Clover Messenger Bag
This stylish bag is perfect for day or evening, and simple to make when you have the right tools!
*Use a 6mm seam allowance
Designed by
Debbie Shore
Finished Size
32x32x8 cm
Tools
Materials
• 66cm x 60cm outer fabric
• 66cm x 60cm medium weight interfacing
• 27cm x 25cm contrast fabric for the flap
• 76cm x 66cm lining fabric
• Magnetic snap closure
• 15cm square fusible adhesive sheet
Making
Measure then cut the outer fabric into two pieces, each measuring 33cm x 30cm.
Fuse stabiliser to the wrong sides of each piece. Take your curved ruler [not just for dressmaking!] making sure the end is at right angles to the bottom od of your fabric. Draw around the curve to make the base round
Cut this shape from both outer pieces.
Fold the bottom of each piece so that it matches the side, crease the diagonal line.
Open out the fabric. You'll see the crease line.
Measure 3cm along this line, then 1 cm either side at the fabric edge. Join the lines to make triangular darts.
Cut out the two triangle shapes.
Use this piece as a template to cut two lining pieces.
Pinch the sides of the darts together and sew.
Fuse stabiliser to the wrong side of the flap fabric.
Take your curved ruler, place 2.5cm from the top corner making sure that the curve of the ruler sits over the bottom edge of the fabric. Draw around the curve on both sides.
Cut out the curved flap shape, use this as a template to cut one piece from lining.
Fix the thinner half of the magnetic fastening to the centre of the flap lining, 4cm from the curved edge.
Here's a tip: place an extra piece of fabric behind the fastening to strengthen the holes.
Adhere the adhesive sheets behind a piece of lining fabric. Draw around your heart template and cut out three hearts.
Iron the hearts to the right side of the flap, just to one side as you see in the photograph.
Use the 4mm seam marker and an erasable marker pen to trace around the hearts.
Sew around the outline of the hearts with a triple stitch on your machine, take the stitch line to one side of the flap to create a 'stem'.
Sew the two lining pieces right sides together, leaving the top open. Turn the right side out and press. Edge stitch 5mm around the seam, use your seam gauge to mark the stitch line to make sure your stitching is consistent.
Fit the second half of the magnetic closure to the front of the bag, centrally, 15cm from the top.
Sew the flap, right sides together to the centre back of the bag.
Sew the front and back of the bag right sides together, leaving the top open and matching the dart seams. Turn the right side out.
Cut a length of lining measuring 76cm x 10cm for the strap, fold in half lengthways and crease, then fold each long edge to the centre and crease again. Fold in half and press.
Another tip: A spray of starch will help to keep the creases in place before you sew!
Edge stitch along each side of the strap. Clip, then sew, facing downwards over each side seam. Of of the outer bag. Make sure the strap isn't twisted!
Sew the darts into the lining pieces.
Sew the two lining pieces right sides together, leaving the top open, and a turning gap in the base of about 15cm.
Push the outer bag inside the lining, right sides together. Sew around the top.
Turn the bag the right side out, sew the opening losed closed.
Push the lining inside the bag and press, edge stitch around the top to finish!