How to Create Your Own Messenger Bag for School

Create your own messenger bag using oilcloth to avoid damage from spills and stains.

Messenger bags are a great way to carry around school supplies, books, laptops and more. You can create your own personally styled messenger bag to fit your items perfectly. Using waterproof and stain-proof oilcloth to make the bag helps to repel stains and protects your books and other items from potential water damage.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler or tape measure
• 1/3 yard oilcloth
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• #18 heavy duty sewing machine needle
• 60 inches nylon webbing

Instructions

1. Determine the size of bag you need. Measure your books, laptop or anything else you will carry with you. For length, use the measurement of the longest item, and for width, measure the total width of the items all stacked together.

2. Add 2 inches to the width measurement to allow for the seam.

3. Add 2 inches to the length measurement and multiply that by three. This will ensure there is enough material to create the front, back and flap of the bag.

4. Cut the oilcloth to the appropriate measurements.

5. Set the tension on your sewing machine to six, and use a #18 heavy duty needle.

6. Sew a hem on all sides of the oilcloth.

7. Lay the oilcloth down with the inside facing toward you, and pull the bottom up slightly more than one-third of the way.

8. Fold the top down to create the flap and turn the bag over.

9. Cut a piece of nylon webbing to the length you want the strap to be.

10. Line the nylon up so that it is approximately a half inch from the edge of the bag (still folded and flipped over) and so it reaches the bottom.

11. Mark on the bag where the folds are and where the nylon strap begins and ends.

12. Sew the nylon webbing to the bag (now unfolded) where you made the marks by sewing an "X" pattern at both the top and bottom.

13. Turn the bag over and sew the "X" shape on the inside as well.

14. Repeat steps 10 through 13 on the other side.

15. Fold the bottom to the same mark it was folded to before, but inside out.

16. Sew up both sides leaving a quarter-inch seam allowance.

17. Fold the quarter inch over and sew again.

18. Turn the bag the right way around, and fill it with school items.

References

• Martha Stewart Crafts: Oilcloth Messenger Bag