The Man Bag
Alright folk, as I said before, my husband wanted to take part in all the fun and he wanted me to make him some kind of a man bag. I was inspired by MADE and the Hobo Sack she created for her kids. My husband caught a glimpse of the post and then both our wheels started turning. He helped design the bag and even went to fabric store with me to pick out the kind of fabric he’d like! He’s such a trooper!
Here’s the fabric we came out with:
You can check out the original tutorial here.
What you’ll need:
- Fabric: 1.5 yards of desired fabric for the outside of the bag. I chose a nice durable corduroy and 1.5 yards of desired fabric for the inside of the bag. The hubs chose what almost felt like an outdoor fabric. It was heavy and seemed durable.
- Strap: About 3 yards of a canvas like belting material. I think this is on the higher side of how much you’ll need. I had to go back to the store to buy more equalling out to be about 3 yards total.
- Needle: Make sure you buy a needle that is suitable for heavy fabrics, upholstery, or jeans. I made my sister a dress out of some thicker fabric and my needles (for lightweight to medium fabrics) kept breaking. I went through 3 different needles sewing that dress. Frustrating.
- Leather like string to wrap around the buttons to secure the flap to the bag.
- Seam allowance: 1/2″ all around
I cut out a pattern from some file folders. I based my sizing off Dana’s Hobo Sack. I knew I wanted mine a bit bigger so my dimensions for the bag were 14″ wide x 16″ tall. This does not include the 1.5″ cut out at the bottom of the patter. If you included the bottom measurements the total height would then be 17.5″ tall.
Make sure you make the cut outs at the bottom of the bag. Mine was 1.5″ square. Click here for more details.
My dimensions for the flap were 14″ wide x 8″ tall. I also rounded out the edges of the flap.
Using the patterns above cut out two pieces for each fabric choice.
Pin wrong sides together. You want the stripe fabric to be the liner so that’s why to pin them wrong sides together instead of right sides together.
Fold up the corner pieces you cut out and stitch with the liner fabric on the outside. Check out the MADE tutorial for more specifics.
I wanted to add a tag (label wannabe) to my hubs bag to make it look more like it was professionally made. I’d love to get actual labels made but that will have to wait. They cost like $200. That’s on my wish list. 🙂
To make a little tag just cut out an 1″ x 3″ piece of fabric. I chose the lining fabric since it would contrast with the outside of the bag. Fold over the edges to the middle of the fabric and sew down each side.
Once you sew the corners together (do this to both pieces), place one piece of the fabric inside the other. Make sure you place your tag where you want it so you can stitch that in place when you sew the front and back together. (See the Hobo Sack tutorial for more info.)
Sew a 1/2″ seam all the way around and curve with the fabric when you hit the bottom around the corners. This is when the heavy-duty needle comes in handy!
Next, you’ll want to create a casing if you choose to do the drawstring closer. (See the Hobo Sack tutorial.)
I created the casing by folding over about 1.5″ of fabric so the brown corduroy is on the outside. (Sorry no picture, I must have been on a roll sewing b/c I missed a couple of pictures from here to how to add the flap!) lol
When that is complete use the flap pattern to cut out a brown piece and a stripe piece. Pin and sew them with right sides together. Make sure to keep an opening so that you can turn the flap right side out.
After you turn the flap right side out do a double stitch all the way around it. This helps with closing the opening you kept in order to turn the flap right side out without having to do a hidden stitch to close it. Doing a double stitch always makes things more durable.
Like I said above, I must have got carried away because I forgot to take a picture of me pinning the flap to the bag.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
You want to take the top of the flap (the straight edge) and pin it to the back of the bag about an inch or so down. It will roughly be sewn right around where your stitches were from sewing the casing. This depends on how much you want the flap to hang down in the front. My husband wanted a longer flap in the front so that’s why I only stitched it in the back about an 1.5″ down. If you want a shorter flap then pin it down furter in the back. Make sure you double stitch this also for added durability.
After you sew on the flap, YOU’RE ALMOST DONE! Take your two buttons and place them on your bag where you’d like them.
Sorry for the blurry pictures. I got a new little point and shoot camera and I can’t seem to take consistent pictures with it. Maybe my dear friend Courtney can help me figure it out. 🙂
Here is a blurry picture of what your bag should look like at this point. Don’t mind the straps, we’ll get there next! Notice the little tag label on the left side of the bag.
Buttons: Start from behind the flap and start hand sewing on your button. Weave your needle thru all the holes a few times. I doubled up my thread to make it more sturdy. Do this to both buttons. One on the flap and one on the bag.
Now onto the STRAP!
I must preface this and say that you should definitely try to add the straps before you sew the front and back pieces together. I did not do this and it was quite challenging to sew on this canvas strap.
I found that the corduroy fabric wasn’t as stiff as I wanted it to be so I had to come up with an idea to make the back stronger. Adding the strap for the right size for my husband was lots of trial and errors. You’ll have to play with how tight you want the bag to fit around you. My husband is a muscular guy and he wanted the bag to be more on the snug side. So the strap for his bag is about 30″ once you have sewn it down.
You need to start off by pinning one end of the fabric (cut the 3 yards of canvas in half) to the middle of the back of the bag. Take the strap and pin the extra to where is lays flat at the bottom of the bag about 1.5″ from the bottom. Again, you’ll need to try this on for fitting for the exact measurements and how tight or loose you want it.
Once you pin on the first strap sew the top piece on. My piece was sewn onto both the flap and the bag. Sew a square and make an “X” with your thread in the center. For the bottom of the strap just sew straight lines down both sides with about a 1/4″ from the edge. This part was hard and where I injured my poor little thumb. This is also why I think it would be a better idea to 1. not sew when you’re tired and 2. sew the straps on first before you sew the front and back pieces together. If you don’t do that you’ll need to turn the bag inside out and then sew from the inside and maneuver your fabric around.
When you have that complete, cut out 2 pieces of strap from the remaining canvas belting about 12.5″ long with a 45 degree angle. Cut another piece about 11″ long. The 2 12.5″ long pieces will be sewn on vertically about an 1″ from the sides of the bag when laying flat.
Pin the side straps on the side to start creating an open square. Pin the bottom of the side pieces over the bottom strap.
Sew along each strap about a 1/4″ from the sides.
Pin on your last piece that is 11″ long to the top.
Sew down each side.
The square on the back gives the bag support and durability.
Voila! The back and straps are completed!
To add the string to the button just weave it through the bottom side of the button a few times and make a tight knot from the back side.
Start winding your string around the buttons and you’re done!!!!!!
Here’s an inside shot of the bag with a banana picture my husband wanted to add(?). I love that man! This bag suits him perfectly. He’s a little crazy and funny but can be serious and studious when he needs to be!
The bag is ready to carry with books, water bottles, or long sleeve shirts for the cooler weather that’s coming your way!!
If you end up making the bag, let me know! I’d love to see how it turned out. If some things are not clear in my instructions let me know and I’ll help you out!
Leave a comment and tell me if you like the bag and tutorial!
Watch out over the weekend for a FREE GIVEAWAY to celebrate fall just like Starbucks celebrates fall with Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!!!!
Peace.
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