Bride Messenger Bag

This page gives very detailed instructions with pictures on how to make this messenger bag as a bride bag.

I did this for a family member to have a bag designated to carry around her wedding planner, samples, swatches and such.

This messenger bag was made large enough and strong enough that it could be used to carry her laptop after the wedding.

Will show the extra steps used to give this messenger bag better quality to last through lots of washings as well! If you can do a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine, you can do this bag.

Here's How to do a Bride Bag

I started with a piece of cream fabric that was more like a soft duck than canvas. It was 54 inches wide and about 7/8 of a yard. For the lining and sash tie, I had a yard of 54 inch wide blue cotton polyester blend.

I used a cutting mat and a rotary blade with clear ruler to cut this bride bag.

Cut a piece of both white and blue fabric to 52 x 15. This will make the bag and the flap all one piece so there would not be a bottom seam pulling apart from weight.

Then cut a piece of both white and blue fabric to 52 x 3 inches for the strap.

Cut 2 pieces of both white and blue fabric to 3 x 15 inches for the gusset side pieces.

From only the white fabric cut 2 pieces (not shown) 11 x 9 inches for inside pockets. From the blue fabric cut 2 pieces 4 x 48 inches for the sash tie.

Press a hem edge all the way around on both 11x9 pocket pieces.

Put a zigzag stitch on outer edge all the way around to prevent fraying.

Pin down edge and hem by topstitching all the way around on both pockets.

Fold down 2 inches as a cuff on the pocket.

Pin the first pocket onto the blue lining centered 4 inches from the top edge.

Leave a bit of space on pocket openings for access.

Attach by topstitching as shown to blue lining.

TIP On all straight sewing when you begin a seam, after 1/2 inch of sewing go in reverse to lock the stitching then continue the rest of the seam and again at the end of the seam repeat the process to make ends of a seam stay together.

Position the bottom of the next pocket 12 inches from the bottom of the 1st pocket as shown.

Attach 2nd pocket to blue lining by topstitching as done on 1st pocket.

Match the top edge of gusset with the top edge of lining. Pin the gusset side piece (15x3 inch piece) to lining.

Pin placement is to remind you to make sure to stop stitching 1/2 inch from edge.

Stitch gusset side piece to lining. Snip lining to make one corner as shown.

Turn fabric to put lower edge of gusset on next section of lining which will then form a corner. Pin to secure.

Position one pin to stop stitching 1/2 inch from edge.

Stitch lower edge and snip next corner.

Then proceed to pin and then seam the other long side of gusset piece.

Repeat process for other side of liner.

Take the main piece of white fabric and pin in the white side gusset on both sides. Sew the sides in the same process as the liner.

Canvas types of fabric can fray so I zigzaged the edge.

Turn bag to the right side and topstitch close to side seams.

To join bag with liner, take liner with seams showing outside and put the white bag inside the liner (the white bag has seams to inside).

Pin together matching gusset side seams.

Stitch bag to liner starting a couple of inches from the corner of one side of flap.

Stitch around the opening of the bag and end stitching a couple of inches from the other corner of flap.

Clip corners. Do NOT stitch flap closed.

Turn bag right side out through the opening that was not sewn on the flap.

Press. Topstitch all around the bag opening and to close the flap.

Sew the right sides together of the strap leaving one end open.

Turn strap to the right side out through the open end.

When strap is turned, fold raw ends inside and pin the opening closed. Press and topstitch.

Fold strap at top of gusset side area and pin.

Attach strap with the stitched square with an X.

Sew right sides of sash together leaving the one end open with the same process as the strap.

Turn right side out and fold raw ends inside and press. Topstitch to close end.

Tie the sash in a bow on strap.

I beaded 6MM pearl craft beads in the shape of the letters.