Cyclaholic

This was my first ever attempt at sewing so be gentle

size - XXXXXXXXXXXXXL (friggin huge!)
1000 denier cordura outside
Some sort of tarp material of unknown origin inside
2" wide webbing with 3" shoulder pad

I like the biohazard symbol, and I think it works like funky colors on caterpillars that lets predators know they're toxic.... it warns the cagers to not fu'k with me

Yes, I know it's a ***** stenciling job on the flap because I suck @ stenciling, although I like the rough 'industrial' look like you'd find on the side of a packing crate.


Pockets


It's big, and you might be able to make out the loop I made with 1" webbing, to hang keys in the pocket.
No internal dividers because I didn't think of putting any in until after I sewed it up.


I'm 240lb and 6' plus change, and this bag fits me like a glove, I love it!


Strap arrangement.
That little stabilizer strap has a buckle at each end so it can be completely removed and stored away but it makes enough of a difference that I can't see myself ever not using it... I suppose it would make a handy torniquet in case of snakebite.


I was surprised how much work went into it. I now have much respect for the guys that custom make these things to a standard that makes mine look like a potato sack, and still somehow make a profit.

passerby

wow that looks really good, great job!

tu _madre51

I'm surprised at the stencil job after you made that sweet bag.

hackybiker

Damn! Very impressive.

Golden3ye

did you have any tailoring experience before you made this?

I love projects and learning new skills but I have never sewn in my life and am hesitant to dive in

Cyclaholic

Nothing, not a single stitch of experience before I started! I made a few test bags out of sheets of plastic and sticky tape, and pretty much made it up as I went along. I had a look at my old backpack to see how seams are done.

Reading through some of the bag-related threads here helped a lot.

If you have a machine (I have an old domestic basic model) and a bit of material then just go for it.

CliftonGK1

What I found to be the most difficult in making my first bag was finding a machine/needle combo that could punch through the layers of material I was using. If you're just using a 10oz liner/1000D/poly edge bias, then pretty much any machine will do. My $60 cheap-o Singer from Target does fine with that using a denim needle. (Singer purple stripe needles)
I went with some stronger stuff and multiple fabric layers on a bag I made for my girl, and ended up handwalking the machine through quite a bit of the work because the motor just wasn't strong enough to handle 18oz tarp liner, 1000D, Sunbrella bias tape, a strip of Velcro and a strip of 8oz vinyl on some of the decorated parts.
Cheap machine motors also can't punch through layers of thick belt webbing if you're using something really thick for the shoulder strap. I ended up using 1/4" hand hammered rivets to attach the strap to her bag, which I think looks pretty badass.

frymaster

that is an awesome looking bag. definitely a solid first effort!

clifton: do you make bags as your 'gig'? do you have a specific pattern for your bags? what's the average cost of materials for a bag?

CliftonGK1

Sewing stuff is just a hobby; repairing clothes is cheaper than buying new stuff, and making my own bags is cheaper (for the materials I use) than buying a pre-built.
I can't remember where the pattern is online, but it was originally linked from a thread here. Maybe it was the other "custom bags" thread in ss/fg? It's a pretty simple pattern which is essentially a single sheet cutout for the flap and main body, with just a single seam up either side on the back. It's not phenominal for structure of the main body since there's no front-edge seam to add rigidity to the bag; so it does kind of "flop" open at the top when it's not fastened shut.
I spent around $80 on materials, but I went with heavy tarp liner, a few different colours of 1000D, Sunbrella and Scotchlite edge tape, and a bunch of other stuff I wouldn't have done if it wasn't a bag for my fiancee. For just an everyday functional, durable bag you can get away with about $50 in materials.

frymaster

you make the little wheels in my head turn...

Meepers

Here are templates.

https://chrismetcalf.net/blog/archive...bags-the-beta/
https://blog.makezine.com/archive/200...bag_out_1.html

CliftonGK1

Thx Meepers!

I used the last design on the Golden Mean page, linked in the C. Metcalf blog.

Meepers

your welcome. I made a few test bags, but i haven't found a strap design i like yet, so i have yet to put together a real finished product. and i have been busy as hell the past few month.

frymaster

and that first link's bag is based on phi! (what he calls 'the golden mean')

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio

really, how many bike nerds are there who are also math nerds who own a sewing machine? six? seven?