Back to School Messenger Bag
August 30, 2011 Here it is ... the messenger bag.
Happily I didn't have to resort to implicating an imaginary dog ... ;).
What do you think?
My daughter loves it. I'm sorta impressed with it myself.
One fabric change and few additions were required since my last post.
First, I talked her into going with the polka dot instead of the red tonal - I thought the dots would look just a bit softer. Plus, dots are happy ... and little sister's backpack has them. I like doing things like that.
I needed more fabrics because the pocket on the back was an afterthought and I made the flap bigger than originally planned (better too big than too small) so we added the pretty scallop and flowers to the mix.
She resisted the flowers a bit because she was trying so hard to achieve her idea of grown-up, but it was the last gray print in the bundle and she reeeeeeeally wanted to stick with the one color. She's quite happy with it on the inside. ;)
And I forgot to show you the fabrics she chose for the inside lining ...
Aqua!
When I started making all the different components of the bag, I asked her how she wanted me to top-stitch each piece. She asked what her choices were.
"Well, my dear child. That is an EXCELLENT question. Let me show you what your mama can do NOW!"
One problem: we both became crippled with indecision. Who knew an FMQ repertoire could cause a problem? haha
So, she went with a few different ones ...
Front
Back (with a little heart in the top right corner ... because I love her.)
A small monogram for the flap embellishment was all she wanted with the FMQ flowers. And for the first time ever I tried my hand a raw-edge applique. Turned out great! Thank you Miss Amy for the inspiration ;)
I added a large pocket to the back and a handle for hanging on a hook.
I installed an easy-to-use zipper on the inside ... TWICE. (Yep ... I knew y'all were waiting for my screw-up confessional.) The first time it went in upside down. It was late and I was tired so I didn't take a picture of it. But here's the evidence.
Second time ...
She INSISTED on a red zipper ... to go with all the little red accents on the bag. She's so cute.
I used two different fabrics for the zipper to "make do". They are the leftovers from the front and back panels. A little scrappy ... but not TOO scrappy.
And check out the shoulder pad! Thanks for the suggestion, Kate.
I made the entire bag with 10 fat quarters - no yardage - and only scraps for leftovers ...
Check back tomorrow to see what I did with them.
Parenthood, Quilting 
Reader Comments (48)
Wow! Absolutely fabulous. You've now achieved the status of Supermom! Beautiful sewing job.
Wow!
In my next life I want to be one of your little girls. I love her bag. You are sooo super talented. She will be the envy of all the other girls in school, not to mention the teachers. You Rock!!
Take care,
Carole Y
your welcome!
I'm really in love with the bag! It's simply awesome! Would you please make a pattern that I can sew my own?
Hildy
So you were wondering what you would do after finishing up Simplify....I think you just found out my dear....tutorial please....this is exactly how I envisioned my messenger bag to be, but I am not even close to your talent and finding the time to figure one out! Your daughter's bag turned out just absolutely beautiful, super duper great job!
Lisa in Texas
I agree with Lisa, PLEASE do a tutorial on this bag.....I would even pay for the finished bag! I love this and your nearly grown up daughter (!) has excellent taste!
You are AWESOME! I agree with the others, I would LOVE to see a tutorial or would even consider paying for a pattern. Can't wait to see what you made with the scraps.
I love it!! Well done!
I love your fabric choices. Do you know the designer/manufacturer of the gray scallop fabric.
Wow, I'm sure impressed! Agree with others, this deserves a tutorial.
best. mom. ever. That bag is adorable! Your daughter will look so stylish and grown-up toting back and forth to school.
Wow! Great bag and very impressive. The fabrics all go together perfectly, and I love the FMQ you did on the flap. I'm not surprised your daughter is thrilled.
Oh my gosh, this turned out so cute!
Bravo!!!! Gorgeous! You already know how much I love the fabric! Ditto on the pleas for a tutorial or pattern! You should be in the business, K! I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat! And I gotta say it again...I love that your daughter knows what she likes. That red zipper is divine!!! :)
Wonderful! Marvelous! Delicious! Awesome! I'm out of superlatives! Would you consider a tutorial or a pattern? What a lucky gal is your daughter to have such a talented mom!
