Finally, the tutorial is up! It’s terribly late by my own standards because I was planning to release this on Monday but it’s already Wednesday. I tried to do something different this time and got too ambitious, but I think the results are worth it!
First of all, the tutorial is really more of a how to make, and dimensions are really entirely up to you. This tutorial shows you the basic steps to make this simple, reversible bag with a detachable strap. You can wear it cross body, or double up (like I did in the picture) on the shoulder. Remove the long strap and it will be a tote.
For the detachable strap, I used D rings on the bag’s main body, and for the hook I bought it locally, but it is called a swivel hooks/lobster clasps with a D ring. I’ve linked to one on Amazon (affiliate link) for your reference, but you should check to see if it is the size and color you want, in case you want to vary the width of your strap.
Customize it anyway you want! Lengthen or shorten the straps, size of the bag, remove the D-rings and just make a tote, make it your own!
Last but not least, the gorgeous fabric that inspired it all.
Nani Iro 2013 collection HERRING BONE pencil in white and aqua – canvas.
One more thing. For this project I used the above (which is not quite heavy duty canvas but thicker than normal cotton), as well as an upholstery fabric (which is thick and has some body) for the lining. That’s why I did not use any interfacing. If you have made bags before, you will realize that interfacing is necessary to provide structure to a bag. So I leave it up to you, depending on your fabric choices, whether or not to apply interfacing. For a step by step on how interfacing is applied, you can refer to my previous sew along of the granny bag.
All right then, here’s the tutorial! I am still uploading the youtube video so I will update it here later on once that’s live. Leave me any questions you have in the comments below. Have fun sewing!
Sewing video on youtube
6 Comments
The bag is really nice, simple but nice. Great choice of fabrics! I really like the fabric you used for lining. Is it possible to buy that fabric in Singapore? 🙂 Thanks.
Wow, that video was incredible — so clear even to this very very new sewer. I’ve only taken one 5 hour sewing class, but I think I understood everything you laid out in the video. And that fabric is gorgeous. Thank you for posting it!
Thank you for this very clear well explained video. I have just made my own tote while using your video and am very happy with the results of my own bag. The only mistake I made was not pushing in the straps in between the lining and outer piece while sewing them together but it was easily fixed. I hope that my mistake will help others to be mindful and not make the same mistake also. Again, thank you!
Instruction very clear.how do I get the pattern
[…] Today I came with a Japanese crafts inspired shoulder bag pattern. This wonderful looking shoulder bag pattern is shared at “Japanese Sewing Books” blog for free. This bag can be used as a shoulder bag as well as a tote. You can find the tutorial on how to sew this nani IRO reversible shoulder bag from HERE. […]
[…] the first time this type of weave has appeared in the nani IRO textile range, for example, in the nani IRO reversible tote bag tutorial I posted 5 years ago, I used a canvas from the Nani Iro 2013 collection called pencil in white and […]