Bag lady wannabe

A laptop was donated to me by N and it came with a bag with lots of zips and compartments and straps, well padded and ideal for transporting my laptop.  BUT  time consuming to put the laptop into just to carry it safely down and up stairs so I have decided to use a parcel of my African material to make myself a 'bag'.
I have also commandeered DH's desk!  Naturally there are no photos showing the process, just the finished item, I do simple - no pattern, stitch as you go and then find easier ways!  Eldest daughter always asked  for "the second one you made, it's better!"

So here we are - I shall make a sleeping bag insert out of the white sheet,  which is a necessity and no problem.

For my bag, I laid out the material and placing my laptop onto it measured out the main pieces - I wanted to make the bag in double material not just for neatness but also to give it strength - then measured out the plastic foam but this time just a single layer.
I added two side pieces and stitched them onto one side only.  I then inserted the foam and handstitched the sides so that the bag became an envelope.  

Laptop just fits nicely

Two long strips stitched together on the short seams, folded and stitched into one long circle about two inches wide, was going to be my handles and also wrap around the bag so that there was added carry strength.  Sorta like the diagram (but not in this order - I mean ..... this is simple!)
After pinning 'the belt' into place I stitched each strap on both edges in one continuous stitching.

There was still lots of material left (a top and skirt maybe?!) so I made a little bag for the extras, (cables and external hard drives) but just made the handle attached to the top edge.









This is how they look when I carry them around, I link the smaller bag handle over the main bag handles.

Bright, cheerful, strong, convenient.

A good day's work, methinks