how do u make those bags for like books and stuff, pretty small but bit enough 4 a text book and the straps long enough to have it on your shoulder
how do u make em? does n e 1 have a pattern, or know a site that might has lots of cool patterns?
or one for a bag like that?

I think sewyoungsewfun.com has a bag pattern

Hey Carmen,

I make bags all the time, and I never use a pattern, I make each one specific for the purpose it'll serve.

It's really easy, if you have the basic sewing skills, you can do it, just think about what the ideal bag would be like, exactly, then pull it apart in your head (you can look at bags you already have) and figure out all the pieces and how they would go together. Don't stress about it! figure out the size by looking at a textbook, or whatever you want it to hold, and measuring appropriatly.

As for the strap, after you have the body of your bag sewn, pin a piece of string or ribbon to one side of it, then try it on and pin the other end of the string to the bag when it's a comfortable length-a practice strap!. Then, use the string to figure out how long the strap needs to be and voila!

*Beth*

Hey, another thought, I know edie has a good pattern for messenger bags on her website, and that it's posten in a recent group...I'm not sure if it's still up or not tho..

*beth*