How To: Make a Book Bag

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

Like me, I'm sure you are always carrying around a novel or a book to read 'just in case' in your handbag or floating around in your car. If you're also slightly scatterbrained (guilty), you may find your books tend to look a little worse for wear after they have been living in your handbag for awhile.

So I created this book bag. It keeps my books dog ear free, saves them from that odd m&m floating in the depths of my handbag just waiting to melt all over something precious, and on the odd occasion when there is a makeup explosion it's an impenetrable shield.

Even if you're not a big reader, this little book bag is super handy to keep your diary, a pen and any paperwork that you might be carrying all together and neat.

Best of all it's super easy to make.

You will need:

• sewing machine
• 2 pieces of similar coloured, high wearing fabric cut into 55x30cm strips (I used Ikea Gunilla fabrics - they are cheap, hardy and funky)
• thread to match fabric
• needle
• ruler
• 2 pretty raised buttons
• 40cm of thin ribbon

This project will only take about half an hour, so let's get started.

NB: you can make the fabric pieces larger to fit school books, sketch books or magazines; or smaller to fit a small diary or even your mobile phone and iPod.

• First thread your machine with the matching thread. Don't worry if you are new to using a sewing machine; all you need to do for this project is sew in a straight line.
• Line you two pieces of fabric up so that the colourful sides face inwards and the back of each piece is visible.
• Using the machine, stitch the fabric together about 1cm in from the edge of each side and leaving a 10cm open gap along one of the short sides.
• Turn the fabric right way around, so that you can now see the colourful sides of each piece of fabric. Use the ruler to push the corners out as best as you can through the gap.
• Fold one end of the fabric over about 20cm to make a pocket and stitch it together about 6mm in from the edge. MAKE SURE the end with the gap is at the top of the pocket, where it will be least visible.
• With a needle and thread hand sew the gap together using a simple darning stitch.
• Sew one button on the front part of the pocket and one on the flap.
• Then tie the ribbon to one button, securing the knot with a stitch.

Now stuff your book bag full of books, carry them in your purse for as long as you like and marvel at how pristine and perfect your books stay forever (provided you don't spill chocolate on them while you are reading them!)

xo

PS To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (pictured above) is one of my all time favourite books. What's yours?