Messenger Bag (from Leodis Leather's packet)

[garypl]

46 minutes ago, battlemunky said:

Thanks @blue duck! To be brutally honest, I am conflicted with the strap type. Ian uses and suggests webbing or else I'd have defaulted to leather. Mrs. Munky likes the idea of leather too. Since the bag will be in the family, I figured I would tell her to let me know if she has an issue with the webbing and that I can adjust/rework/modify/improve the bag as needed. I was thinking of adding a magnetic closure too but figured I'd let her run it like it is and see her thoughts and change it as she desires. At least that was the thought process anyhow  

Since you have the clips to connect the strap, why not make two straps - leather and web?  Gives her the choice which one to use when she takes it out.  You know how woman like to change up and accessorize everything!

Gary

[JLSleather]

How about leather wrapped around webbing?  All the strength and stretch resistance of the manufactured but without killin' the look of the bag. 

[battlemunky]

We were out on our walk and stopped into Hobby Lobby. I'm definitely not going with nylon, it looked a bit cheap. The cotton webbing looked far better but I may make both webbing and leather @garypl. 

@JLSleather, how would I go about wrapping it? sew down the middle like a baseball stitch, over lab and sew it down the middle, or so flesh side to flesh side like a rolled handle? This stuff doesn't burnish well at all so I would likely avoid rolling it just because it'd leave that raw edge and may look a bit crude. I'm pretty ok with the mechanics of assembly but the aesthetics is always the hardest part for me.

Edited August 27, 2019 by battlemunky

[MedusaOblongata]

Great looking bag there!

I definitely agree that a matching strap would look great and a fabric strap looks cheap and out of place.

[battlemunky]

Thanks @MedusaOblongata! I think I'm going to try it both ways and see which one I want to go with. It sucks Christmas is so far out, I'm fighting the urge to ask her. 

[Tugadude]

Nice job on the bag!  I like the rolled edge, you executed that very nicely.  Regarding the scratches, do they buff out?  If so, then it is just a matter of maintenance.  Some like the "patina" that bags develop and actually want them to look used.  To each his/her own I guess.

I have a canvas briefcase that I was given as a thank you by an industry organization.  I actually carry it daily to work.  It has what I believe are nylon web straps and I have to tell you they look great and are holding up extremely well about 3 years in now.  The bag is made by Carhartt so it is expected to be decent quality.  I'm not a huge fan of the shoulder pad and I keep telling myself that I need to fashion one out of leather as a replacement but then I get onto something else.

In the right place, I think fabric straps make sense.  There is a nice look to be attained by mixing materials sometimes.  Color and texture play into it as well.  There are some pieces I've seen that I almost recoiled at because they looked garish or the colors weren't right or whatever.  The key is finding the right strap, color, thickness, width, etc.  I agree that many straps look cheap.  The one on my bag does not.

[JLSleather]

11 hours ago, battlemunky said:

@JLSleather, how would I go about wrapping it? 

• Cut a little more than twice the width of teh web strap.
• Lay leather grain side down on table.
• Mark center line of web strap.
• Lay web down the center of leather (a little rubber cement help keep it in place, or contact cement if you're using that.
• Fold ibe side up over the web, trim on center line of webbing.
• Fold other side of leather up, trim to fit flush with other leather, butt joint.
• Sew both sides maybe 1/8" in from the center... no sewing on the edges.  
• Look nice, match the bag, and be solid.  No rough edge.

 

like this (not my artwork).. only with teh webbing INSIDE the leather.  Trim to a nice tight butt joint on the center line, sew each side the center line.. dun

Depending on how  you gonna attach, fella could make it a couple inches "too long", then fold teh ends over some rings or dees, BEFORE folding teh sides in, and that end would get covered too.

 

Edited August 27, 2019 by JLSleather

[battlemunky]

@Tugadude, thanks. I think I am going to use the cotton webbing and make a pad out of the same leather and see how it looks. If it looks cheap, I'm all in on @JLSleather's idea to wrap it and look the leather through the oval and sew it back on itself like a nice rolled handle. 

[battlemunky]

Here it is with the black cotton webbing strap. I like this quite a bit now that I'm seeing it all together and it feels pretty sturdy. Mrs. Munky likes it too so it can't be too bad. I will give her the option so if she'd prefer leather I can swap out a matching strap in no time or even wrap it if she wants to go that route too. Thanks for the discussion and ideas y'all, I do appreciate not only the different points of view but the chat in general :) 

 

[garypl]

Now that you have the web strap attached I kinda like it - nice contrast with the bag!

Gary