Bundy's Bag

~BUNDY's BAG ~

After the first bag (not yet blogged. It's on FB) my friend asked me to make her one. So I went back to Marden's and got some regular material and went crazy. This one came out really good. I'm quite proud for hand sewing and making the pattern myself. So here is the tutorial:

I got some AMAZING music note material for the bag (she likes music and plays several instruments). Then I got a plain color that matched for the inside, and some off white to use for trimming on the handle to offset all the dark colors. 

 I measured the Music note material according to the zipper and the size of her laptop (Macbook). I made it so the large treble clef was in the middle of the front of the bag.

 After I measured, I cut out the front and back pannel from the music note material. Leaving enough fabric on the back pannel to make a flap.

 Then I traced the panels on the solid color fabric and cut those out as well.

 I sewed the solid colored panel to the music note panel for each side. (with the material inside out) So when I was done I turned it right side out and the stitches were hidden. I only sewed the sides and top, leaving the bottom open.

 Once I sewed the front panels together, I sewed one half of the zipper in the top middle of the front panel. Because the bottom had not been sewn together yet, I was able to sew it only to the solid color panel, that way you could not see the stitches from the front of the bag. 

 I wanted the treble clef to be seen on the front of the bag even with the flap, so I decided to cut the flap so that it came over the zipper a few inches most of the way, then came down farther and clasped. I sewed this one inside out on three sides just the same as the front panels.

 Again, I turned it right side out, and no stitches can be seen.

Then I sewed the front panel and back panel together. Again with right sides facing in so when the bag was turned right side out there would be no stitches showing.

After more careful measuring, I folded the bottom inside of the bag (like a paper bag is folded. You turn  the corners in to create square edges) and sewed it in place with a brown thread that would not be seen as easily from the outside.  

 I turned the bag right side out and tacked the corners of the edge I had created by the folds inside. This would give the bag a rectangular bottom without having to put cardboard in it. 

 I turned the bag inside out once again and sewed a "pocket" to the inside of the back panel for her laptop. This will help hold it in place so it doesn't bounce around and hit other stuff in the bag. 

 Next I sewed the zipper to the back half of the back. It ended up so that I had to sew through the back of the bag for this and the laptop pocket, but I used darker thread so it wasn't too noticeable. 

To the front on the laptop "pocket" I sewed a cell phone pocket. (I used NED, its kinda an inside joke. I know she will love it)

For the strap I used the same material as the outside of the bag and sewed the off white material to the edges. Then I attached the strap to the bag. I did a square around the area where the strap and bag were attached and then and X through the middle of the square. (should hold pretty well, unfortunately I attached one of the side wrong and the strap is twisted. Should be interesting fixing that.)

 For the clasp on the front I made Frog and Knot closure with leather strips. I got the leather wet, then shaped it how I wanted it and set it under a board to dry. Then I glued them to the fabric where I wanted them and let dry. I took and sewed them on crisscrossing over the leather with off white thread. They are quite sturdy and look good (if I do say so myself).  

 TA-DA! All done.

Rhuarc (the puppy) approved :)