Slc Messenger Bag Kit

[MikeG]

I saw a post recently describing new patterns and a kit from Springfield Leather:

http://leatherworker... +leather +deal

I ordered the kit to try and get myself back in the leather game. I wanted to be able to use my No. 9 stitcher, but the gusset turned out to be WAY too small. I try not to do too much handstitching due to arthritic hands.

Here's the finished bag with some impressions:

The kit included a front piece, back piece, front pocket, rear pocket, an optional front pocket that I used, an optional rear pocket I did not use, and the gussets and straps. Construction required overlapping the front and back pieces and stitching across 4 layers at the bottom. When the gusset is added, that's 5 layers. I'm sure that allows getting more pieces from a hide, but 2 long pieces will make a prettier bag if I do another.

I tried to machine stitch the bag, even though the instructions said I couldn't -- they were right. I ended up removing the gussets, laying the bag out flat, and then using the machine without thread to punch the holes through the bag. I then glued the gussets back in place, then used the stitching awl to go through the prepunched holes in the bag and only one layer of leather in the gusset. It worked fairly well.

Another post gave a hint from Will Ghormley on using a dowel as a backup for the awl:

http://leatherworker...hing#entry75322

I liked his idea and so I took a wooden mallet - does anybody really ever use these for anything? -- and sanded it down so I would have a long straight backing, the end of the mallet head, and the mallet handle to use to back the leather. Coated it with beeswax and it worked great for both the long runs and the tight gusset!

The kit was fun, everybody seems to like it. I think I'll probably do another with some changes. I won't use light colored thread on the next one, either - I think it takes away from the vintage look. I'm also not entirely sure of the flap and whether it could use some type of fasterner.

Thanks for looking!

-- Mike

[Coho]

Nice bag, very straight forward design.

Love the mallet

[MonicaJacobson]

Nice! I like the leather, too.