- 1). Lay out the fabric on your work surface. Use a sturdy fabric, such as canvas, for a purse that will carry heavy objects, such as textbooks. Cut a 21-inch wide-by-36-inch long rectangle from the canvas fabric.
- 2). Lay out the lining fabric on your work surface and cut out the same size rectangle. If you will be transporting fragile equipment, such as a laptop in the messenger bag purse, cut out a piece of cotton batting as well. Make the cotton batting 20 inches wide by 35 inches long. Center it on top of the lining and sew a small zigzag stitch around the edges of the batting to join the two layers.
- 3). Place the outer fabric good side down and lay the lining on top, with the good side upward. Sew around the outer edges of three sides with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Leave one of the 21-inch-wide edges open.
- 4). Flip the bag fabric right-side out through the remaining side. Fold the edges of the open end inward and sew. Fold this edge upward 12 inches, with the lining fabric facing outward, and pin the left and right sides in place. Sew a small zigzag stitch down the left and right sides of the fold to make the side seams. The remaining fabric protruding above will be the flap for the purse.
- 5). Turn the fabric right side out to put the outer fabric on the outside. Fold the remaining 21-inch-wide edge downward and over top of the bag. It should end about 3 to 4 inches from the bottom of the bag. This is the flap.
- 6). Find the center of the end of the flap on the lining side and make a mark. Lay the flap against the fabric and make a mark on the face of the bag, opposite the mark on the flap. Cut hook and loop fastener. Cut two pieces and make each of them 1-inch wide-by-4 inches long.
- 7). Center one piece over top of the mark on the flap and sew it in place. Center the other piece over top of the mark on the face of the bag and sew it in place.
- 8). Cut a 38-inch-long piece of canvas strapping. Open the bag and pin the ends of the strapping at the top, just behind the left and right side seams. Sew the strapping in place. Sew over the length of the end of the strapping a few times for extra strength. Close the flap of the bag and enjoy.
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