[Lesson Bags] Cute & Easy! A Roundup of Handmade Ideas
How about making a handmade “lesson bag” for your child’s classes using fabric in their favorite colors and patterns?
In this article, we introduce a variety of handmade lesson bag ideas, including lined and reversible styles, shoulder bags, and backpack styles.
A bag made just for them will surely boost your child’s motivation for their lessons!
We’ve gathered ideas that use simple steps to create cute, high-quality bags with ease, so please use them as a reference.
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[Lesson Bags] Cute & Easy! A Handcrafted Idea Pick-Up (1–10)
Lined drawstring backpack
A drawstring backpack can be worn over a school bag to carry gym clothes, and it’s also handy for outdoor learning days to tote a lunch and a water bottle.
While there are plenty of store-bought options, it’s actually easy to make one yourself—why not try a handmade version? Sew the outer and lining fabrics together while sandwiching the bag handle tape and a ring threaded with a D-ring.
Create a casing at the opening for the drawstrings.
Turn the fabric right side out, stitch the turning gap closed, then thread the cords through the opening and the D-ring, and you’re done.
With the handle attached, you can hang it on a desk or wall hook.
Lined lesson bag
When making a lesson bag, adding a lining increases the number of steps, which can be a downside, but the visual benefits—like hiding the seams—are significant.
So here’s an idea for a lined lesson bag.
First, join three pieces of fabric to create one outer panel, and sew on the handles.
This idea uses a color-blocked style, so the fabrics are pieced together, but if that’s not necessary, you can simply prepare a single-piece outer panel.
Place the lining right sides together with the outer piece and sew at the two points where the handles are attached.
Shift the fabric so the seam sits at the center, create a turning opening, and sew the sides.
Turn the piece right side out, close the opening, and stitch around the top edge to finish.
If you trim the corners at the bottom and sew them, you can add gussets as well.
Lesson bag made from a shirt
Why not remake shirts you no longer wear? You can turn them into a stylish tote bag.
Use the button placket as a design feature, and reuse the shirt pocket by attaching it to the front of the bag! If the shirt fabric is thin, add thickness with fusible interfacing.
Since the shirt will be used for the outer fabric, prepare a separate fabric for the lining.
The construction is the same as a basic tote bag: sew the pocket and handles onto the outer fabric, then stitch it together with the lining.
If you want a gusset, trim the corners at the bottom of both the outer and lining pieces and sew them together.
[Lesson Bags] Cute & Easy! Handcrafted Ideas Picked Out (11–20)
Laminated fabric lesson bag
Let’s try making a tote bag with water-repellent laminated fabric.
It’s a handy item to have since you can use it on rainy days.
This idea also skips the lining, so it’s easy to make.
Prepare two pieces of the outer fabric, place them right sides together, and sew a zipper to the top.
Cut squares from both lower corners, sew to create boxed corners (gussets), then sew the sides.
Turn the fabric right side out, attach handles made from the same fabric, and you’re done.
You can add a tag if you like.
Unlined Simple Lesson Bag
Here’s a handmade idea using quilted fabric from the 100-yen shop.
The fabric costs 200 yen, but even with the bag strap tape, the total material cost is just 300 yen! You’ll want to make several of these.
Since there’s no lining, the construction is simple—great for sewing beginners.
Fold the main fabric in half with right sides facing and sew the sides with a machine.
Fold the opening to the outside, insert the bag strap tape, and sew all the way around.
Then flip the tape upward and sew around the same way once more.
Add a pocket or a small accent to customize it however you like.
Nubi lesson bag
Nubi fabric is a type of quilted fabric, but it’s characterized by being lightweight and quick-drying.
This is an idea for making a lesson bag using that nubi fabric.
It’s very cute not only because of the nubi fabric, but also because a floral contrast fabric is used on the ends of the handles and the facing at the bag opening.
This design has no lining: you make the main body from nubi fabric and simply add the pocket and handles, so it seems easy to make.
It’s a recommended idea for anyone looking for a lightweight bag that’s easy for children to use!
Switching lesson bag
We tend to want to make lesson bags with sturdy fabric, but they can get bulky when you want to fold and store them.
In such cases, this color-block switch design is a useful idea.
Because you can use a different fabric for the base panel, you can make just the bottom part with a thicker material.
The construction is basic: sew the handles onto the outer fabric and then sew it together with the lining.
The difference is that you piece together three fabrics—including the base panel—to create a single outer piece.
If you’ve been wanting a switch-style design, give it a try.