My First Bag

[jeremyqmartin]

Been working on my overly ambitious bag project that got me started in leather work.

The project officially started over a year ago in like march 2013. All the materials and tools sat for a long while as I worked up the courage to get started. It's been such a laborious process.

Early on I made a quick crappy iPhone slip case to wet my feet. I finally started the bag sometime around September IIRC by making the shoulder strap. I learned so much, but overall it's way too dark for the bag. I'll be making a new strap when the bag is finished.

I put stitching all around the long piece of the strap; doesn't really have a functional purpose except maybe to prevent some stretching, but BOY did I learn to stitch!

I was scared to death to cut the main pieces of the bag without having the design perfectly in mind. I've pretty much just been forcing myself to "go for it" and end up kinda making it up as I go.

Edited May 23, 2014 by jeremyqmartin

[jeremyqmartin]

I've gained so much courage having made the handle and especially when I glued the lining to the main piece.

My work bench is getting so much abuse! I nailed the lining down with like 20 little nails to get it nice and stretched out. Then I spread my (runny) contact cement with a paint spreader. I was scared but it spread so perfectly. It was a leap of faith that paid off 150%!!! I'm THRILLED with the pig skin lining.

The support piece for the handle got sewed on. You'll notice on the outside the stitches don't go all the way around the rectangle shape. As I made the holes (drilled with a Dremel press station) there were so many holes it started to look like I was trying to punch the whole rectangle out. Good thing I started on the end. I improvised and just stitched on the ends. On the inside of the bag, you can see that I "fake" the stitching for a portion of the support piece. Btw, the rivets that you see at the ends of the stitching are "decorative". Having aborted stitching all the way around, I thought it would help to have something visual at the ends of the stitching line. Too bad I had already marked the holes on the outside. I ended up grooving all the way around to cover the light prick marks in the middle.

[jeremyqmartin]

Once I attached the handle it finally started to look like a bag! I'm so happy to see this project paying off. It's been haunting me since I started but I've gained so much confidence and momentum.

But I know that everything I've done so far has been the easy part... I've reached the point where the next serious step is to shape and attach THE GUSSET! Actually, the first gusset, there will be 2. Everything I learned has lead me to this. It's now or never.

I originally intended to use some of the 3.5mm (veg tan) leather for the gussets, but quickly realized the foolishness of that idea. I had to buy more leather, so I got some 2mm veg tan. Is still pretty stiff. I think my only choice is going to be to mold the whole dang thing all at once and then just attach it that way.

I made the mistake of dying my gusset piece before trying to mold it. So when I try to bend it, there are horrible wrinkles on the surface, even with water soaking. I think I'm gonna need to build a FULL ON wet mold that somehow puts full, uniform pressure on the entire surface of the piece if I want to avoid harsh wrinkles. Does anyone have experience or suggestions to share about doing gussets with thick veg tan? Any help would be much appreciated!!! Thanks!!

Oh, an PS, a few days ago I realized this is going to be one of the greatest things I've ever done, my masterpiece

Oh and PSS, YES, this bag was HEAVILY inspired by the Saddleback classic briefcase

Edited May 23, 2014 by jeremyqmartin

[shadowryder]

WOW<< great work.

[Basically Bob]

Congrats! Amazing for virtually a first project!

Keep it up!

[Frederiek]

Looks perfect! So neatly planned

[Rohn]

You have a talent, that is for sure. Very nice indeed!

[bluesman1951]

First class !!!! Very well done !

[OdinUK]

It looks very well made! Id be proud of that!

[CTaylorJr]

That looks great from here! Looking forward to the finished pics.