Totally Awesome. Hope you can feel the love from the quilting community coming at you because you nailed this one. Such a great idea and implementation. Your young lady may not understand it now but there will come a time when she thinks back on all the stuff mom did for her and cherish those memories.
You rock!
That is the cutest book bag ever.....great job with the colors and everything!
Oh my goodness.... YOU, my dear, are the bag whisperer. This is AH-MAZ-ING.
Wow Kristyne, the bag is sensational, you are clever!! There'll not be another child in school with a bag as beautiful as your daughters.
Vivienne x
This is fabulous - I love all the fmq. She will the envy of all her friends!!
OH WOW!!! This is so wonderful - from the fabric choices (love the colors!) to the design, to the FABULOUS quilting! You are one talented lady!!
Absolutely gorgeous. I must make one. Please share!
AWESOME!!! Again....I want one....pretty please with a cherry on top??! ;0
Tell the model she didn't an excellent job of showing the bag in the 'on' position. ;0
Really Miss K, what will you do next? Really. What's next??
I'm in love with this bag! Pretty please make a tutorial, would love to make one for my girls!
GREAT Bag! Love the mix of patterns and quilting.
That is amazing!! I love it and I'd love to see a tutorial. You're halfway there already with the great photos. Well done mama!!
Love love love!!!! Yes please to pattern/tutorial :-). I could see a couple of those in my future ( daughter and me). Loved your project simplify too and so glad I found your blog. It's now one of my favs :-)
The messenger bag is so gorgeous!!! Give your "grown up" girl a pat on the back for such great taste in color and fabric combinations. Beyond that, I am so proud of YOU for your perseverence on your FMQ...it has paid off trememdously.
WOW - that bag is super awesome! I agree with the others - a tutorial on this would be fantabulous. I'd carry that messenger bag :-)
CUTE!! I'm a little jealous. I'm not in school anymore, but would love a bag like this! Your daughter is incredibly lucky to have a mama like you! :)
Are you going to do a tutorial? great job!
Ladies, ladies, ladies, I just thought of something! Remember elementary school and if the teacher caught you with gum or candy she would say, "Ina, I hope you brought enough to share with the entire class. Otherwise, I suggest you despose of it immediately." Yikes! Talk about the 'walk of shame'...beet red and humbled.
I got over it because I did it over and over again...I just loved Bazooka bubble gum. ;0
Wow, where was I going with this?? Oh that's right, "Miss K, I hope you made one for everyone?" Akward! ;0
The bag is magnificent - congratulations! I love everything about it.
That is simply gorgeous!!! I would love to have one of those bags NOW as an adult! :-) The lining is really cute, and I love the aqua. Amazing job on the FMQing as well! Hopefully one day I will master it as you seem to have. :-)
Absolutly Wonderful! I am so impressed. Oh you are the BEST! Don't be surprised if you get requests from some of her friends. Yes, I need the pattern or a tutorial.
Love, Love, that bag!
WOW! I'm so impressed. I want one - my laptop would fit so nicely in that bag and would be so pretty! You're daughter is very lucky. :)
The bag turned out wonderful. I love the colors and the fabrics look great. What a lucky daughter.
I love it!! You are so talented. I of course heart the fabrics you used also!!
I would go back to school if I had a bag that looked like that.
Nadine
Ok, I thought you once told me something like you couldn't sew? That you only pieced a bit??? You're delusional! This bag is fantastic! Very, Very Cute Ms. Pretty. I LOVE your fabric choices!!!
COMPLETELY GENIUS.
Just love this messenger bag! You've done a lovely job putting together .Nice fabric choices too!
holy crap Kristyne! that's awesome. your sewing is perfection... it's scary good. Love the monogram... glad I could "inspire"! ha! xoxo amy
WHOA!!! Seriously impressive! I'm another who would love a tutorial or pattern to buy. My daughter would like me to make her a messenger bag for school, so she just googled "sewn messenger bags" and yours came up, she squealed "That's the one I want!!" We both love it. Great job, well done.
Amazing, you are one talented lady.
Little late in getting here to this post, but here I am -- Thanks to Camille. I love your blog, patterns, & all. (Just had to let you know) So I had to go backwards to look as your older posts. And I love this bag and pencil roll.
If you've never made a messenger bag before, the first one is supposed to come out a bit rubbish - not Super Fantistic Cool I Love That Grey, Oh Heck What'll She Make Next, good.