Messenger / Courier Bags List

ok here are some camera phone pics.

This is the first bag i've made (not even a bag or finished yet).

I had this old vinyl sign which i thought i'd use as a liner but in reality it is way too stiff, so i've used it to practice my bag pattern and see if my sewing machine is up to the task.

It turns out, the pattern is great, and the sewing machine is fine (with normal thread, we'll see how it handles hardcore nylon stuff tomorrow).

here's a pic of the bag open

pic of bag shut

pic of simple strap arrangement (not final arrangement)

pic of pattern dimensions, i found it really useful to have the pattern fully drawn out on the outside of the liner

here is the template i made, i liked the bags made by zugster, pac and various other companies so made my pattern combining certain features from many brands...

so very early stages, as i said, it wont look anything like that when finished as it shouldn't stand up like that, the material is much too stiff. but it's just to see if the pattern worked and it does.

I'm going to make mine with full cordura outer and a packcloth liner on the inside so it will be a three layer construction. also i planned on sewing all three layers together like a pac but i'm starting to think my machine might not make it through all that material, especially when doubled over. so i'm going for a floating liner, as this will be easier on my machine, if a little bit more work.

also remember to add half an inch on the pattern to sew it up!

edit: cordura just arrived!

p.s. there is LOADS of info online about making bags, google it and you will find all the information i've used. but i wouldn't just copy the bags they've made, most of the instructionals produce pretty plain, boring, featureless bags. I just used the sites to help me figure out a pattern and how to sew it up, then i went to the pac website and zugster to see about strap arrangements, suspension strapping etc. so hopefully i will be able to make a really useful bag to work with.

Whoa dude, well done, congratulations! I think a floating liner will make you happier if you ever get caught in the rain, assuming you fix it to the exterior with the least seams possible... my bagaboo has a floating liner but water still managed to get in two weeks ago when it rained a lot. The cordura shell got soaked and water got through the seams where the liner is fixed to the cordura exterior!

thanks, yeh i'm just connecting the liner to the outer around the flap and with velcro around the front of the bag, like a chrome. so you can remove the liner if you need.

also trying to figure out how to sew in a secret pocket. mindfuck

Nice one, will be good to hear how you get on, keep us posted. I'd have attempted something like that myself, but I got a bargain on a bag, and have yet to procure a sewing machine.

What about this bag! Mega cheap! Anybody got one?
http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/catalogue/men/accessories/373603-orange-messenger-bag

buy cheap.
buy twice.

well it's cheap, but won't las as long as a royal mail bag which is £5 more from linnell.

Snoops nice bag! came out alot nicer than my 2 attempts so far, but im still trying! where did you get your material supplies and how much did it all come to?

I have new-found respect for the DIYers, I tried it today and all I managed was a wonky liner with lots of holes in it and several tantrums. Despite being under the guidance of a master bag-maker.

This revelation that I suck at bag-making has sadly meant I am being forced to rethink my plans to launch a rival bag company from Grobag Towers.

Right, finished.

that was fucking torture. so much to think about, i've left a few features off the bag as i just couldn't handle it any longer. was going to have many internal pockets and a lock pocket on the outside.

very happy with it though. the size is great, it works, it fits perfectly, the load is even, the padding is nice. hopefully my next one will be a lot neater.

i began to feel the limits of the machine though, not the power, more the maneuverability of the bag in and around the needle. having the machine sunk to the same level as your work surface would make it a lot easier to sew straight in certain areas, i think.

(click through for more pictures)

now i can spend this week making wallets and tool pouches from the scrap vinyl and cordura. might get bored of this colour scheme though.

Wow, great job for a first bag, I'm seriously impressed.

good work, looks very neat

seriously nice snoops! im being inspired! i may actually make one in the distant future!

Well done snoops. looks good.
One thing to remember is that if your buckles aren't tucked into seams then it's worth doing a flag stitch on the webbing to attach them.
Apologies if you already did, but from the pic it looks like a single line of stitching.
The second bag will be far easier. :)

thanks for compliments, i can only see the imperfections in it though. and because i know i made it, i presume it's going to fail all the time. but there really isn't any reason why it should.

scott don't really know what a flag stitch is? not up on the terminology, i stitched a square with a cross in. that a flag?

and scott, i found it really, really hard sewing on the binding (the black trim).

any advice? is it just hard with one piece bags?

scott don't really know what a flag stitch is? not up on the terminology, i stitched a square with a cross in. that a flag?

Yeah that's a flag stitch...you'll be fine then. :)

Edging the bags is the bit i hate the most...it's always a bitch...and the more layers you have from having pockets too, the harder it is...it always tries to slip off.
You'll get used to it the more you make. I'm really fussy about things being right though, so i take my time on the edging...some people don't however....see below!
Also, check your bobbins before edging...there's no excuse for joins in the stitching when you're edging in my opinion.

you mean always make sure there is enough in the bottom bobbin so you can ensure you will make it round in one swoop?

yeah. looks horrible when there's joins all over like that pouch above.
Here's another example of bad edging....

There's no need for the corners to be so ugly...and these are bags for sale on a website.
If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.

how would you do 90 degree corners? i managed to do curved edges, just.

I think we need a new topic for DIY messenger bag, in fact it's a perfect topic to understand how much work Scott have put on his Grobag, the more I read this topic of other people plight in making their bags, the more I come to appericate Scott's handiwork, as if it not possible to appericated it even more!

Snoops that's a fantastic jobs, do you work in the textile industry or summat? you seemed pretty handy with the sewing machine.

you tuck the edging into a 45 deg angle. You basically stitch to right at the end of the straight, lift the needle, turn the fabric and binding, then tuck the corner into a neat 45 deg fold before putting the needle back in, but you have to do it without pulling the threads to far.
Basically you don't just let it form a lumpy old mess on the corners. :)
Practise edging on scrap fabric till you suss corners.

cheer scott.

you seemed pretty handy with the sewing machine.

did you mean seamed? [sorry]

and no, not in the textiles industry. i just had a lot of time on my hands this weekend and my old bag ripped. so i made a new one.

i did enjoy making it though, really tested my perseverance. it's nice to give yourself a project every now and then.

and i don't think this does need a new 'thread', it's good to have a list of bags for people to buy, and then some advice on how to make one if you are so inclined.

pretty much finished mine over the weekend too - although I forgot to take any pics during the process, also I am not 100% sure on the flap pattern I have used - edging it was even more of a bitch than it need be...

will stick some pics up this evening :)

love this thread now.