5 in x 2.75 in (9 x 7 cm) main fabric pieces in half and sew.

– Turn right side out, press flat, with seam centered to the back, and ends folded inward about 1/2 in (12 mm).

– Slide and fold onto ring. Place on the side of bag about 9 inches (23 cm) below the top. Sew in place by sewing a square onto the ends of the small strip of fabric, and then an X through the square for added strength.

 

b. Shoulder strap.

– Fold each end of the long leather strap piece under about 1.5 in (4 cm).

– Cut small rectangles at the bottom of each fold, reducing the width of the bottom of the fold by half.

– Unfold the strap ends and slide swivel hooks into the narrowed folds.

– Fold the strap ends over again and secure with clips.

– Sew the strap ends closed with a rectangle and an x through the middle.

Optional: If you installed snaps into the leather tabs at the ends of the zipper, install the other half of the snaps about 1.5 inches above the shoulder strap rings on the sides.

Now you’re bag is ready to go!

Having used this bag for a year, I have some pros and cons to share. Cons…I would put the zipper snaps up a little higher than I did (I gave you improved measurements in the tutorial) so that it is a little more stable when worn snapped down. I may also add a shoulder pad of some kind to the leather strap to improve the comfort factor. With a store bought bag, I probably wouldn’t even think twice about the strap being as it is, but since I get to make it and tailor it to what I want, I would add a pad.

Pros…it’s durable and made from gorgeous fabrics I love.

Speaking of, here are my fabric and material sources: 

The lining is Cotton + Steel Printshop Moons Black which has been discontinued, but this one is a good substitute. (affiliate link)

The outer fabric is my favorite combo Cotton + Steel and Rifle Paper Co! Here is a link.

All my leather is from Michaels.

The hardware and zippers are from Jo-Ann.