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Crossbody Sling Bag | Printable Sewing Pattern With Video

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

A great option for experienced stitchers, download and sew Debbie Shore's crossbody sling bag.

This is a bag that will make you wonder how you ever did without. It’s handy for travelling, going abroad or taking to work or college as well as everyday use. Designed to be worn across the body, this useful bag has multiple pockets. There’s a front patch pocket with snap-down flap and two zip pockets, one cleverly hidden under the flap of the front patch pocket and the other on the back, so they should both be good places to stow valuables. There’s also a good-sized inside pocket, and the main body of the bag also zips up. The strap can be attached to either of two rings, one on each side of the back at the bottom, meaning that the bag can be worn over either shoulder. This makes a perfect school/college/work bag with plenty of compartments to keep you organized.

I’ve made the bag for the instructions in patterned indigo denim, while for the video I’ve used a waterproof canvas, but you can choose any woven fabric you like, making it a good project for any member of the family! In the video, I used a contrast fabric for the front pocket and its flap: don’t be afraid to play around with fabric combinations in the same way to make a bag that reflects your style. If you wish, you could also add a pad for the shoulder strap using instructions from the Craft Storage Bag from June 2023.

Note: use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance

Finished size: approx. 10½ x 13 x 2½in (27.75 x 33 x 6.5cm)

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine with a standard foot and zipper foot
• Sharp pair of scissors
• Erasable marker pen
• Fabric glue pen
• Wet fabric glue: I use Gutermann HT2
• Basting spray (505)
• Optional: denim needle if your fabric is thick
• Optional: spray starch if your fabric needs it to press well
• Optional: erasable fabric marker
• Optional: fabric clips – especially helpful if you’re using thick fabric 

Materials

• 19 x 44in (48 x 112cm) of outer fabric: mine is indigo patterned denim
• 19 x 44in (48 x 112cm) of lining fabric: mine is a blue floral fabric
• 25 x 36in (63.5 x 91.5cm) of fusible fleece, such as Vlieseline H630/H640 
• One snap fastener: mine is red to match the zips 
• Four 12in (30.5cm) nylon zips: these are longer than you need, but I find it easier to use four longer zips and cut them to the length needed; I chose red zips for a colour pop 
• Two 1in (2.5cm) rectangular rings or D-rings
• 1in (2.5cm) slider for the strap
• 1in (2.5cm) swivel clasp
• 94in (240cm) of ¾in (2cm) wide bias binding

Cut:

• Two front/back pieces from outer fabric using your pattern 
• Three front/back pieces from lining fabric using your pattern if your lining fabric is plain, or four front/back pieces if your lining fabric has a distinct right and wrong side
• One strap holder from your pattern 
• One front pocket flap from outer fabric using your pattern 
• One front pocket flap from lining fabric using your pattern 
• Two outer and two lining pieces each measuring 17 x 1½in (43 x 4cm) for the zip gusset
• Two outer and two lining pieces each measuring 3 x 9in (7.5 x 23cm) for the side panels
• One outer and one lining piece each measuring 11 x 3in (28 x 7.5cm) for the base
• Four outer pieces each measuring 2 x 2in (5 x 5cm) for the zip tabs
• Two outer pieces each measuring 2 x 3in (5 x 7.5cm) for the loops at the ends of the zip
• One outer and one lining piece each measuring 9½ x 5in (24 x 13cm) for the front pocket 
• One lining piece measuring 9½ x 17½in (24 x 44.5cm) for the back pocket lining
• Two outer pieces each measuring 3 x 4in (7.5 x 10cm) for the rectangular ring tabs
• One outer and one lining piece each measuring 8 x 6in (20 x 15cm) for the inside pocket
• 40 x 4in (101.5 x 10cm) strip of outer fabric for the strap: you may wish to check the measurement is right for you using a tape measure draped over your shoulder or make this shorter if the bag is for a child

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