Laptop Messenger Bag

Make a style savvy Laptop Messenger Bag with recycled leather, a quilted flap and a mod oversized button.
What you need:
1/2 yard of fabric
1/2 yard of quilted lining fabric
leather for cutting up (Goodwill is a good source)
Giant button (Joann Fabric)
Thread
Sewing Machine

This bag is being delivered tomorrow to a woman who ordered it for her daughter headed off to I.U. I used the fabric for something young and fun. Any medium weight fabric would work.

Step 1 Bag with leather boxing attached

Cut two rectangles out of printed fabric 1" larger, all around, than you want the finished bag. Cut the band or boxing for the bag from recycled leather garments. Stitch front of bag to boxing. After stitching pocket on back, stitch back of bag to other edge of leather boxing.

Comments

[Bitsi]

Love the recycled pocket. You could make this whole thing out of a $20 thrift store leather coat, reusing the belt as the strap, and so on. Interesting choice of laptop orientation. Do you find that it's easier to carry longways, rather than sideways? My 4 lb laptop always feels five times heavier by the time I get to my destination. :-)

[dobbylvr]

I would love to have your laptop! 4lbs! My school issued laptop weighs close to ten pounds, we weighed it! And to top it off I walk to school and back...

[modhomeecteacher]

I agree on the heaviness.There's no getting around it. The way this crosses over the other shoulder and rides on the hip helps with the weight. I've done it both ways, horizontal and vertical. Vertical bag looks better in my opinion. Whatever way works for you. True about the all leather carrier, but I try to use my leather for trims and edging--it's like gold. The fabric was CHEAP!! 15.00 a yard. Thanks for your comment. Visit my other projects on www.curbly.com--lots of upholstery projects. :)

[Meggz]

Hey, this is so clever. Despite what has been said I think the floral look, or any fabric other than the usual plain corporate look, is a great camouflage for an expensive laptop/netbook. Like putting your camcorder into a hippy-style bag. Who would guess there may be something worth stealing in their??? The style of strap is a matter of personal comfort really and it would be soooo easy to alter to horizontal or vertical style bag. This would also apply to fabric, so what if flowers don't gel with all tastes, there are so many fabrics to choose from out there. GO THERE.....you've done a great job with this!!!!!

[modhomeecteacher]

Thanks for your comments. I ended up selling this to a girl who was headed off to college. I wonder how it's held up. I agree with you about NOT having a plain corporate looking laptop bag. Gotta be different!!! Thanks again.

[lisarea]

Wow. I was just looking around for laptop bag projects, and this is eerily close to the bag of my dreams--flowers and all. I don't think my sewing skills are quite up to this, but I'm going to shoot for a dumbed down version, at least. Thank you!

[modhomeecteacher]

You can COMPLETELY do it. It's just a bag inside of a bag with the exception that there is a leather strap stitched in the middle. I even had to make some adjustments for the girl I made it for. :) You can always email me if you have a question.

[Wolf Seril]

Very nice. Not sure I would use the flower fabric though... You could make this better by explaining what materials you need, and how to choose them. Put it right after the intro.

[modhomeecteacher]

Thanks for reminding me to put the materials list on the Instructable. I guess the fabric is always personal preference.