Need Help With A Purse Pattern

[johnggrg]

The pattern is called a Hobo bag. My daughter liked it when she saw it and wanted me to make it for her. The pattern is for cloth not leather but still usable. My only problem with it is the side and bottom part of the pattern. It's straight. Now this is the first purse I have ever tried and seems like it should start small at top and widen out as it goes down the side then be a wider width at the bottom all the way across till it starts going back up the other side. I would like to post this pattern in the hopes some one can alter the side and bottom part of the pattern and help me with this.

hobo_bag_pattern.pdf

[johnggrg]

Anyone have any ideas???? The side and bottom is the long straight piece in the pattern. You have to cut two of them to make the side and bottom. Anyone????? John

[johnggrg]

Anyone??? Somebody must have some idea here. John

[dirtclod]

I'd just cut the pattern and the sides and bottom out of poster board one the way they have it one with the narrow top and wider bottom. Tape the pattern pieces togeather and see which one she likes the best. Then make it.

Edited September 12, 2011 by dirtclod

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the reply. The part shown in the pattern is only one half so having a problem making it go from narrow to wide. The narrow version she don't like. Says it's not enough room inside. I have never made one before so this is all new to me and a pain in the butt. The pattern is made to be used with cloth not leather so it would need to be widened anyway. That was why I asked for some help. The bottom would need to be an even width alll the way across the bottom then narrow gradually towards the top. I figured someone with some experiance would know how to do this and alter that part of the pattern for me. I know it's alot to ask but I hoped someone could. Thank you in advance for any help you could give me. John

Edited September 12, 2011 by johnggrg

[dirtclod]

I would cut a piece of poster board as wide and as long as half the bottom and side needs to be. Put a center line on that piece. Then measure what ever half the length the bottom is and mark that on the poster board. Then you can take a straight edge and angle the sides in to what ever width you want at the top. Or measure a set distance up the side and taper from there. If you line doesn't look right erase it and try again. I make patterns all the time and don't get them right the first time very often

[mrdabeetle]

If the pattern is intended for cloth, that may be why it is straight. Cloth behaves differently than leather, so if it were curved, it would just bunch up where it is widest. I say alter it and make it wider at the bottom.

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the replues. Dirtclod. I will try that. Thank you. John

[johnggrg]

Update. I cut the front and back panels out of the leather I am going to use already. Then decided to line the paper pattern of the side and bottom up to the leather and rap it around to see where the bottom would start so I could mark the pattern. It was way past the half way mark for the purse. I did not change the size of the pattern yet. The back and front I left the same size as the pattern. Now I am wondering if this part of the pattern is wrong. If so it would throw everything off if I were to alter that side and bottom part of the pattern.

Not sure what to do at this point. Can't afford to cut the leather wrong. Anyone know what I should do to fix this problem??? Please let me know. thank you. John

[dirtclod]

I cut ever piece out of poster board ( mark right and left pieces, tops and bottoms ) and put it togeather before i cut the leather, to make sure it all fits. You have to take in to account your seam allowinces to and mark them on your pattern. Tape or clip it all togeather to check the fit. The poster board will hold it's shape when you stand it up or move it around. Your leather i'm guessing a thin chrome tan and it won't hold it's shape if you try to move it much wrinkle and pucker. A plus on cutting every piece out before you cut your leather is you make sure you have enough leather and your able to move things around on the leather to make things fit and you may still screw up. It just happens.

[johnggrg]

Has anyone else tried this pattern yet? With 169 views so far and only 4 responses maybe someone else has tried this pattern out and can chime in and answer the questions.. Thank you. John

[Scary Leatherworks]

Has anyone else tried this pattern yet? With 169 views so far and only 4 responses maybe someone else has tried this pattern out and can chime in and answer the questions.. Thank you. John

Do you the pic of the finished bag your daughter liked? I find that pattern quite confusing. from what it sounds like the sides should narrow at the top similar to Tandy's "emily" purse pattern but like I said I can't envision it from the pattern.

