Messenger Bag

[AndyL1]

Time to show off what I've been working on. I have a baby coming along in a couple of months and I wanted a little something more manly than your standard diaper bag, so I decided to make a messenger bag. Here is the work in progress. It is all hand-stitched and my fingers are getting very sore from pulling thread! It has an open pocket sewn onto the back. I'm still working on adding the stitch detail in the straps and I have to make the shoulder pad still too. The leather is 5-6 ounce veg-tan calfskin. The strap is 8-9 ounce. The strap is actually two pieces joined by a buckle mid-chest. This way I can adjust the length of the strap if my wife wants to carry it.The rectangular "box" with the snaps on the back is actually a snap-in compartment that fits inside the bag. It snaps in so I can remove it if necessary. It's made to fit a baby bottle. I'm going to make a second one of a different size for my wallet and keys so they don't get lost under diapers and junk. The entire bag will be stained like the small snap-in compartment. I like it to look very weathered and worn out... sort of Indiana Jones style!The celtic knot disc is the first thing I ever tooled like a year ago. I like it alot and to show it off I am going to stitch it to the front flap of the bag. I was going to just tool something right onto the bag flap but I think a sewn on piece kind of adds another nice element to the bag. It is about eight inches in diameter. The whole bag is 15x11x4 inches.Thanks for looking! Any feedback is greatly appreciated.-Andy

Edited January 14, 2009 by AndyL1

[abn]

Wow, that's really nice. Can't wait to see the finished product!

-Alex

[AndyL1]

Thanks Alex! Here's another photo of the bag open.

-Andy

[McJeep]

The whole bag is 15x11x4 inches.Thanks for looking! Any feedback is greatly appreciated.-Andy

You really ARE new to this baby thing aren't ya? Quadruple those measurements and ya just might have enough room for all the "stuff" you'll be luggin along

Looks good guy - and congrats!

Rob (btdt too many times ;0)

[jbird]

Looks fantastic what oz leather did you use.

Josh

[Greybeard]

LOL! you hand stitched all that! <------instant RESPECT.

Looks great! cant wait to see the finished prod. too....

[AndyL1]

Looks fantastic what oz leather did you use.

Josh

Thanks josh! I used 5-6oz for the bag and like 8-9oz for the strap. And Greybeard, YEP! All hand stitched. The hardest part was doing the corners on the backside. Three layers of heavy leather and making sure the holes lined up right, plus it's got two rows of stitching so I had to do it all twice. I've broken four needles so far. I like doing this stuff for some weird reason though. It's pretty relaxing to me. I am a Graphic Designer by day so anything that gets me to unplug and away from the computer is great. Nice and LOW-TECH! I do use my computer for making patterns and tooling designs though. That makes things way easier.

[UKRay]

You really ARE new to this baby thing aren't ya? Quadruple those measurements and ya just might have enough room for all the "stuff" you'll be luggin along

As an ex-single parent, I'm a tad concerned that you haven't even come close to the size of bag you will need for a day out... I'm not going to go into the details but that lovely natural coloured leather and white stitching may come to grief too.. Great job though and, as I thought that was machine stitching, I have to say you have my respect too.

One suggestion - make yourself a nice waterproof bag and stitch that inside somewhere to keep the icky stuff from the rest... have fun - kids are great but I prefer 'em when they stop having a loud noise at one end and a complete lack of responsibility at the other!

[AndyL1]

As an ex-single parent, I'm a tad concerned that you haven't even come close to the size of bag you will need for a day out... I'm not going to go into the details but that lovely natural coloured leather and white stitching may come to grief too.. Great job though and, as I thought that was machine stitching, I have to say you have my respect too.

One suggestion - make yourself a nice waterproof bag and stitch that inside somewhere to keep the icky stuff from the rest... have fun - kids are great but I prefer 'em when they stop having a loud noise at one end and a complete lack of responsibility at the other!

HAHA! You guys are scaring me! The good thing is my wife can use the babybag we got from her sister to pack more stuff into. I'll keep mine limited to just the essential for a quick outing.

Which end is which? I've been known to having both of those things coming out of both of mine from time to time. HAHA!

[wildrose]

That is really classy, and great work!

Don't let 'em scare you. This is what you pack....I'm speaking from experience not too long ago (my son is 4 now):

2 diapers

wipes (you can get a slim container to put these in, so you don't have to carry alot)

bottle/sippy

change of clothes (esp. pants)

That's really all you need. I would sometimes add a toy (if I was going somewhere like out to dinner with him), those scented bags you can dispose of diapers in, and some washclothes (for covering you-know-where when changing a boy)