I enjoy sewing bags and accessories that are practical. I am used to sewing bags where you sew exterior first, then the lining and then complete the project with sewing both wrong sides together leaving a gap to turn inside out. Finish the bag by topstitching to close the gap and nice look.
I was looking for a messenger bag which is sturdy and useful. I found a class on Craftsy by Annie Unrein called Sew Sturdy: The Multitasking messenger bag, where no quilting is required. This bag is stylish and functional that’s perfect for everyone. It can be sewn in fun fabric or just plain canvas for rugged look. It has an adjustable carrying strap, mesh pockets, zipper pocket and dividers.
Annie Unrein has her own teaching style. She is well organized; all the instructions are easy to follow with detailed step by step demonstration. Along the way, she shows lot of techniques to make the sewing easy. I have learned a lot during this class and I am sure I will use all her tips in future sewing projects.
This was my first time making a bag with Duck canvas and Soft And Stable. I enjoyed sewing with Soft And Stable as it is easy to sew and work with. I had difficulties in sewing with thick layers and binding all the seams. I had to use a seam ripper while binding the edges as my machine was under-powered to handle thick layers. I also broke 4 needles while completing this project. It was not the class but I used the wrong needles and should have tried sewing with quilting cotton first instead of canvas or used a heavy duty machine — lesson learned!
This is not an easy project if this is your first time sewing with layers. But I think once you have sewn this bag, it will be easier to sew it the next time. I enjoyed making this bag, even though I had to rip the seams a couple of time.
Here are some things I would like to suggest before you start this bag:
- Watch the entire class first and take notes while completing all the lessons.
- If you have any questions, ask on Craftsy platform or read through the questions and answers from the community first. Annie Unrein has replied to most of the questions so chances are, your question is probably already answered there.
- Make sure you have all the supplies beforehand. It helps to complete your project quicker.
- It really helps if you label all the pieces upfront, as some of them are almost of the same size.
- Use right kind of needle and go slow while sewing through layers. Having a heavy duty machine will be ideal.
- Follow the cutting layout so that you won’t waste the fabric.
I enjoyed this class a lot and of course the bag which turned out to be beautiful and useful. My husband is very happy to use it for his work.
As always...when in doubt, just Craft and Sew!