Japanese Crafting with Mari: Monk's Bag
When I travel, I am always looking for the perfect travel bag. I like to have a bag that has a shoulder strap long enough to go across my chest, but with a wide strap for comfort. After years of trying to find one, I finally decided to make one! My husband and I took a trip to Japan 2 years ago, and I made a modified monk’s bag with some upholstery weight fabric. It worked like a charm! Enjoy! --Mari
Materials
- Fabric A - 1/2 yard of Echino print, I used Blue Bird Pixel
- Fabric B and C - 1 yard each of two Echino solids (if you want the lining to be the same color as the handles, 1 yard will suffice for one bag), I used Fuchsia for the exterior handles and Purple for the lining
- Straight Pins
- Coordinating or contrasting thread
- Rotary cutter
- Cutting mat
The Pattern
Notes
- Before starting, wash, dry and press your fabric.
- Be as precise as possible cutting your fabrics. Compare the pieces to one another to make sure they are the same.
- All of the seams for this project are 1/2-inch wide unless otherwise noted.
- For help using a rotary cutter, please see our Rotary Cutting Tutorial.
Cut Fabric
From fabric A
- Panels: cut 2 pieces that measure 9-inches wide by 14-inches long
- Pocket: cut one piece that is 7-inches wide by 11-inches long
From fabric B
- Exterior handle: cut 2 pieces that are 6.5-inches wide by 34-inches long
From fabric C
- Interior handle: cut 2 pieces that are 6.5-inches wide by 34-inches long
- Panel Lining: cut 2 pieces that are 9-inches wide by 14-inches long
Pin + Sew Exterior of Bag
- Align and pin one fabric A panel to one fabric B panel as follows: with right sides together, align long sides as well as the bottom edges, place pins along long edge.
- Sew a seam along the long edge, leaving a 1/2-inch gap at the top and bottom of the seam. Don’t press the seams until instructed to do so.
- Repeat with second fabric B panel on the opposite side of the fabric A panel.
When you have completed these steps your piece should look like the photo above.
- Align and pin the second fabric A panel to the opposite side of one of the fabric B panels as above, right sides together. Don’t forget to leave the 1/2-inch gap at the top and bottom of your seam.
- Finally, pin and sew the opposite side of the second fabric A panel to the remaining side of the fabric B. The exterior pieces will all be connected and should form a tube.
Pin + Sew Interior and Pocket
Sew the lining pieces as above, however before sewing the final seam, sew the pocket in place as follows:
- Take the fabric A pocket piece, and fold it in half, right sides together to create a 7-inch wide by 5.5-inch long piece. The fold will become the top of the pocket.
- Sew seams along both 5.5-inch sides.
- Turn the pocket right side out, fold in the open side (the bottom of the pocket) 1/2-inch and press.
- Pin pocket to one of the right sides of the interior panel pieces, about 3 inches from the top.
- Top stitch into place with a 1/4-inch seam allowance along the sides and bottom of the pocket.
Sew the final seam of the interior panel and handle together.
Assemble Bag
Fold and press the long edges of the handles to the inside 1/2-inch, and also the top edge of the fabric A panel 1/2-inch as pictured above. The 1/2-inch gap you left at the top and bottom of the seam will make this very easy.
Press the fabric A panel side seams towards the handles.
Repeat these steps for the lining.
Sew the tops of the handles together as follows:
- For the exterior of the bag, sew with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press seams open.
- For the lining, sew with a 1-inch seam allowance. Press seams open.
Sew the bottom seams of both the exterior and interior of the bag as follows:
- With right sides together, line up the two opposite panels, the handles will be folded in half lengthwise, pin into place. Sew seam using a 1/2-inch seam allowance.
Finish Bag
With wrong sides together, slip the lining of the bag inside the exterior of the bag.
Pin the lining and exterior of the bag along the top opening and the handles as pictured above. Take your time to get it right!
Top stitch using a 1/4-inch seam allowance all the way around starting from the top of one side of the panel pieces.
Your bag is finished! Enjoy!
purl bee
Reader Comments (22)
Two are for the exterior of the handles, and two are for the lining of the handles. You can really see this in the second to last image above.
I agree with Bethany, if I had enough fabric, I would also make the handle from one piece exterior and interior of 70x6.5 inches:) In fact I haven't noticed that it wasn't like that until I read the comments:-D
Yes two of fabric B and two of fabric C,thank you! I've corrected the pattern.
Joelle
The 9 x 14 pieces of fabric C are the panels for the lining of the bag. The lining is assembled the same way as the exterior with the exception of the pocket. You can find the directions for this step under the section above called "Pin and Sew Interior and Pocket". Please let us know if you need more clarification, we'll be happy to help.
Here's a photo, if you'd like to see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ofenjen/3200068025/
Loved the colors ,so clever thank you so much for sharing the monks bag with us!
http://www.favecraftsblog.com/favorites-friday-bags/
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for the tutorial!
You can see mine (the first one) here: http://sew-whats-new.blogspot.com/2009/01/monk-bag-from-mari-and-purl-bee.html
Here it is: http://patchworkinparadise.blogspot.com/2009/05/coy-little-bag.html
http://tangletown.squarespace.com/entries/2009/6/16/velo.html
I made it for a friend, who is shorter than me. I would need to lengthen the straps a few inches for to comfortably fit me (I'm 5'8" with some curves). I think it will fit her perfectly.
Your pattern was exactly what I needed. We took a 5 week family trip from Europe to Australia and I made four of these bags, in different sizes, one for each child and for myself. The children loved them and carried them everywhere themselves. On board the aircraft, shopping in the city. collecting shells on the beach and treasures from wherever. They each had responsibility for their own drink, purse and toy, if they chose to bring one out for the day. No more overloaded Mamma, no more having to stop and check right to the bottom of the backback where X was. The broad strap made the bag easy to carry and also made an easy eyecatching mark on the children in a crowd. Brilliant! Thank you so much.