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the reply. That is the problem. I can't finish it. That was why I asked for help. The pattern is not confusing if you print it out and tape it together. Try it and let me know what you think. John

[dirtclod]

I cut the pattern out and it worked for me. Not sure why you would want to make the sides any bigger after i cut the pattern out. If she fills it halfway the pattern size is it's going to weight a ton.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Thank you for the reply. That is the problem. I can't finish it. That was why I asked for help. The pattern is not confusing if you print it out and tape it together. Try it and let me know what you think. John

Yes, I understood you couldn't finish it but usually with most patterns they have a pic of a completed product so you can see what you will be making. I have a few books with "hobo" bag patterns and they are both different. unfortunately they are both for cloth bags also.

well with what dirtclod put together it does have a similarity to a bag tandy sells as a kit http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/Kits/Handbag-Small-Bag-Kits/44307-00.aspx I've made a smaller version and it works quite well

Edited September 17, 2011 by Scary Leatherworks

[johnggrg]

Dirtclod and Scary Leatherworks thanks for the reply. Dirtclod I noticed you had the tab end piece on both sides(the part hanging out on top) it looks like. Is that overlapping the side piece? I think I am going to just make it straight across and forget about making it wider. I'll try that on something else. I only decided to do this one because it was the only free pattern I could find. Wish I would have found a better pattern made for leather. If anyone has a leather purse pattern they would like to share please let me know. Thanks again. John

[dirtclod]

The ends hanging out the top make it where the purse can be closed with a piece of velcro.

You can make your own patterns theirs nothing to it make a front back and the sides any size / shape you want. Poster board, file folders, cold drink / beer cartons 20 to 24 can size are great. I rough out my patterns and use a vary form curve to clean the lines up. http://www.usa-dealer.net/Fairgate-12-112-Vary-Form-Curve-12_p_2187.html Put a center line on your pattern and make one side cut it fold it over and make the other side of your pattern.

Edited September 17, 2011 by dirtclod

[mike59]

John,.....I understand your plight as do many others on here, but you must be willing to either go to a Tandy store and buy one of their kits that have the pieces cut out for you, or buy patterns from someone who has put in the time and expense to develop a pattern to your liking.

Most of us have put in alot of time and money into learning to do these things. If you want to design and build, you must put in the time to teach yourself along the way. By doing so, you will be prepared to expand your abilities which will help you further your craft.

I welcome anyone who wants to come and observe a given process, but I don't have the time or inclination to supply every thing to folks who want to get my work given to them without they put in the effort to do some things for themself. Give a man a fish, Vs. Teach a man to

fish." I realize that cost is often a factor, but nothing is free,....one way or another.

[johnggrg]

mike59. I guess you were confused. I asked if anyone "would like to share a pattern" if you don't then don't reply. There is no reason to be openly rude with someone who didn't ask you personally for anything. I am new to this hobby but it is not my only hobby. I belong to other forums to for cabinet making,bladesmithing,gunsmithing.reloading and a few others which I am more skiled at then making leather products. And I have "always been willing to share my experiance and knowledge to help someone out if I can " Now for instance if someone asked me how do I replace my firing pin in my rifle? I could say:" Most of us have put in alot of time and money into learning to do these things and I don't have the time or inclination to supply every thing to folks who want to get my work given to them without they put in the effort to do some things for themself. Give a man a fish, Vs. Teach a man to

fish." I realize that cost is often a factor, but nothing is free,....one way or another."

But I don't. I may even take the gun in question out of my collection if I have it and break it down take pictures step by step if it helps them out. And if for some reason I don't feel like it I don't reply. That is what makes forums great. Helping people and learning from it. And maybe they will pass the knoledge down to someone else in need. Maybe you had a bad day and needed to rant on someone I don't know? But it is apparant that from the start to the end of your reply you just wanted to rag on someone who asked for help. And yes I have shared things I paid for with others and will continue to share if I can. Dirtclod and Scary leatherworks helped me out already with my problems and I am moving forward with it. Like they say if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. As for sharing a pattern. Sure some people may not want to share a pattern but some don't mind and that is why I asked. Forums to me have always been about learning,sharing and helping others and that is what makes them great. Maybe you should rethink why you are a part of a forum to begin with. John

[stanly]

this link shows finished purse and assembly (cloth)

http://www.jcaroline...Screen=HOBO_BAG

know U already have it johngg, but for others.