So here I am, free from teaching until August, time on my hands. Lots of project ideas to kick around and I decide to start one today. I've got a little tool bag that I had mounted to the Shogun. It's a size I like. It matches the robin's eggshell blue of the bike. And my wife thinks it's cute.



Thing is, I'd like a leather version of it, so I figure I'll try to make one. I know next to nothing about leather work but I figure things out pretty well, so what the heck: I dive right in. I started with a lightweight - but stiff - piece of cowhide, leather stain/sealer to match my honey colored saddle, rivets, punch, and a couple of other small tools.



The basic bag is three pieces. Easy enough to figure out and make a template.



I used the punch and some waxed thread to stitch the pieces together. Halfway through I got to wondering if it would be better to stain it first...!



Here, one side is attached.



Here, both sides stitched and the stain has been applied with the surface buffed afterwards.



The bag is no good without a way to hang it or to close it. I experimented with an "improvement" on the original bag design.



Extra rivets in back. The guy at Tandy Leather assured me that one would be sufficient on each strap, but I feel better doubling up. Notice that the stitching is ... uh ... pretty crooked. I'd like to figure out a better way to keep the stitching lined up when I do this the next time.



And here is the finished bag. I was going to trim off the lengthy straps but I'm thinking about leaving them to dangle for the moment. Total time: two hours.

You did that in two hours? Nice job Azorch. BTW, if you'd like to improve your stitching lines, a punch designed for the purpose really helps. Called a pricking iron or stitch punch. I was using one myself just yesterday while making a clipped holster for my pruning shears. Makes in-line slits instead of holes.
Great looking pouch. I'm on to something similar for my next leather project.

Nicely done, AZORCH. Next thing you know you'll be giving a guy with the initials GB some well deserved competition.

Is that your Boulder Bike you have the bag posing on in the last photo?

Two hours?? I bet you could turn this into a little side business with that kind of turnaround.

I love DIY threads like this with lots of pictures.

Yes. OT, I know, but I'm sure enjoying it.

I appreciate the advice. The guy at Tandy recommended that tool too, but I was trying to do this on the cheap. Penny wise and pound foolish as it turns out, but I'm going to try another to get the process down.

OT, but the Boulder is really a lot in the spirit of C&V! I'd love to hear an in-depth comparison of the Boulder to the Shogun! I'm in the process of thinking out my own modern build, so I'm interested to hear what you have to say about it.

Nice work AZORCH! I'm working on a simple "barrel" bag in fabric as a stepping stone to more ambitious designs. Fun stuff

Ive been making notes on that very thing. I'll copy you when I solidify my thinking.

I love your Boulder. I gawk at it often on your Blog.

My wife is really interested in one, but she hasn't made a final decision.

Btw I'll take a bag when you go into production.

Wow- check you out with all your ingenuity and craftiness! Lovely!

nice job!

If you were to make that bag a little deeper (hang lower) and an inch or two wider, I'd be willing to buy one to pay for your time and materials. I don't even mind the quality of the stitching (as long as you are using waxed cotton thread which seems to last forever). The proceeds can buy that stitch punch tool for future projects.

For now anyway, this is just "fun time" - no intentions of going into biz. As for hanging depth: did you notice that the mod I made to the straps allows the bag to be either snug to the saddle (the way I like) or to dangle at progressively lower depths? That's a feature I like and stole from tool wraps that I've seen (and which is also on my summer project list.)

I don't think the straps are too long , just an excuse to add another buckle and strap an extra inner tube on there .

Obviously you are not done teaching for the summer. Nice job teaching us how to make one on our own.

Just took a look at the price for new Osborne stitch punches and nearly gagged. I ended up getting an old one on ebay and cleaning it up a bit. Works great, but yeah, they ain't cheap. I actually considered making one and, if I can figure out the slot spacing well enough, I'll be in touch. Thanks for the inspiration with this thread. Been meaning to dive in and now I think I will.

Great job and thanks for posting your process. I have been thinking of doing the same thing for some of my bikes.

I have leather working skills. Plus, my father, who was really good with leather items, passed away years ago leaving all of his leather working tools to me. If I do get to it, I have all the stamps, knives, carvers, needles and accessories to make some pretty nice saddle pouches or luggage bags.

The trick is finding the time. I don't even get to ride as often as I like.

another project for the summer, what with the students in my area throwing out leather couches right and left . That and recovering a couple of saddles .

That's a great idea for re-purposing the leather! When I recover saddles, I visit the thrift stores and come home with a leather coat, usually for around five bucks. The material is thin enough and pliable enough to wrap around all the tight curves that the nose of a saddle throws at you. I can usually only get two saddles (if I'm lucky) out of a single jacket due to the small pieces that have been stitched together to make the whole. A couch, on the other hand, seems to offer a much larger canvas.

and often a bit thicker leather . Sometimes, I just take the cushions, easier to transport . My Goodwill takes the leather jackets off the shelves in the summertime, so I have to get some jackets in spring and fall, but the humble couch can be a year round source .

That's a really nice bag. What weight leather did you use? I noticed the sides folded nicely when stitched. Congratulations on a nice bag.