jrprottas

This will be my first leatherwork project. I'm interested in making a small single strap sling bag. I plan to use 5-6 oz leather and want a "turned" (inside out) design. Pictured are several BASIC design approaches. Do you folks have experience in actually building a bag with these designs? What are the pros and cons of each? Which do you prefer and why? Can you suggest modifications that would add interest to these designs? These approaches are somewhat boring. Would I have to abandon the inside/out approach to come up with a more unique design? Alot of the bags I like use "darts" or deliberate folds in the leather. How the heck do you do that??? .Any help conceptualizing this would be totally appreciated. Thank you, Jeff

Sounds like deals like these would show- up in the La Quinta/Palm Springs area as its full of retirees. Just need to narrow down what I'm looking for in making small backpacks and slingbags with multiple layers of 6oz leather. Thanks for your unsolicited overview of used equipment! Jeff in Indio

how did you learn about these deals? craigslist or on leather blogs?

Ditto: How is the bottom constructed?

I understand. I'll do that. Thanks for your input. Thanks.Are you suggesting round sewing holes rather than using my pricking iron with diamond shaped holes? My next step is to buy a yard of pleather and build a prototype. Hoping that assembling this will give me an idea for some well placed rivets.

Thanks.Are you suggesting round sewing holes rather than using my pricking iron with diamond shaped holes? My next step is to buy a yard of pleather and build a prototype. Hoping that assembling this will give me an idea for some well placed rivets.

hey again. I got the back to print in actual size vis portrait on 8 2/2 x 11 paper but the front pdf is just the bottom section and in a different scale. am I doing something wrong? thanks again

Hey LatigoAmigo. WOW! I'm blown away! It would have taken me $300 worth of watercolor paper to come up with anything close to this! The SM TFPB is 11" W x 15" H x 5" D. I'm looking for a smaller dimension of the bag body: 8" x 12.5" x 4" and probably lose the gusseted side pockets in favor of two slip pockets on each side. As mentioned above, I want this to be a single, wide back-strap sling bag. My plan is to use Horween Dublin Tan with a sheepskin backside and strap. Would a PDF be easily scalable to my desired dimensions? I see you're located in Santa Rosa and I live in Indio. Do you have a shop?

very helpful (I think). So this is what I dont understand. There must be darts or wedge-shaped pieces taken off the front panel to match-up with the crescent shaped bottom. How would one calculate that? I'm stumped as suggested by the unfinished second photo

Thanks so much for both comments so far. Both are keeping me thinking. Who wouldnt want copper plumbing parts built into their backpack? I'll definately followup with ton I've watched countless videos and have a photo gallery of a hundred backpacks, tote bags and attaches with elements I like. I understand the simple square bottom design and bag shapes with exposed edges (generally in heavier weight leathers) and the inside-out bag construction and simpler designs with acrylic templates. In the above bag that I pictured I cant figure out how the front interfaces with the half moon bottom. Would this require 'darts' in the front/sides? to round it out? If so, I wouldnt know where to start with the math. SM claims the entire bag is constructed from two pieces of leather. Unfortunately, this is one of my favorite bag shapes because it's not so square. Sadly, I dont have $500 to buy it and de-construct it. Keep the ideas and resources coming. What a great community!!

Hello everybody - Brand new to leatherworking but have experience in woodworking, silversmithing, etc.. Initial tool/leather order hasn't arrived yet. I'm interested in making a small single strap sling bag. Can anyone suggest a pattern resource? Something I could use as a starting place and modify. Most good leatherworkers seem to make their own. I plan to use 5-6 oz leather, 7 stitches per inch, #9 copper rivets. What's the best thread for a project like this? What size hole punch will I need for #9 rivets? I realize this is an advanced starting project but am prepared to go very slowly and solicit all the help I can get. Due to my total lack of working experience, I'm having trouble translating backpack/sling bag elements that I like in photos, to a 2d pattern drawing. Taking a lead from SM I love the shape of this Thin-Front backpack in a smaller version without gusseted pockets, but cant grasp how it would layout on paper. Any help conceptualizing this would be totally appreciated. Thanks to all in advance, Jeff