Messenger bag in laminated cotton

I have had the desire to make a messenger bag out of laminated or oiled fabric for a long time now. Around a year ago I sent myself an email to make a note of the idea. Since then I purchased several lengths of laminated fabrics that I thought might work, and although I failed to find a good printed pattern, I found a few good tutorials. A couple months ago I cut out the fabric, and not wanting to rush (and also a little afraid to try sewing on the laminate), it took me this long to find the time actually to sew it. This weekend I had a little enforced alone time* and decided to use it to make this bag.

I used fabric from Tula Pink, because I just love her designs. Also frogs.

I used this excellent tutorial. The only real modification I made was changing the closure method and adding a zippered pocket. I also accidentally used a double loop instead of a slider, because I ordered the wrong thing, but it turns out to work the same way as the slider and with the laminate providing extra friction, seems quite stable.

I also used this tutorial for the zippered pocket and the magnetic clasps ("bonus tutorial" at the end). Very helpful!

Here is how it came out:


The tutorial I relied most upon used loops and buttons to close the bag, but I wanted a more streamlined look, so I used magnetic closures. I also added a zippered pocket.


There are three pockets on the opposite long side on the inside (and my label), and two wider ones on the outside, under the the flap.


All in all it was a fun way to spend the weekend and I am pretty pleased with how it came out.

The original plan was to make two of these, one for each niece, but since one is 14 and the other 11 I think it's too risky to try to please their senses of style...

* Adam's sister Tammy was running her first marathon, and he went down to VA to cheer her on. I was supposed to go, but Lilly the cat had complications from her spay operation and I had to stay home to give her her meds every 12 hours. We couldn't figure out another way. She is quite healthy now, I am pleased to say, and we expect to take off the cone of humiliation tomorrow: