I started a Magic Softshell messenger bag earlier in the year. I almost finished it, then discovered that the dimensions I had used for the pocket weren’t right. After some unwise unpicking where I accidentally made a small hole in the lining, I added the bag to the depths of “UFO Mountain”.

A while later, I made the mistake of being on a 3 mile walk while it was raining – the rain came through the waterproof bag I had taken with me. So I realised it would be wise to have a properly waterproof bag before the winter.

Luckily I had enough of this Magic Softshell left over to cut another bag, and armed with some printed poly cotton left over from another project, I set to worry cutting out a new bag from my favourite Crazy Little Projects pattern.

It’s not the easiest fabric to get a decent photo of. The original fabric I was aiming on buying didn’t get enough preorders, so I had to change to the red soft shell. When the fabric is wet the magic happens, and clouds & rain appear.

I’m sticking with my previous amendment to this pattern, of including a patch pocket with a flap on the front flap instead of a zipped pocket. This actually makes it a lot easier to open, and there’s less things that can go wrong (like the zipper pull coming off when I unzip the pocket!).

All the seams are sewn with a triple straight stretch stitch for strength, and I also zigzagged the curved corners just for ease of mind if I put anything heavy int he bag. The main seam stitches should be fine without that, but I like to err on the side of caution.

Just the lining to sew, then I can start putting it all together!

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Pattern: Messenger Bag by Crazy Little Projects
Fabric: Magic Softshell by Mibs Fabrics (now closed)