Embroidered Laptop Messenger Bag

Create a custom sized laptop bag to transport your laptop and all its accessories. 

Colorful panels on the front add interest and dimension. Quilted cotton fabric and batting keeps a laptop and other valuables cushioned against a bump ride.

Read on for free project instructions!

First we will measure our laptop to find the dimensions. 

With the computer closed and with a tape measure, measure the width and the height.  Measure from midway along the side to midway along the opposite side. 

Take those measurements and add 1 inch to the width and 2 1/2 inches to the height.  This allows for seam allowances, room for the lining, and excess at the top so that the computer will not poke out. 

The laptop's measurements are 16 inches wide by 11 1/2 inches high. After adding in the allowances, the dimensions are 17 inches wide by 14 inches high.  These are the dimensions for the front of the bag.

Now we will prepare the fabric for the front of the bag. 

We chose a three-paneled front using three different colors of lightweight canvas.  To do this, cut one 6 inch by 17 inch piece for the left panel, one 7 inch by 17 inch piece for the middle panel, and one 8 inch by 17 inch piece for the right panel. 

If you like, you may cut one large piece for the front of the bag.  To do this, cut a piece of the canvas to the front piece dimensions and add a few inches of excess on all sides (for easier hooping).

To sew the panels together, align the right long side of the left panel with the left long side of the middle right sides together.  Pin in place and sew a � inch seam along the pinned edge only.

Lay the panels right side up and align the left long side of the right panel with the right long side of the middle panel right sides together.  Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edge only.

Lay the assembled front panel with the wrong side up and press the seams open.

Then, lay the front panel right side up and mark the front piece dimensions on the fabric.  We marked the dimensions so that the panels will all be a little different in size.

Create paper templates of the designs by printing them at full size using embroidery software. 

Trim around the designs to make them easy to place and rearrange.  Place the templates on the fabric and position as desired.  We positioned the designs about 5 inches from the top edge, 1 3/4 inches from the side edges, and 2 inches from the bottom edge. 

With an air-erase pen, poke a hole in the center of the designs and mark the fabric.  Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points on the fabric.

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the axis points.  These lines will be used for hooping.

Hoop the fabric with cutaway stabilizer that has been sprayed with temporary adhesive.  Make sure the seams on the back of the fabric lay flat under the stabilizer. 

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.  Move the hoop so that the needle is right over the center point on the fabric.  Embroider the design.

After the design has finished, unhoop the fabric and carefully trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

Then, rehoop the fabric, load the next design, position the needle over the center point and embroider the design.

After all the designs have sewn cut out the shape.

To prepare the fabric for the back pocket, we will use the dimensions of the front pocket.

Subtract 2 inches from the height.  Our front piece dimensions are 17 inches by 14 inches therefore our back pocket dimensions are 17 inches wide by 12 inches high.  Cut a piece of the brocade and canvas to the back pocket dimensions. 

Align the pieces right sides together and pin in place.  Sew a 1/2 inch seam along one of the long sides and both short sides.  Leave one long side open for turning.

Turn the pocket right side out and press the seams. 

Now we will add the zipper to the top edge of the pocket (the top edge is the seamed long side).  Lay the zipper along the top edge.  Align the zipper pull with one corner of the pocket and make a mark on the zipper by the other corner.

Sew a seam along the width of the zipper at the mark. This will seal off the end of the zipper.  This works with plastic polyester zippers only - do not sew over metal zippers!

Trim off the excess zipper by trimming it about one inch from the seam.

Lay the zipper and pocket right side up and tuck one side of the zipper under the top edge of the pocket and pin in place.

Using a zipper foot, sew a seam right along the top edge of the pocket, 1/8 inches from the zipper.

Next, measure and cut the fabric for the back (which includes the flap that will wrap around to the front). 

To do this, take the front piece dimensions and add the measurement you just took to the height.  For example, our front piece dimensions are 17 inches wide by 14 inches high, and our measurement was 5 inch.  So the dimensions for our back/flap piece are 17 inches wide by 19 inches high.

Lay the back/flap piece right side up and add the pocket with the open side aligned with the bottom short end of the back piece (the zipper edge will face towards the top edge of the back fabric).  Allow 1/2 inch between the right and left side of the pocket and the sides of the back fabric.  Pin the pocket in place. 

Then, cut a strip of bias tape the width of the zipper and wrap the tape around the top edge of the zipper. 

Pin in place.

Now we will prepare the fabric for the back of the bag. 

Measure between the top-most part of the designs and the top edge of the fabric on the front panel.  Take that measurement and subtract one inch.  This measurement will be used to determine the dimensions for the back piece and flap. 

Using a zipper foot, sew a seam along both sides of the tape. 

Also, sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom of the pocket.  

Now that the front and back pieces are complete we will assemble the bag! 

Lay the back piece flat with the right side up and align the front piece on top with the right side down.  Align the front piece with the bottom edge of the pocket on the back piece and pin in place. 

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom starting and stopping 1/2 inch from the top corners of the front piece. 

This allowance is needed for folding later on.

To prepare the lining, take your measurements for the front and back pieces and subtract 1/2 inch from all the dimensions.  For example, our front piece measured 17 inches by 14 inches and the back piece measured 17 inches by 19 inches. 

So, the dimensions for the lining pieces will be 16 1/2 inches by 13 1/2 inches and 16 1/2 inches by 18 1/2 inches. 

Cut the pieces from the quilted cotton.  Also, cut pieces of the high loft batting to the same dimensions.

Lay the quilted cotton with the short ends together (small piece on the bottom end of the large piece) and pin in place.  Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom again starting and stopping 1/2 inch from the top corners of the small piece.  Do not turn the lining right side out.

Next, spray the batting with adhesive and...

...smooth it on top of the sewn lining pieces on the outside of the lining. 

Match the appropriate sized batting with the lining.

Next, turn the outer shell (front and back pieces) right side out and insert it inside the lining matching the front of the outer shell with the small side of the lining and the back of the outer shell with the large side.

Align the edges together and pin in place along the top edge of the front and along the flap.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the top edge of the front (along the lining side) and along the sides of the flap - keep the top edge of the flap open for turning.

Turn the bag right side out.

Then, insert the lining inside of the outer shell.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the top edge of the front of the bag.

Trim 1/2 inch of the batting from inside of the flap along the open end.  Then, fold the edges of the open end in 1/2 inch and pin in place.  Sew a 1/8 inch seam along the pinned edge only.

Cut two 2 1/2 inch pieces of Velcro. 

Place the loop sides 2 inches down from the top edge of the front of the bag and one inch in from the sides.  Place the hook sides on the inside of the flap one inch from the top edges and one inch from the sides.

Pin in place and sew a seam around the edges of all the pieces.

To add the strap, cut a 48 inch piece of the cotton strap. 

Fold the ends in one inch and pin in place (with the folded sides down) on the back of the bag just above the bias tape of the pocket. 

Sew a seam around the ends of straps creating a square and then sew an "x" through the center.

Insert the laptop into the bag...

 ...and add the accessories to the pocket, zip it up, and away you go!