Laptop Bag Tutorial
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Copyright 2009 Dreams in Seams
For home use only. Not to be published, reproduced, used or sold commercially
without express permission of Dreams in Seams ([email protected]).
Materials Needed:
(This bag was designed to fit a laptop 14 x 10.5 x 1.5, if your laptop is bigger, you will
have to adjust the sizes and fabric amounts) ½ inch seam allowances are included
Main Fabric ¾ yard
Contrast Fabric for handle, sides
and bottom (I used decoratorweight for strength and the wider
width) ½ yard
Lining (I used fleece) ½ yard
(3/4 yard for regular-width
fabric)
Fusible Fleece ½ yard
¼ inch elastic – 3.5 inch piece
Button, thread, 2 inch length of Velcro
Cut the following pieces:
Main Fabric: (if using a stripe, plaid or geometric fabric you should read ahead to find
out where you are going to want your fabric pieces to line up before cutting).
2 pieces 16.5 x 12.5
1 piece 16.5 x 11
2 pieces 16.5 x 7.5
Contrast Fabric:
1 piece 3 x 39.5
2 pieces 45 x 3
2 pieces 6.5 x 2.5
Lining:
1 piece 16.5 x 10.5
2 pieces 18.5 x 13.5
Fusible Fleece:
2 pieces 16.5 x 12
1 piece 3 x 38.5
1 piece 2 x 45
1 piece 2 x 5
If you make it through all that cutting – congratulations! You are now ready to sew!
1. Get your iron out and fuse some fleece!
Attach fusible fleece to the following pieces:
Main Fabric 16.5 x 12.5 pieces, there will be a ½ inch strip of un-fleeced fabric at the
top of each piece – these will be the sides of your bag.
Contrast Fabric 3 x 39.5 piece, once again there will be a ½ inch strip of un-lined
fabric on each end – this will be the sides and bottom of your bag
Contrast Fabric 3 x 45 piece – place the fusible fleece so there is ½ inch of un-lined
fabric on either side (these will be your seam allowances and reduce bulk in the
finished product) – this will be one side of the handle of your bag, add the 2 x 5 piece
on top of the other fleece in the center – or fuse it to the center of the other 3 x 45
piece – this will provide extra padding at the shoulder when carrying the bag.
2. Make the pocket.
Take the 16.5 x 11 piece of main fabric and the 16.5 x 10.5 piece of lining and pin
them together. Fold over the top of the main fabric towards the lining, and then again
over the lining to create the top of the pocket.
Stitch into place.
Place pocket on top of one of the lined bag sides and baste into place. (Make sure the
unlined ½ inch of fabric on your main piece is at the top!)
3. Create the bag flap.
Sew remaining pieces of contrast fabric to remaining pieces of main fabric to create
the contrast detail on the flap. Fold elastic into a loop and pin onto the middle of the
contrast fabric, with the ends at the edge of the fabric and the loop facing in.
Place pieces right-sides together and stitch along three sides, leaving the long mainfabric edge unstitched. Backstitch over the elastic for extra strength. Turn and press.
It should look like this:
Are you still with me? It’s going to start looking more like a bag soon, I promise!
4. Create the main bag pocket.
With right, sides together, pin the edge of the 3 x 39.5 contrast fabric piece to the
sides and bottom of the main fabric with the pocket. To make the corners, snip the
contrast fabric ½ inch away from the edge with a scant ½ inch long snip. (See photo)
Sew together, pivot at the corners being careful to stay on the contrast fabric. Repeat
with the other side of the bag – make sure you pin them right-sides together!
Turn right-side out. You now have the main
pocket of your bag!
Add Velcro to the pocket by pinning one side to the inside of the pocket, and one side
to the main bag fabric and stitch in place.
5. Sew the Lining
Place the two remaining lining pieces right-sides together and sew along 3 edges,
leaving one long-edge open.
To create the same square-shape as the main bag, you will need to square the corners.
To do this, grab the corner and squish it so that the bottom and side seams are lying
against each other (see photo). Place your measuring tape so that the 1-inch mark is
at the seam, and zero and 2 inches are along each side and draw a line. Repeat on the
other side.
Sew along the line you
drew and then trim the
corners. Voila! You
have squared your
corners!
6. Create the strap. (Keep going – we’re almost at the end!)
Place the two strap pieces right-sides together and sew along the two long edges,
against the fleece lining. Turn right-side out and press. (I like to keep a section
unstitched in one of the long edges of the handle and turn it that way because I think
it is easier, however, there are some talented sewers that have no problem turning
tubes of fabric inside out – I envy them!) Topstitch along both long edges.
7. Putting it all together – this is the fun part!
Turn your main bag pocket inside-out.
Pin your bag flap to the right-side of the bag back, matching raw edges.
Pin the handle ends to the right-side of the sides of your bag, letting the ends extend a
½ inch beyond the edge of the bag. (Make sure your handle isn’t twisted – the loop
will lie neatly inside your inside-out bag.)
Lay the right-side of your
lining into the bag,
matching raw edges, side
seams with the center of the
bag sides, and the centers
of your lining with the
centers of the bag. Pin,
transferring pins at handle
and flap through all layers
of fabric. Mark a spot on
the front of the bag where
you will leave a 4 inch
space un-stitched for
turning.
Stitch the lining to the bag.
Now the magic happens – turn the bag right-side out through the hole you left unstitched. Push the lining into the inside of the bag and pull out the strap and flap.
You now have a laptop-bag! (Amazing, isn’t it?) Now to finish it off!
Top-stitch around the outside edge of the bag, close to the edge.
Stitch another line of stitching ¼ - 3/8 inch below each side of the handle for strength.
(I usually like to create a nice strong box with a cross through it for added durability
but my machine had trouble getting through all the layers of fabric. If your machine
can do it – go for it!)
8. Do the dance of joy! Your bag is finished!