I'm Wanting To Make A Hand Sewn Fanny Pack

[gdonovan]

I've been asked to make a fanny pack- pouch around the waste. I hand sew so zippers are well... out of the question. Snaps are good but the real problem I'm struggling with is the design and sizing. I don't want to have to make the pack with belt attached because of all the different sizes and colour combinations. I'd rather not make them at all if I have to use nylon belting with those plastic quick connect buckle thingamabobbers. So ya...any thoughts or ideas or available patterns I could use out there?

Cheers and thanks,

Greg

[8thsinner]

I have my own ideas for these but I will share a few to get you started.

Belt loops on the back are easy to do.

Double D rings are a good way to adjust any removable belt system.

Either use doubled light weight leather as removable belt or slightly thicker plain style.

Zippers can be hand sewn, and probably the most reliable method to use, especially if the opening is wider than it is deep.

If it's deeper than it is wider, a closure cord would be much easier to do.

Snaps are the easiest but you would have to use quite a few to avoid the possibility the smallest coin falling out if upside down.

Velcro again, it's a pain to sew but full closure...

Hook and eyes, would probably not work.

With patterns I can't really help you.

But hope my thoughts help narrow it down.

[Shotgun Willy]

Have you been to the 'how do I do that' section? The wet-formed-bag tutorial might be close to what you're wanting.

[bex DK]

If I had that project in mind, I'd go to the local thrift shop and pick up a cheap fanny pack around the style and size I wanted. Then I could cut that apart at the seams and get a good start in shape and size of the various pieces.

To make it to put on a belt instead of with a built-in belt, I'd use a stronger and stiffer backpiece to help it keep its shape and cut slits into the backpiece a ltitle in from each side so the belt could slide through. Then a second inside backpiece in a thinner and lighter leather. Could easily imagine lacing or handsewing the edges and I've handsewed zippers in several times.

So no pattern to point to, but maybe this idea helped.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

I second the thrift store/garage sale/flea market fanny pack for the basic pattern. For the belt attachment I would just do a full double piece on the back with open ends-strong, and simple to do.

Closures. This really depends on the type of leather that you use. Soft, and flexible, or more rigid. Rigid leathers could be used to make more of a stiff box type pack with a hinged type lid, whereas a flexible leather would need more of a full closure to seal it up. For that I might look at a taller top that could be folded over/rolled before securing.

[Suze]

I had a nylon purse once (from Avon) that had belt loops on the back and d rings on the ends so that you could either wear it as a belt bag or carry it as a purse

[gdonovan]

Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts!

I'll go get one I like, to use as a template.