Messenger Bag Hack
I'm always on the lookout for a good bag in a good color at a cheap price.
Which is why I picked up this little mustard number when I saw it at Target for $13.
However, given that I didn't love the flop, I figured I'd be making at least one modification to it. In the end, I decided to not only chop off that flop but also add another pocket to the front. So now I have this:
I altered the opening by first doing a simple line of straight stitching around the top just above the line where the straps connect. This helped me keep the lining place when I cut off the excess fabric. I then bound the top like I bind a quilt.
I made the pocket and binding out of Anna Maria Horner's upholstery fabric "volumes." The pocket was made by stitching two rectangles of the fabric together, leaving a small opening to turn it outside out, pressing, turning it outside out, pressing again, then stitching around the edge to close the opening and create a more finished look.
I affixed the pocket to the bag by machine stitching down two-and-a-half sides of the pocket. Where the pockets overlapped, I stitched by hand so that I could attached the new pocket to the mustard pocket without closing the mustard pocket.
I'm tremendously pleased with the end result. I feel very springy with my bright new bag.
However, given that I didn't love the flop, I figured I'd be making at least one modification to it. In the end, I decided to not only chop off that flop but also add another pocket to the front. So now I have this:
I affixed the pocket to the bag by machine stitching down two-and-a-half sides of the pocket. Where the pockets overlapped, I stitched by hand so that I could attached the new pocket to the mustard pocket without closing the mustard pocket.
