Midtown Messenger Bag

This is the Midtown Messenger Bag from Betz White.  It is April's Bag of the Month Club Bag. 
 

Midtown Messenger Bag-front

Lately, I have been making bags for others out of outgrown clothing they provide me.   So, I decided to make a bag from some of my children's outgrown clothing.  This bag was made from a pair of my son's cargo shorts, a pair of jeans, painter's cloth, and scrap fabric. 

  Since I deiced to use a pocket from the shorts on the front of the flap, I changed the pattern slightly here.  Instead of cutting the flap strip, flap center panel and flap side panel, I used the flap lining panel to cut the top of the flap piece.  The pocket on the flap is useable.

I love the look of the Tuck Catch Closures, but I had a hard time finding them.  There wasn't much of a selection online, either.  I finally had an "Aaaah Haaa! Moment."  I searched for and found the closest leather specialty store.  That is where I got the ones I used.   They were less expensive than the ones I found online, too. 

Midtown Messenger Bag-Front of bag under flap

 

Under the flap there is a divided slip pocket on the front.  I've left the pockets (from the shorts) useable.  Whew!  It was not easy to cut these pieces.   

Midtown Messenger Bag-Zipper top

This is a picture of the inside of the bag.  You can see the tablet pocket.  This pocket closes with a Velcro square.   

This is the back of the bag.  There is another slip pocket here.  As you can see, this is the top front of the shorts. 

I've tried on several occasions to make a "m-urse"  (A.K.A-a bag for a man).  :)   The men in my family  always tell me that the "m-urses" I make are too "girlie."   I thought "Oh ya!  I've got it now!  If I use my son's clothing, then it for sure will be 'manly.'"  So, what did they say when I showed them this bag?..."It looks girlie."  Whatever!  :)

 

So, what do you think?  Is this a "girlie" bag?