I've got an XL that is just under that...DAMN!

i'd peg the cargo area of my large freight deluxe sling somewhere between 3458ci (box) and 3700ci (round). it's pretty cavernous, but compresses down nicely.

with loads that extend up past that, the flap and cargo straps fare well.

So how did y'all work up to making bags? I've made a few simple things - tt pads and such. Just wondering what type of project to try to tackle next. I'm thinking about a large seatpack since I'm not really happy with the ones on the market right now.

Read my posts ont eh first page it is how I learned and got into it I don't make mess bags and packs primarily I make accessory bags and panniers

Lots of cycling caps.

I started making bags Out of necesity. I was way into cycling, but there was not much of a community in columbus. I didn't really have the luxury of checking out all these different bags. I was able to check out a reload and i thought "i could make this better". Man, i was in for a surpirse. I launched into it, and realized how hard it is to make a good bag. I spent thousands (literally thousands) of hours in between work/school and all weekend making bags and researching materials (nearly all of this time was unpaid). After a few years of extremely hard work and being humbled, I was finally able to jump into it fulltime. Now i have a cool workshop, three employees, and plans of opening a store in the beginning of the summer! I feel really lucky. It has been amazing, but i will say that I am working harder than i ever have at anything. Finally those thousands of hours are paying off.

OK, actual question here.

If I wanted to get reflective material sewn on the flap of my Chrome bag, what brand/style do you recommend? I can get plenty of reflective tape, but that isn't durable.

Extra points if the fabric can be got in different colors, i.e. red or black.
Super extra points if someone can tell me how to take piping (usually on the sewn edges of backpacks) and make a super-reflective pinstripe effect - each pipe about 1" apart - that adds a neat 3-d cord effect to the bag.

If you're in San Diego, and do good work, I'll pay you to do this.

piping is a going to be a really laborious thing you would have to sew abunch of panels together with piping on each seam then sew that peice of composite fabric to what ever it aint easy and it aint fun
you could see how narrow you can find sew on scotch brite and then just sew it on it is a 3m product and available just about anywhere just get the sew on not the adhesive

Cool, thanks, just what I needed.

no problem

Ok so here is a question to all you veteran bag makers...

I just finished my second bag, and pretty happy with the way it turned out. It's in the custom mess bag thread or you can check it out here...

www.raytiley.info/bagproject.html

Sewing the trim on is a pain. Was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for sewing trim, or is just practice. I'm hoping the next bag I make will be a bit easier as I will use sunbrella bias tape, which is a little bit wider than the trim I used for those two bags.

Thanks

Love my SAG bag. Great deal, the details are beautiful and solid construction.

Don't really have a good pic, but here's the supergraphic.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/4...d68d675fa1.jpg

Those SÄGs look sharp. I really like the ones with the tarp outers. Is yours one of the "fake suede" ones? Is "fake suede" really just cordura, or is it made out of something entirely different?

for me it got way easier to sew a straight line when I got an industrial machine

A binder can help a lot, although they're still tricky on sharp corners, and they're not much help at all for inside curves. Check out http://www.atlaslevy.com/binders.htm and scroll down to the "Type 100LS" (it's the third one on the page). That bolts onto any machine that has a couple of properly placed holes in the bed, to the right of the foot (a lot of home sewing machines have at least one mounting hole in the right place -- two is better).

A walking foot helps somewhat, as does not using too long a stitch length (I sew binding with about a 4.5 to 5mm stitch length). Other than that, practice practice practice :D

It feels like suede. Waterproof and all. I sprayed mine with "rain and stain repellent" as well. It's an amazing bag.

Thanks for the replies. That binder looks interesting. As far as an industrial machine, I'm using a Juki J-6 it's old as hell but it gets the job done better than the newer home machines. I feel like my second bag came out much better than my first, hopefully I keep improving. It's fun, and I already have some friends that want me to make bags for them, which is good cause I have no need for anymore... :)

-ray

that is really nice. is there anywhere to buy those online that isnt in japanese? or that i can at least figure out how to order from?

hey guys I am just a tight ass or what I got my first industrial machine for 75bucks (old singer 591d) and no I am looking at a walking foot that is local what would be a good price for a 20yr old consew walking foot machine??
it looks to be in good shape and its all there and working just old is all..

Shop Gentei in Baltimore is the only US shop that carries them. The bags are quite inexpensive in Japan, but I have no idea what Gentei is charging for them.

SÄG are mainly a snowboard apparel company.

hey what do you idiots think abut buying a bag that you have not been able to put on
?

i would be worried about spending a lot of dough on a bag even if it was custom that could turn out to be uncomfortable

i dont care how well designed and made a bag is

if it feels like **** on my back it is worthless to me

::>Doofo-Esque Post<::

are you talking to me
?

My god I am starting to post like Doofo jees dude your rubbing off on people

it worked out pretty well..