How to Make a Men's Sling Bag from Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

From Beginner to Beyond: DIY Kits → Pattern + Materials

Babylon Leather DIY Kits are loved by leathercraft beginners, sewing enthusiasts, and aspiring bag makers. Each kit includes pre-cut and pre-punched leather pieces, the necessary hardware and tools, and a clear step-by-step video tutorial.

After making a few beautiful bags, you may start wanting to go beyond stitching—to cut leather, finish edges, punch holes, and explore the steps that come before assembly.

That feeling of “I want to make more!” is hard to resist. The more you explore leathercraft, the more fascinating it becomes. It feels like stepping into a whole new world of creativity—and once you open that door, it’s hard to stop.

But here’s the question:

As a beginner, I’ve only practiced stitching so far, and I feel pretty good about my stitches. So, what should I learn next? Where do I go from here?

Making a leather bag involves more than just stitching. There are many steps along the way, and having a clear, beginner-friendly process can make everything much easier. Let’s take a look

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How to Make a Men's Sling Bag from Scratch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Beyond DIY Kits, Babylon Leather offers a more advanced way to create: Pattern + Materials, a one-stop solution with everything you need to make a bag from scratch.

Let’s start with this simple and popular men’s sling bag. Follow along as we take you from 0 to 1, turning a piece of leather into a finished bag step by step.

Materials Needed:

1. Pattern & Template:

Babylon Leather Patterns are designed to make leathercraft easier for beginners. Whether you choose a physical acrylic pattern, kraft paper pattern, or a printable PDF pattern, each can be used directly for leather cutting and punching—no additional measuring required. Simply follow the pattern at a 1:1 scale.

Acrylic Patterns: Durable and designed for repeated use, making them a great choice for long-term projects.
Kraft Paper Patterns: Softer and more affordable, while still reusable. However, they are less durable than acrylic patterns over time.
PDF Patterns: Print the pattern at 1:1 scale and use the printed template directly for cutting and punching. Be sure to check whether the template requires A3 or A4 paper before printing. Our customer service team provides specific printing instructions for each PDF pattern.

Here is the sling bag pattern: BABYLON™ Men's Sling Bag Making Leather Pattern AAB-863

2. Recommended Leather:

You can use any leather you love for this bag—choose your favorite color, texture, and finish to make it truly your own.

For the best balance of structure and softness, we recommend 3–4 oz. (1.2–1.6 mm) top-grain or full-grain cowhide leather. A medium-firm leather will help the bag hold its shape while still giving it a soft, comfortable feel. Lychee-grain leather is our top recommendation! Its rich texture adds a refined touch while keeping the bag structured yet naturally relaxed.

For beginners, we recommend preparing approximately 4–6 square feet of leather for the entire bag.

If you prefer a leather shoulder strap, you’ll need some extra leather to cut the strap as a continuous piece. However, we also recommend trying a webbing strap for this bag—it creates a more modern and casual look that pairs beautifully with the leather.

Check the Lychee Pattern Leather: Lychee Pattern Leather

3. Hardware & Accessories:

This bag requires two zippers—one for the main compartment and one for the front pocket. Babylon Leather offers a Hardware Set for Men’s Sling Bag, which includes the two zippers needed for this project.

For the shoulder strap, we recommend using a nylon webbing or fabric strap with an adjustable buckle or clip for easy length adjustment. The shoulder strap needs to be purchased separately. If you’d like a matching strap, please contact our customer service team for assistance.

Hardware Set for Mens Sling Bag

4. Thread & Basic Tools:

Use strong, matching or contrasting color thread, needles, scissors, and an awl. Here’s a recommended beginner sewing tool kit from Babylon Leather. Besides the tools included in this kit, you generally won't need additional purchases unless you have specific crafting needs: Leather Craft Hand Sewing Tool Kit

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Print and Prepare the Pattern:

• Download and print Babylon Leather's PDF pattern at full scale, or use the physical pattern.
• Cut out the paper patterns and ensure all punch hole locations are clearly marked.

2. Cutting the Fabric:

• Pin the template pieces to your leather and trace the outlines, including punch hole locations.
• Cut out the fabric pieces, adding seam allowances (typically 0.5").
• Pre-punch the marked holes using a leather punch or hole punch tool.

3. Sewing Pockets and Components:

• Follow the template instructions to sew any internal and external pockets first. If installing zippered pockets, attach the zippers to the pocket pieces before sewing them onto the main fabric.

4. Assembling the Bag Body:

• Sew the front, back, and side pieces together with the right sides facing each other, following the punch hole guides for accurate alignment.
• Sew the bottom piece to the assembled sides and front/back, ensuring all edges align properly.

5. Attaching the Zipper:

• Sew the zipper to the top edges of the main fabric, ensuring it is centered and aligned properly. Use the punch hole guides for precise placement.

6. Installing the Strap:

• Attach the strap to the sides of the bag according to the template’s punch hole locations. Reinforce the stitching for added durability.
• Attach the adjustable buckle or clip to the strap, ensuring it functions properly.

7. Final Assembly:

• Turn the bag right side out.
• Check all seams and reinforce any weak spots if necessary.

Tips:

• Stitching: Use a sturdy stitch, such as a backstitch or triple stitch, especially around stress points like the straps and zippers.
• Reinforcement: Double-stitch or use bar tacks for extra strength at key points.
• Customization: Personalize the bag with additional pockets, compartments, or decorative elements like patches or embroidery.

Following these simplified steps with the Babylon Leather template will help you create a precise, durable, and stylish men's sling bag from scratch.

Babylon Sling Bag DIY Kit:

For a convenient all-in-one solution, consider the Babylon Sling Bag DIY Kit. This kit includes all the necessary materials and tools to create the sling bag, perfect for beginners and advanced crafters alike.

Check out this video of Tony creating a finished sling bag using the DIY kit and explaining his professional craftsmanship: Watch Tony's DIY Sling Bag Tutorial