How to Make a Felt Messenger Bag for Kids

Messenger bags are favored by men, women and children because of their simple style and their ability to hold many different items. You can make a messenger bag for a boy or girl to carry school supplies, sleepover necessities or play-date projects. Choose your own embellishments to decorate the finished bag. All you need are basic sewing machine skills to make this stylish and functional bag from sturdy felt fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Felt, 1 yard
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Measure from the child's waist to his shoulder and double the result. Add 4 inches to that length to get the length of the strap. Cut two strips of felt 2 inches wide and as long as your measurement. When finished the top of the messenger bag will be flush with the child's waistline. The extra 4 inches will be sewn inside the bag to attach the strap.

2. Cut one panel from the felt that is 12 by 36 inches.

3. Place the panel of felt on your work surface and fold up 12 inches on one end. Pin the two side seams together.

4. Thread the sewing machine with coordinating thread and stitch the two side seams together using a straight stitch. Create a few reverse back stitches at the beginning and end of your stitching to secure the ends.

5. Create a box bottom so the bag sits flat. Fold the bottom of the bag so one side seam and the bottom fold are lined up. Measure from the seam line to the edge of the fabric and place the pin at the 1-inch measurement on both sides of the seam. Place the pins at a right angle to the seam line. The pins will create a triangle in the corner of the bag. Stitch across the pin line to create a 2-inch seam. Repeat for the other corner.

6. Sew the two strips of felt for the strap together along the long sides, using a straight stitch. Turn the strap right side out.

7. Place the lower 2 inches of the strap on each side inside the bag and center over the side seams. Pin across the bottom and sides. Stitch to attach the strap, creating a U-shaped row of stitching at each top corner seam of the bag.

8. Cut a piece of cardboard 2 by 12 inches. Place the cardboard in the bottom of the bag between the stitched corners. The cardboard will hold the box corners open and add support to the bottom of the bag. Trim excess, as needed.

9. Trim the flap, if needed, so it lies smoothly inside the straps when it is flipped over the front of the bag.

Tips & Warnings

• As an alternative to stitching and turning the strap pieces, top stitch the two strips together using a decorative machine stitch, such as a zigzag or other stitch your sewing machine creates.

• Use iron-on appliques to embellish the finished bag.

• Add a pocket to the inside or outside front by cutting a square or rectangle and stitching onto the bag. The flap will cover a pocket on the outside front. Pin the pocket in position and attach before stitching the sides of the bag together.