ePattern and Tutorial - Fully Lined 6 Pockets Cross-Body Bag

Posted by Kashmira

One of the greatest pleasures in life is to give a handmade gift to a person who equally enjoys and revels in the fulfillment of using one's own two hands (with a little help from the sewing machine!) to create something. So when Sis said she'd been looking for a cross-body bag that could double up as her handbag and toddler-paraphernalia container, I decided that was the next pattern I would be working on. Luckily, she was vacationing in Minneapolis at the time so we were able to go fabric shopping together and she picked out her fabric. 

So, a few days and many stitches later, here's what we have for you: a bag that can quickly become your most trusted companion. It's big enough for your everyday essentials like wallet, keys, notebook, cosmetics, a snack, water bottle etc and yet allows you to go about your day hands free! It opens on the top with a zipper, has two open pockets at the front, a zippered pocket at the back, two side elastic pockets and an inner velcro-closure pocket. What's more, it's fully lined!

This pattern gives you the option of making either a regular strap or an adjustable one. Yes, you'd need a bit of sewing experience for it, but you can definitely use this pattern as a skill building tutorial where you can learn to sew zippers, make 4 different kinds of pockets, adjustable straps and more!

Go ahead and try this weekend project and enjoy your cross-body bag!

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Here are some details about the project:

Level: Intermediate. (No complex sewing techniques required other than sewing on curves.)

Time Required: 3 to 4 hours

Supplies: 
Basic sewing supplies such as sewing machine, thread, needle, pins, cutting mat and rotary cutter (optional), scissors, ruler/ tape, tailor's chalk or fabric marker, iron for pressing.
Additional sewing tool: Zipper foot for sewing machine

Fabric supplies as follows:
1. ½” yard cotton fabric for main bag
2. ½” yard cotton fabric for pockets
3. ½” yard cotton fabric for lining
4. ½” yard medium weight fusible interfacing
5. Two all-purpose 12” zippers in coordinating colors
6. Two pieces of ¼” wide elastic, 5” long each
7. One piece of Velcro 1” wide
8. Key clasp, 2” long ribbon (optional)
9. For adjustable straps: One 1.75” square/D-ring/O-ring and one 1.75” slider

Finished Size: The finished measures 10" * 10" * 3"

Link to ePattern and Tutorial: Download ePattern and Tutorial here.

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Lastly, c'mon - did you think it didn't cross my mind that this topic was ripe with cross-body jokes and that I would let you go without one?

What do you get when you cross an elephant with a kangaroo?
Holes all over Australia!